At Vaughn Industries, there’s a sign that hangs proudly at our entrance:
“Through These Doors Walk the Finest Craftsmen in the Land.”
For some, it’s just words. For others, like Mike, it’s a promise—and a turning point.

Before joining Vaughn, Mike worked for a large competitor, but something was missing. There was no formal apprenticeship, no real investment in training—just a “figure it out as you go” kind of culture. He was doing the work, but not growing in the way he wanted to.

One morning changed everything.

Mike and a friend were working on a job in Fostoria when they drove past Vaughn Industries. His friend pointed and said, “That place is awesome. They’ve got an apprenticeship program.”

Curious, they pulled into the parking lot. It was still dark, and the building was quiet—but the sign on the wall lit up something inside him.

“I saw that sign—‘Through These Doors Walk the Finest Craftsmen in the Land’—and I thought, wow… I want to work for these guys,” Mike remembers.

A year later, the company Mike worked for went bankrupt. He didn’t hesitate—he drove straight to Vaughn.

There weren’t any electrical positions open at the time, but Mike didn’t let that stop him. He took a job in sheet metal, knowing that just being part of the team mattered. It wasn’t long before his passion for electrical work was noticed, and Vaughn invited him into the Electrical Apprenticeship program.

“I stayed at Vaughn because I believed in that sign. I believed we really are the finest craftsmen in the land.”

Today, Mike is not only a skilled journeyman but also a dedicated Apprenticeship instructor, helping others walk the same path and shape the next generation of Vaughn apprentices. He’s been teaching for over six years now, and when Vaughn renovated the Lewis Center facility, he made a special request:

“I asked if we could put that same sign up in the shop, because it’s so inspiring to me. That sign is what made me want to become great—and Vaughn gave me that chance.”

Mike’s story is a reminder that craftsmanship is more than just skill—it’s heart, purpose, and pride in your work. And sometimes, all it takes is a sign to show you where you belong.