“Good With My Hands” Leads to Great Career

Kyle Beach has what some might call unusual hobbies. He enjoys timber framing and blacksmithing – activities that require precision, persistence, and excellent hand-eye coordination. Kyle says these skills helped him build and create “a lot of cool things.” They also helped him launch a career in optics, a field he never knew existed.

“I knew absolutely nothing about optics before I got into the industry. I just knew I could make things. I was good with my hands,” Kyle said.

Being good with his hands helped Kyle in a number of jobs after graduating high school in 2005. He joined the U.S. Army and served as a Patriot Missile operator and maintainer. He later worked for an auto parts manufacturer, became an HVAC pre-apprentice, and trained to become a blacksmith instructor. But when Kyle found himself out of work in 2019, he searched for a new job. What he found instead was a new career. 

Kyle’s journey led him to Optimax Systems, Inc. in Ontario, NY, where he began working as an optics polishing technician. He admitted he never previously worked with glass but quickly became interested in the industry. “I learned a lot about lasers and coherent light. They’re fascinating,” Kyle said. He fed his fascination by enrolling at Monroe Community College through the New York State Apprenticeship Program where he gained new skills to advance his career.

“[Optimax] was my sponsor and encouraged me to go to MCC to pursue my degree in Optics. I’d put in my work week, and then put in my class hours,” Kyle explained. Three years, two months, and six-thousand class hours later, Kyle completed the apprenticeship and also earned an Optical Systems associate degree. His commitment to learning has already paid dividends as Kyle now works as a production engineer. 

Kyle encourages anyone who enjoys hands-on work, building things, or problem solving to explore the optics industry. He says the industry you never knew existed just might be the one that presents you with a promising career.