For Bud Willis, second shift at BTD comes with a pretty unique perk: He gets to work alongside three of his sons.

Bud, Julian Willis, Nolan McKenna and Clay McKenna have each taken a different path at BTD. They work across the warehouse, blanking and fabrication departments, but being on the same shift means their paths cross plenty, whether it’s during a break, around the facility or after work.

And it all started with Bud.

Before joining BTD five years ago, Bud already knew the company from hauling steel there while running his own trucking business. He came aboard as a material handler and later put his CDL to use as a yard truck driver. Since then, his sons have followed,  though each is building a career of his own.

Different paths, plenty of opportunity

Julian joined BTD three years ago after hearing good things about the company from his dad. Today, he works in production setup in the blanking department and has been intentional about building his skills there.

“I decided to stick with production, so I have more opportunities to move up in job titles,” Julian said.

Long term, he hopes that path could evolve into to a leadership role.

Nolan took a different route, joining the warehouse as a forklift driver two years ago. He’s stayed in that role while learning other areas of the operation and how they work together.

Then there’s Clay, the newest BTD employee in the family. After hearing about the company from his dad and brothers, he joined fabrication as a work-based learner. In his first eight months, he’s focused on learning from the employees around him, getting faster at the job and building his skills. For now, he sees himself sticking with fabrication.

Four family members. Four different starting points. And, for Bud, a front-row seat to all of it.

“As a dad, it’s a great feeling to work side by side with my kids and to see them mature and grow,” he said.

More than coworkers

Of course, when your coworkers are also your family, there are a few perks you won’t find in the employee handbook. There are lunch breaks together and time to catch up during the shift. Julian and Nolan often head to the gym together after work. And one of Bud’s favorite memories involves all four of them staying up late to smoke a ham for a BTD Thanksgiving potluck, visiting and playing games while they waited.

Those everyday moments have made working together memorable. Soon, though, second shift is going to look a little different.

Nolan’s next chapter

Nolan is leaving BTD to join the U.S. Marines.

For him, the decision came from wanting to serve his country and protect the people around him. He’ll head to San Diego for training and plans to pursue mechanical engineering. And while the next step will take him well beyond BTD, Nolan says some of what he’s learned on the job will go with him.

Working at BTD has taught him how to be part of a team, bring a strong work ethic to the job and communicate with different people — skills that will serve him well in what comes next. What will he miss?

“I will miss being able to see them every day and talk on our breaks,” Nolan said.

But there’s plenty of pride mixed in, too. Bud has spent the past several years watching his sons find their own way at BTD. Now he gets to watch one of them take what he’s learned and head in an entirely new direction.

And back on second shift, there will still be three members of the family carrying on the BTD tradition.