Jyair Conaway, 26, is a CNC operator at General Bearing in Farmington Hills, where he machines spring pins for locomotive engines and cars. He started at the company working just two days a week as part of a requirement for disability payments, but his supervisors convinced him to come on full time. He says he enjoys the work -- “I just put my headphones on and think of all the fun things in my head” – and hopes to stay long term. His supervisors hope so, too. “He’s probably better than any operator we’ve had in over a decade,” one said. “He’s a shining example of a star in this company.”
Credit: Nic Antaya/Crain’s Detroit Business
