Snead State Community College alumnus Christian Roberts of Albertville cites one of the perks of working in his job field is solving new problems, and he used his education and training to offer a solution to a problem at work.

Roberts has worked for six months as an Industrial Engineer and Multi-Craft Technician at Kappler Inc. in Guntersville. He is completing his Associate degree in Industrial Technology and plans to graduate this spring.

While on the job at Kappler, Roberts noticed his co-workers were having difficulty with assembling and pushing out product to meet their goals. An idea came to him for the design of a new boot prototype that would help the works be more efficient and eliminate the problem standing between them and their goals.

“We still have to get the new layout design for cutting and calculating time studying to see if the new product can fix the previous problem,” he said.

Founded in 1976 by George Kappler, Kappler Inc. is a respected global leader in chemical protective apparel. George Kappler is still involved in the business, but his daughter, Laura Kappler-Roberts currently serves as the company’s President and CEO. When the company began, very little was known about chemical protective clothing, but today, Kappler had defined an entire industry with patented fabrics, innovative seaming technology, and unique garment designs. In its 40 years of existence, the company has built a reputation for quality, innovation and straightforward advice on what protective clothing to wear.

Roberts said he enjoys working with new situations, and with the new experiences he’s had at Kappler, he’s relied on his education and training he received at Snead State to help him understand the complexities of the job, especially the technical wording and definitions used on a daily basis.

“There are a ton of opportunities in this field if you’re willing to work hard, have a good mind set and be eager to learn every day,” Roberts said.

And Roberts plans to continue to learn and grow in his field. After graduating from Snead State, he plans to transfer to Auburn University. His goal is to own his own business and be a leader in his field.

“I want to eventually give back to everyone who encouraged me and believed in me,” he said.

Snead State Community College President Dr. Joe Whitmore recently toured Kappler to open dialogue on how the College and the company can work together.

“We appreciate industry partners such as Kappler not only for their work in the community and worldwide, but also for the experiences they provide for our students to use their skills and training in the workforce,” said Dr. Whitmore. “I look forward to growing our partnership with Kappler and enhance the opportunities for our students.”