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Gabe Hendrix has always been driven by a love of travel. Growing up a voracious reader, he imagined he would fulfill that passion by becoming an English teacher and working overseas. But while his career path ultimately took a surprising turn, it still carried him across the world 鈥� from small-town Alaska to oil rigs in Africa 鈥� all thanks to his work as a millwright.

Originally from Texas, Hendrix moved to Valdez at the age of six. His grandfather, an avid outdoorsman, dreamed of experiencing the Alaska wilderness and relocated the family north. When the time came to pursue higher education, he enrolled at Prince William Sound College (PWSC) to stay close to family.

Still set on becoming an English teacher, Hendrix took pause after seeing the challenges faced by educators during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this transitional period, he enrolled in an after-hours millwright course, building on another one of his interests 鈥� technology and machinery 鈥� that sprung from his childhood tinkering with Legos. 

鈥淚鈥檝e always loved science and working with my hands,鈥� said Hendrix. 鈥淭hen as I got older, I was great at taking things apart. Putting the things back together wasn't quite my forte, but I've always had an interest in the internal mechanisms and seeing how things work.鈥�

After earning his occupational endorsement certificate in 2022, Hendrix landed a job as a rotating equipment technician with Tern Technologies, a company known for visiting PWSC to demonstrate equipment and familiarize future millwrights with the tools of the trade. In this role, he travels the country to align pumps, motors and heavy industrial machinery, ensuring they run smoothly and safely.

But Hendrix鈥檚 most far-flung adventure came early in his career: a six-week stint in Equatorial Guinea, Africa. There, he worked on an offshore oil rig, navigating a challenging political, logistical and environmental landscape. 

鈥淚t was an interesting learning experience,鈥� said Hendrix. 鈥淓verything that could go wrong went wrong. But the millwright program at PWSC did a very good job providing me a solid baseline.鈥�

Integral to his passion for travel is Hendrix鈥檚 interest in people. Whether working in Alaska, Ohio, New York or the Dakotas, he values the cultural differences he encounters, from local customs and food to the unique ways people approach their work. 

For anyone considering pursuing a career as a millwright, Hendrix emphasizes two key qualities: communication and a willingness to learn. According to him, being open about your own limitations and constructively pointing out issues you may see in others鈥� work are essential traits. Just as important is staying receptive to feedback, embracing suggestions from others and never assuming you know it all.

鈥淏eing able to admit when you're wrong or pointing out when you think other people are wrong in a non-confrontational way, and then being willing to listen to what other people are saying and not taking it as an insult to your own capabilities 鈥� you put those two together and that鈥檚 the key to success,鈥� he said.