Welding Heroes Announced by Miller Electric

Three welders have been voted as everyday welding heroes, including a 70-year-old grandmother, a contractor keeping the military fleet safe in Afghanistan and a former corporate manager who chose to become a welder.

Miller Electric Mfg. Co. (Appleton, WI) recently announced the results of live online voting at MillerWelds.com for the “Nominate a Hero” promotion. After more than 11,000 online votes were cast, three welders have been voted the winners of the everyday welding heroes in the campaign. The winners include a 70-year-old grandmother, a contractor keeping the military fleet safe in Afghanistan and a former corporate manager who chose to become a welder.

The winners are:

• Kay Minto. Kay was nominated by her son Tyler. She has been TIG welding for 28 years. Tyler points out his mom is a 70-year-old grandmother living in Eagleville, CA, who finds time to create internationally shown welded art. She is also a great teacher and mentor to younger welders.
• Carl Offenbacher. Carl is working with a contractor in Afghanistan assisting with the U.S. military fleet, keeping the armed vehicles safe and on the road with Force Protection. Nominated by his daughter Annie, Carl is also an active welder in his hometown of Jacksonville, OR.
• Steven George. Steven quit his corporate job to move to Fairbanks, Alaska, and become a welder. According to his friend and nominator, Ulf Jonsson, Steven has quickly made a name for himself as a meticulous and quality-conscious welder.

“This is very special for us to be able to recognize these three individuals, chosen by our fans,” said Vickie Rhiner, the brand manger at Miller. “While all three are experienced welders, they have diverse backgrounds and great stories that represent that range of welding and the great opportunity welding provides for a career.”

These three welders and their nominators will be treated to a Hero’s event at the Miller headquarters in Appleton in September. They will tour the worldwide headquarters of Miller as well as receive prize packages of welding equipment and the latest in Miller Arc Armor^® safety gear.

The contest has been an opportunity for Miller to highlight and celebrate all welders and the profession of welding. Miller Electric Mfg. Co. is a leading worldwide manufacturer of Miller brand arc welding products and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Illinois Tool Works Inc. www.MillerWelds.com