MTCI alum’s appearance highlights open house

When Garrett Mulder heard about Michigan Career and Technical Institute’s (MCTI) Open House event this past June, he knew he had to attend.

Mostly, he wanted to see how much his alma mater had changed over the past six decades.

Mr. Mulder, a proud 1963 MCTI graduate, toured the school during the event, stopping and smiling when he came upon a special machine used in cabinetmaking. “I was the first student who put the first piece of wood in that machine,” he said. 

The first student? The first piece of wood? The irony gave him pause because, as a young man, the thought of becoming a cabinetmaker never really crossed his mind.

Before attending MCTI, Mr. Mulder noted, "I had absolutely no knowledge of woodworking.  I had no knowledge of operating any powered equipment/machinery nor any skills related to using hand tools, power tools or taking measurements.

“What I did know was that I needed to learn a trade that would enable me to work and make a living.”

MCTI gave him that opportunity.

Born and raised in the Netherlands, Mr. Mulder and his family emigrated to the U.S. after World War II in 1949, settling in Kalamazoo. Speaking no English made his educational journey even more difficult.

When Mr. Mulder enrolled in 1958, MCTI was known as the Michigan Veterans Vocational School where returning veterans could use their GI benefits to learn the skills needed to secure good-paying jobs in a variety of in-demand occupations. Without a military background, Mr. Mulder could enroll in the school but was required to pay tuition.

Making academic progress was far from easy. “My education took longer because it was part time,” Mr. Mulder said. “I had to actually stop (attending classes) due to an emergency ruptured appendix surgery, and then again because I ran out of money to pay tuition.”

His passion and tenacity, along with the support of his instructors who could see his skills and vision, enabled him to achieve his goal. He received his cabinetmaking certificate in 1963 and launched his career with Baker Furniture in Holland, Michigan. “I learned to build on the woodworking fundamentals that I learned through schooling and application at Baker Furniture,” Mr. Mulder said.

He later moved to California where he crafted custom cabinetry on yachts before accepting a position as a Loft Patternmaker with the Douglas Aircraft Company. While he was at Douglas – which became McDonnell Douglas before merging with Boeing — he contributed to the roll out of the original DC-10. For his significant contributions, he was presented with a special Craftsmanship Award by Douglas Aircraft “in recognition of skilled performance and as an acknowledgement of quality workmanship”.

He also created custom cabinetry at Lakewood (Calif.) City Hall and provided woodworking and restoration services for the California State Capitol in Sacramento. Years later, he returned to Michigan, once again lending his talents and expertise to Baker Furniture before retiring.

Given Mr. Mulder’s significant career success and obvious appreciation for MCTI, his appearance at the Open House made the event even more memorable for the school’s staff.

“It was such an honor meeting Mr. Mulder,” said MCTI Executive Secretary Jennifer Woodstock. “He was so kind and gracious — I felt fortunate to be able to spend quality time with a graduate who is so appreciative of his experience at MCTI.”

“We are reminded daily of the impact this school has on people’s lives,” said MCTI Departmental Manager Brian Smith. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to help Michiganders develop the skills and knowledge they need to get started on a rewarding, self-sustaining career pathway in Michigan.”

In the 1960s, the school pivoted from an educational institution for returning veterans to a vocational rehabilitation program to benefit students with different needs. Today, MCTI is the second-largest vocational rehabilitation training center in the country offering 12 training programs for adults with disabilities — including, of course, cabinetmaking.