July 14, 2025
At Perry Tech, every day presents an opportunity to connect with prospective students seeking a better life as they arrive on campus for the first time. While this is truly exciting to be a part of, it is the success stories following graduation that we are most proud of. You see, at Perry Tech, we hang our hats so to speak on our reputation as a school for those ready to find a career. Recently, we came across a Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program alumnus who had reached out and was eager to share his success story in hopes that it would inspire others to consider Perry Tech for their higher education. This is the story as told by Ray Watson:
I enrolled at Perry Technical Institute in the winter of 1988 with limited knowledge of the school, but I believed one thing—HVAC and refrigeration could lead to a solid, lucrative career. Now, 35 years and several career chapters later, I can say without hesitation that the education and training I received during those two years were the foundation of my success.
Traditional college wasn’t the path for me. I needed structure, discipline, and hands-on learning—something Perry delivered through a time clock, rigorous expectations, and the simple, but powerful, belief that if you apply yourself, you will succeed.
Thanks to someone in Perry’s staff, I found an apartment in Selah for $400 a month. I worked two jobs to make rent—at Frank’s Tire in Union Gap after class, and at Zwight Logging on weekends. My motivation? Never have to handle another truck tire again.
I gravitated toward industrial refrigeration more than HVAC, and with three months until graduation, I hit the pavement to find a job. Out of 10 companies I approached, two responded: Darigold in Chehalis, WA and Pepsi Bottling in Tumwater, WA. I chose Darigold for the chance to grow my skills.
Darigold (1990–1996)
At Darigold, I dove headfirst into complex systems—ammonia refrigeration, sanitary TIG welding, separators, large scale evaporators, boilers, direct heat dryers as well as fluid bed dryers. Every day was a challenge, and I thrived. Perry had prepared me well for troubleshooting, adjusting, and learning on the fly.
Rohm and Haas Chemical (1996–2002)
Looking for a bigger challenge, I moved on to Rohm and Haas in Elma, WA, where we produced Sodium Borohydride. I joined a tight-knit crew of seasoned millwrights and an instrument crew that included three other Perry Tech grads—Darrell Miller, Jimmy Howard, and Ralph Hutchinson—who I jokingly called “the brain trust.” We designed, built, machined, welded, and maintained systems alongside chemical and electrical engineers. The safety culture and constant innovation kept me engaged and growing. The majority of all work was completed in-house. Welding, machining, fabrication, refrigeration, instrumentation, carpentry work. We did it all.
Back to Darigold (2002–2006)
Darigold called me back in 2002 to help lead a plant-wide upgrade. I wanted management experience, so I made the change. The equipment was aging, and the maintenance process lacked structure. I returned to help implement a modern CMMS system, overhaul the refrigeration system, upgrade controls, and build a true team culture. Our safety record hit a milestone: one full year without a lost-time or recordable accident. It was a first for Darigold-Chehalis. We were creating a new safety culture. I learned that success wasn’t about being the loudest voice in the room—it was about being part of a strong team.
Jackson Prairie Natural Gas Facility (2006–2021)
By 2005, burnout from long hours at Darigold led me to seek a new challenge. Darigold Human Resources called me and told me I forgot to punch out the day before. I replied, I haven't punched out because I'm still at work going on 26 hours. I joined Jackson Prairie (JP) Natural Gas Facility in Chehalis. The culture was great—deliberate and safety-first, with 47 billion cubic feet of natural gas stored underground. 10,000 HP turbines and tons of big valves as well as dehydration and cooling towers. Over time, I transitioned into a planning and construction manager role, developing work order systems and leading major projects. Projects were a great challenge. Planning meetings, layout, sourcing equipment and keeping everything on a timeline as well as on budget. Eventually, filling roles in the safety and environmental departments for the site. Challenges included learning how to work with large well drilling companies and roughneck crews for natural gas well inspections at 1500 to 2000 feet underground for my last three years at JP. I enjoyed working with some great teams. It was great to be involved with upgrading parts of a 50 year old process. Every day was about precision, safety, and accountability.
Olympia Distilling Company: A New Chapter
While at Jackson Prairie, I partnered with a local brewer to start a distillery on weekends. I sourced and built our equipment from scratch—stainless tanks, a conical-top still, fermentation vessels, chillers, and heating elements. After receiving Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) approval, we began production, though it was slow at first. Our team shrank from five to three, and in 2015, we moved the distillery to downtown Olympia for better visibility.
In 2018, we received a surprising email from Matt Bruhn, GM at Pabst Brewing Company. They wanted to partner with us to produce a new vodka under the iconic Olympia brand. We sent samples for blind taste tests, and our vodka outscored Tito’s, Ketel One, and Absolut. That led to a production agreement, and I began designing and building a larger distillery in Tumwater. I worked evenings and weekends for six months, turning an empty warehouse into a production facility with a 550-gallon still, large stainless tanks, a bottling line, and full-scale capacity.
Today
I retired from Jackson Prairie at 55 to focus on Olympia Artesian Vodka, as well as our other brands—Kelsey Gins and Woodborne Chanterelle Spirits. Thanks to our agreement with Pabst, we produce and bottle spirits under the Olympia name. We are in 300 locations throughout Washington, Oregon, Montana, a bit in Wyoming, and growing with eight gold medals in both national and international competitions.
Looking back, every skill I needed—from welding to troubleshooting, from leadership to safety—all started at Perry Tech. For those who need structure, hands-on training, and a career that grows with you, Perry Tech is more than a school—it’s a launchpad.
Ray Watson
Perry Tech HVAC/R, Class of 1990
Owner/Distiller Olympia Distilling Co & Shoebox Spirits, Co-owner Woodborne Spirits
