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Bertha Ostiguin thought for years about going back to school. She had left the workforce to be a stay-at-home mom, and when she started working in production at H-E-B, she was still raising two boys at home. The idea of working part time while also studying and raising her kids felt daunting. But about six years into her manufacturing career at H-E-B, she joined the Advanced Manufacturing Technician program through TX FAME – Alamo in Alamo, Texas—more than 25 years after she was last in school.

“Honestly, I was scared that I wasn’t going to be able to make it,” said Ostiguin. “But it has been one of the best choices I’ve made. … I love it, I love what it does, and I cannot talk enough about it.”

The program: Founded in 2010 by Toyota and operated today by the Manufacturing Institute—the workforce development and education affiliate of the NAM—FAME aims to help students become highly skilled, sought-after workers capable of meeting the needs and challenges of the modern manufacturing sector.

• It provides current and aspiring workers with on-the-job training and classroom education, leading to an associate’s degree and the FAME certificate.

The opportunity: While Ostiguin was already several years into a manufacturing career, her experience at FAME has helped to expand her skillset, allowing her to advance her career at H-E-B and set herself up for greater success throughout her working life.

The benefits: In addition to teaching specific qualifications and in-demand technical skills, FAME helps to provide participants with the soft skills and professional behaviors they’ll need to succeed in today’s workforce, like communication. According to Ostiguin, it made her a better mentor to other people at work.

• “As I’m learning these things, I’m also teaching the young guys,” said Ostiguin. “And I would tell them, from my experience, why all this makes a difference.”

A model for others: In an industry that often has more men than women, Ostiguin saw early on that she was setting an example for others. She promised herself that she was going to finish the program—not just for herself and her sons, but for other women in manufacturing who might follow her lead. Ultimately, Ostiguin became the first woman from H-E-B to complete the FAME program, at the top of her class.

• “I started seeing the impact it was having for females, and how it wasn’t just about me anymore—it was about the bigger picture,” said Ostiguin.

A word of advice: Ostiguin is proud of what she has accomplished and encourages others to take advantage of opportunities to increase their knowledge and improve their skills.

• “Absorb as much as you can, and ask the questions that you have to ask,” said Ostiguin. “That’s the only way we’re all going to learn.”

From the MI: “FAME isn’t just transforming careers—it’s strengthening companies,” said MI President and Executive Director Carolyn Lee. “Bertha’s journey shows how investing in workforce development creates highly skilled employees who bring immediate value to their employers and themselves, creating a winning combination for long-term success.”