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Many people imagine that a job in manufacturing requires working on a shop floor to create products. Joseph Fields—a human resources professional at MGX Equipment Services—knows that isn’t the case.

“Working in MGX, there’s cranes and welding and engineering—but there’s also HR, and finance, and payroll, and employee health and safety,” said Fields. “There are lots of opportunities you can lean into.”

The background: Fields spent eight years as a yeoman in the U.S. Navy before he transitioned into a civilian role in 2000. Over the course of the next two decades, he worked in human resources at a variety of companies. However, he was laid off in October 2023 after a six-year stint when his employer downsized.

The result: Fields didn’t just get feedback, he was offered a job with MGX, one of the manufacturers in attendance.

The program: Heroes MAKE America provi