Earlier this month, students from West High School in Columbus, Ohio spent the day working side-by-side with employees of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (ADS) to learn about various positions at the company. ADS designs and manufactures pipe and other products used in municipal storm and sanitary sewers, highway and agricultural drainage projects.
The event was part of the governor’s Road to Readiness Initiative, created by Ohio Governor John Kasich, the Columbus Partnership and the Columbus City Schools to enable students to work alongside veteran employees and experience what they do during the day and to discuss how to start on a similar career path.
?For more than 45 years, ADS has been a leading producer of pipe and products,? stated Joe Chlapaty, Chairman and CEO of ADS. ?This program of Governor Kasich’s is an excellent way for us to get involved with students to improve their understanding of business as well as the potential career paths available to them.?
Starting in 1966, the first ADS product was corrugated plastic pipe made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) resin that would be used in farm field drainage, replacing clay tiles. The company was soon designing and producing larger corrugated pipe which is now up to 60-in. in diameter and used in major construction projects.?
Today, ADS is the world’s largest producer of corrugated HDPE pipe and has numerous other products for water management systems found in sports stadiums, highways, building complexes, and in the infrastructure systems of cities and towns throughout the United States and the world. The company has a global network of 56 domestic and international manufacturing plants and 28 distribution centers with some 3,200 employees.
?Providing this hands-on experience to these students through this program was a rewarding experience for not only the students but the mentors who hosted them,? offered Kevin Talley, vice president of Human Resources for ADS. ?Connecting with the students was a great opportunity to showcase the myriad of professional opportunities available to these young people in a personal and real-world setting. We look forward to our continued participation in this program.?
