TJ Elsbernd Builds His Future Through Industrial Technology

TJ is a working professional with over a decade of experience who realized that his lack of academic credentials was holding him back. Over the years, TJ had tried college and due to life circumstances, he never finished. In his late 30s and a married father of three, TJ returned to school at Aims Community College as a way to improve his upward trajectory and increase his family's income. 

He is completing an associate degree in Industrial Technology and will graduate in December 2025. “It’s fulfilling a dream I’ve had to get a degree,” he said.  

Learning by Doing

TJ is a full-time employee at Broadcom, a global technology company that has a manufacturing and engineering facility in Fort Collins. He has spent 12 years helping the company manufacture wavelength filters that are components used in most modern cell phones. What began as a job became a passion when he discovered the world of robotics and industrial technology.

He explains his job as a line tech this way: “I fix tools, troubleshoot issues and make sure everything keeps running smoothly.” Through his experience, TJ developed a passion for the technical and problem-solving aspects of the job. It was a great fit as he always liked taking things apart and putting them back together. Once working, that interest grew into a goal: to become a technician at Broadcom, a position that requires an associate degree.

TJ chose Aims because the Industrial Technology program closely aligns with his interests and aspirations. Another benefit is the program’s required apprenticeship, which gives students like TJ a direct way to connect what they learn in class to what they do on the job.

While he continues his regular responsibilities, he also trains side-by-side with experienced technicians at Broadcom. This allows TJ to apply what he’s learning at Aims in the exact environment where he hopes to advance. The opportunity to gain more experience, complementing the degree with additional mentorship and guidance, is something that TJ appreciates. 

The hands-on learning has transformed how TJ approaches challenges. “Aims has definitely prepared me to think like a technician,” he explained. “You need to know how things work so you can find solutions and act accordingly.”

That shift in mindset opened the door to something more profound for him. The more he understood the logic behind the systems, the more he gravitated toward the machines themselves. 

“Coming to Aims really made me fall in love with robotics, fixing them, finding problems, it’s turned into quite a bit of fun for me,” he said. TJ doesn’t just stand back and watch robots do tricks. He learns to command the machine, anticipates how it will behave, and uses both logic and intuition to coax precision out of metal and wires. “Getting to move and program the robots, grab a chess piece, make an X on paper, it’s a lot of fun to do.” 

Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) are another significant piece of technology he works with at Aims. These are the computerized “brains” inside modern manufacturing equipment. TJ explains that: PLCs control what a machine does and when it performs the action. TJ’s PLC class taught him how to program and modify those functions. He had never coded before, so learning PLCs opened an entirely new world for him. Aims has a complete PLC training system in the lab. 

TJ has been particularly impressed by the significant growth of the program. “When I started, we had one robot and a programmable logic controller (PLC) section,” he said. “Now there are seven different robots, transportable PLC units, it’s amazing. You can tell Aims is passionate about this program and it shows.”

Finding Strength in Support and Mentorship

TJ’s journey back to the classroom has been demanding, yet transformative. As he is nearing graduation, he reflects on his journey and looks forward to the path of career advancement. 

The road back to college hasn’t been easy, but TJ is proud of how far he’s come. Balancing school, work and family life has been challenging.  “I don’t know how many times I thought, ‘I’m done, this is too hard,’” he admitted. “But I kept going, asking for help, asking for advice. I’m proud that I didn’t quit.”

When asked what he would tell someone thinking about going back to school, TJ’s advice is honest and encouraging. “It’s going to be hard. Don’t pretend that it’s not. Plan for it to be hard,” he said. 

“It’s a hundred percent worth it. If you think it’s all on you, it will be. But once you reach out, you’ll see how many resources and opportunities there really are.”

With support from both Broadcom and Aims faculty, he’s found ways to make it work. “Every time I’ve needed something, Aims has pulled through,” he said. “They’ve been very responsive and invaluable. I’ve never felt left out or without support.”

TJ cites Dave Sordi, the chair and instructor in industrial technology, as one of the people who has made his time at Aims a success. “Anytime I’ve needed help, he’s been there,” TJ shared.

Sordi also has praise for TJ. “He is an excellent leader, routinely taking point on group projects and exercises and making sure all team members understand their roles and responsibilities and helping them overcome obstacles. TJ has a great attitude and is always willing to ask questions that others may be reluctant to ask.  

Another Aims employee who has guided TJ at Aims is Program Coordinator Megan Blaser. “She has taken time out for me personally. That’s pretty amazing.” Blaser works one-on-one with students to support them throughout their entire educational journey. She fosters an environment to empower students to take ownership of their education and feel confident in the decisions they make for their future. 

She was also impressed by TJ and his growth in the program. “He arrived with a clear goal and vision for his future, so my primary role was simply to help him navigate the college process, procedures and resources efficiently,” Blaser said. “With his natural drive and initiative, he quickly emerged as a leader among his peers.” 

That steady guidance from those who recognized his determination and helped him find his footing.  As he learned to lean on mentors who believed in his potential, TJ found himself wanting to pass that same sense of leadership and possibility on to his own children.

“Just seeing my kids see me doing this and graduating. It’s instilled in them to want higher education,” he said. “They see in real life the benefits.”