Shenice McDaniel of Empire Bolt & Screw won the 2016 FTR/FTI scholarship for Fastener Training Week. The scholarship is for tuition for a week of training and is sponsored by Fully Threaded Radio and the Fastener Training Institute.

Empire Bolt general manager Jennifer Harder explained that the Newtech program “focuses on trade skills for young people seeking a different path than traditional high school education.”

“She was a top performer and was recommended to us by her instructor as an exceptionally bright and gifted individual that he was certain would excel,” Harder added. “We knew at that time that we would only have her for a short time, as she wanted to continue on the Automotive track and become a certified technician.”

McDaniel went on to graduate at the top of her class in 2012 as a master ASE technician and then joined Hyundai in Spokane for three years.

“She soon realized that the physical demands of the automotive technician would take its toll on her physically, and was looking for a change that would keep her mind engaged,” Harder said.

In 2015, she returned to Empire Bolt to help in material handling and has since worked in operations, VMI services and IT. She also volunteers on the Newtech advisory committee.

Founded in 1972, Spokane-based Empire Bolt distributes fasteners, adhesives and other products. Empire emphasizes that it invests in training as employees spend a minimum of 3% of time in training on products, supply chain management and lean efficiencies.

Runners up winning vouchers for FTI webinars were: Sean Kimport, Brighton-Best Int’l; Bill Garrison, Fasco Fasteners; Ryan McQueen, All-West Fasteners & Components; and Melissa Miller, Brighton-Best. Web: fullythreaded.com and fastenertraining.org