By: Karen Edwards, Ph.D.
Making a Difference: One Face Mask at a Time
Laurus College Alumni (and current Bachelor’s program student), Alfredo Rayos is making a difference by protecting our community and helping the local economy at the same time. Alfredo is the Vice President of Operations at Mob Armor, a Santa Maria-based company that is a leading manufacturer of heavy-duty cell phone and camera mounts. Realizing that there was an unmet demand for personal protective equipment due to Covid-19, Mob Armor switched production from mounts to face shields for healthcare workers. Last month, the company sold 10,000 shields to medical facilities and other businesses across the country! In order to keep up with production, Mob Armor just moved into a new 14,000 square foot plant. Their goal is to produce upwards of 300,000 shields a month for everyone from healthcare workers to store clerks. Alfredo also says that the company will be hiring employees to keep up with demand, which is great news for the local economy! Below is an excerpt from my interview with Alfredo.
How many years have you been with Mob Armor?
“I have been with my company for over 6 years now.” Alfredo started at Mob Armor after earning his Vocational Certificate in Web Design from Laurus College in 2014. This was prior to the launch of Laurus College’s Associate’s Degree and Bachelor’s Degree programs.
What has been your favorite class at Laurus College?
“I don’t have a favorite class to speak of since I loved almost all of them. I do remember one class that stood out because of how much fun I had with the final project. It was my Adobe InDesign class with Brad Koyak. I kind of got wrapped up in the details of the program and ended up with a children’s book at the end. I have thought about attempting to publish it since.”
What do you like best about Laurus College?
“I think that learning begins with great teachers. That is what I like the best about Laurus College. The instructors have been instrumental in everything I have learned and applied to my professional career. One instructor, in particular, is Jeffrey Staso. Jeffrey taught me web design from the beginning and continues to teach me today. He is one of the reasons why I want to teach someday. I hope to show people what he has shown me with is the articulation of what he knows and how he conveys material. I am grateful and want to give back.”
For more information on Mob Armor shields, or to donate face shields to an organization of your choice, please visit https://mobarmor.com/ppe-face-shield/.