Crawling around in a dark, cramped boiler might be your worst nightmare.
But for Henry McEwen, it's a dream come true. The chief boiler inspector of
the State of Mississippi started his career as a boiler operator at a power
plant.
"Shortly after graduating from high school I was offered an opportunity
to become a boiler operator at a power plant in Mississippi. I was overwhelmed
by all the equipment and machinery associated with my work at the plant. From
this grew a desire to master it."
Combining his love for business with his new-found love of boilers, McEwen
earned a master's degree in engineering management and joined the Hartford
Steam Boiler Insurance Company. He left the organization a year later to become
deputy boiler inspector for the State of Mississippi. Three years later he
was offered the chief's position, becoming the state's ninth chief in eight
years.
Being Mississippi's chief inspector means McEwen has 34,000 boilers and
pressure vessels to check up on. A certified public manager -- a professional
designation he earned through the University Center of Mississippi -- the
former boiler operator is also a member of the American Academy of Certified
Public Managers.
Dedication to service is the most important aspect of an inspector's job.
Madiha Kotb is proud of what she does, and wants to offer the best service
possible.
"For us, it's never a chore to go to work. The tougher and more complex
the problem on the job, the more we look forward to solving it."
It's this kind of attitude that has made Kotb one of the few women working
in a field dominated by men. It's an attitude critical for anyone who is entering
the field to have as well.
Employers look for employees who are motivated, modest, accept criticism
well, and are patient and persistent. "The great thing about the apprentice
tradition of learning is that newcomers aren't picking up my
trade from textbooks and a shop teacher, but every day from a master."
Pride is essential to smooth the sometimes rocky relationships between
inspectors and boiler owners. It provides the inspector with the right professional
attitude to deal with the public and others. That includes technical assistance
and education, which goes beyond simple inspection and enforcement.
For McEwen, it really boils down to having fun while doing a good job.
"I guess you could say that I'm a happy person with a good attitude. My grandparents
instilled in me a strong sense of patience and self-reliance that helped me
get through both my early school years and adolescence. I found out early
on that if I was going to make it in this world, I'd have to make my own decisions."