By Anika Colvin, NWM Communications Director
When I sat down with Jared, a 17-year-old senior at Port Townsend High School, I was struck right away by how confidently he spoke about his summer job. For most teenagers, earning money might mean bussing tables or scooping ice cream. Jared chose something entirely different: working in a foundry.
Jared’s connection to the maritime world began just last year, when he joined the Port Townsend Maritime Academy (PTMA) as a junior. Having recently moved from Oklahoma, maritime was completely new to him. “I wanted to give it a try,” he explained. “I wanted to look at careers I might like around the Port, and PTMA seemed like a good way in.” It didn’t take long for him to find his footing. Now in his second year at PTMA, Jared has taken what he learned in the classroom and put it to work in a summer job that few high schoolers could imagine.
When he decided he didn’t want another restaurant job, Jared reached out to Chrissy McLean, Northwest Maritime’s Career Launch Program Manager, about summer opportunities. One of the options on the list was at Port Townsend Foundry, where world renowned Pete Langley was looking for help. Jared did some YouTube research, thought the work looked “really cool,” and soon found himself in an interview. “Pete hired me on the spot,” Jared said with a grin. A few days later, he was clocking in.
Langley sees mentorship as an essential part of the Foundry’s work. “Trying to help people experience what the trades and industry are like is really important,” he said. “For Jared, or any of the young people working here, it’s an opportunity to see how the industry works and think about what a pathway forward might look like. Having a positive attitude, the ability to take direction, and the willingness to learn what’s necessary to be successful are all very important. He also contributes to a positive working environment. Experiences like this can lead to lots of opportunities down the road, whether that’s here or anywhere else.”
The Port Townsend Foundry itself is steeped in history. First established in 1883, it was revived in the 1980s by Pete Langley and continues to produce high-quality marine hardware while maintaining a vast library of wooden patterns, some more than a century old. For Jared, that legacy isn’t abstract—it’s the parts he helps make every day.
Because he’s 17, there are certain limits to what he can do, but Jared has already taken on real responsibility. He started in the molding room, learning from co-worker Gabe, who walked him through each step. “By my second day, I was already making molds,” Jared said. These molds form ship and sailboat parts—everything from goosenecks to shredders to fittings that keep lines in place. He’s also done some finishing work by grinding and sandblasting.
The most dramatic part of the job—pouring molten metal—is left to seasoned veterans like Joshua, who has been with the foundry for six years, and owner, Pete Langley. But Jared has still been part of the action, helping pull the lines during pours and learning the sequence: pour, wait, crack open the mold, break the sand, aerate it, and prepare for the next casting.
“It’s all been really cool,” Jared reflected. “I didn’t know anything at all about what a foundry was, but I have loved learning. Everything has a purpose.”
His experience at PTMA has also shaped him. He admitted he once thought maritime workers were “kind of grouchy and crusty,” but quickly realized how wrong he was. “The instructors are really nice, and they love their jobs,” he said. A highlight was the sailing unit: “I thought sailing was boring and simple, but once we got on the water, pulling the lines and setting the sails—it was really fun. All the elements working together was great.”
As for the future, Jared is keeping his options open but knows it will involve working with his hands. Carpentry, marine electrical, or other maritime trades are on his list. Trade school is the next step. “I love wood,” he said, “but I also really want to stick with maritime.”
Watching him talk about the foundry, it’s clear this summer job has been more than just a paycheck. For Jared, it’s been a launching point—one that’s already shaping a future in the maritime trades and beyond.
Feature photo taken by Tim Murray