From Heavy Equipment student to successful business owner

Jesse Anderson has always been interested in working with heavy machinery and wanted a career where he could see immediate results from his work. Heavy equipment operation turned out to be the perfect fit.

“It combines skill, precision and the opportunity to work in a dynamic environment,” he says.

Today, Jesse is the owner of KPN Contracting and a VIU alum. He took the Heavy Equipment Operator program in 2017.

He chose VIU “because of its strong reputation in trades education, the hands-on training opportunities and the fact that their program is well-equipped to prepare students for real-world challenges in the industry.”

Jesse says the hours he spent learning on the program’s machinery was a major highlight of his time in the program, which offers a fantastic mix of classroom learning and on-site practice.

“Carrying out real-world projects that we worked on during our training was a great opportunity to operate different types of equipment,” he says. “I gained a lot of confidence in my abilities during that time and most importantly learned safety and was taught by some really knowledgeable leaders.”

Learning about the safety, maintenance, mechanics and how to troubleshoot problems on the machines he worked with in the program was another highlight.

Jesse was able to attend the program and train for his future career thanks to the Tuition Waiver program, which covers tuition for former youth in care.

“It gave me the freedom to dedicate myself fully to my training and not have to take on extra work just to pay for my education.”

Now working in the industry, Jesse says his favourite thing about his line of work is the variety of tasks he gets to do, which vary from day to day, whether it’s digging, clearing or moving land. Working outdoors is another key bonus in his line of work.

He says the skills he learned at VIU gave him a good foundation for starting his career, but that being an entrepreneur has also taught him a lot of new lessons.

“It’s not just about operating equipment – there’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work involved in running a successful business,” he says. “I had to learn about logistics, managing client expectations and business operations.”

Overall, Jesse says running his own business has been “challenging but rewarding,” and adds a layer of excitement to the work he does.

“I get to make decisions, manage projects and take pride in seeing a job well done,” he says. “Most importantly, I dictate my schedule and can make time for my family when needed.”

He advises current or future students to take every opportunity for hands-on learning that they can get, whether in the program or during internships and work placements.

“The more you can practice, the better prepared you’ll be for the real world,” he says, adding that being able to watch and learn from professionals already in the field was incredibly beneficial for him.

“Trust the process and don’t rush it,” he says. “If you’re considering this field, know that it’s not just about operating machinery – it’s about the opportunity to grow your own career, take on big projects and be part of an industry that builds the world around us.”