UEI Garden Grove Helps Long-Time Tradesman Reinvent His Career

When Daniel Baume walked onto UEI’s Garden Grove campus for the first time, he wasn’t just thinking about himself and his own future. He was thinking about his 14-year-old son.

“I chose UEI because I wanted to show my son that hard work and dedication truly pay off,” Daniel said. “Changing careers wasn’t going to be easy, but I wanted him to see that when you put in the effort to learn something new, you can build a better future.”

Daniel isn’t new to hard work. For years, he built a solid career in the trades — running his own construction business, remodeling homes, and even co-owning a company that specialized in kitchens, bathrooms, and full-home rebuilds.

It was rewarding work, but Daniel knew something was missing. The jobs didn’t come with the kind of stability and long-term benefits that he wanted and needed for his family. When he started applying for positions with the City of Irvine, he hit a wall.

“I had all the experience, but I didn’t have the certifications or paperwork they needed,” Daniel said. “That’s when I realized I had to take the next step and get the professional training to back up what I already knew.”

That step included registering as a student in UEI’s Electrician Technician program.

Finding Mentorship, and Becoming a Mentor, at UEI

After researching a variety of different training options, Daniel said UEI stood out.

“When I visited, the staff was welcoming, the instructors were knowledgeable, and I just felt at home,” he said. “I knew this was the place I wanted to be.”

And from day one, Daniel said he was impressed with the instructors. Specifically, he found his first instructor, Mr. Hereida, knowledgeable and motivating.

“He gave me a lot of confidence in what I was doing and where I could go,” Daniel said of his teacher. “I still stop by his classroom to tell new students how lucky they are to have him.”

That spirit of mentorship is something Daniel has embraced himself. As one of the older students in his program, he takes pride in guiding his younger classmates, many of whom are just beginning their adult lives and careers.

“I’ve been coaching my whole life, so being able to mentor these younger guys is important to me,” he said. “Helping them take advantage of opportunities I missed when I was their age gives me a real sense of satisfaction.”

His involvement has grown to the point where he proudly wears a student ambassador shirt, serving as a peer leader both in and out of the classroom.

A Lesson for His Son

More than anything, Daniel views his time at UEI as a living lesson for his son.

“I was raised by my grandparents, and my grandfather’s example really shaped me,” Daniel said. “He worked hard, volunteered, and showed me what dedication looked like. Now I want to pass that on to my son.”

His son has dreams of becoming an engineer, a path Daniel fully supports. Together, they spend time building projects, fixing things around the house, and diving into STEM classes.

“I tell him if you want to be an engineer, be an engineer, but it’s going to take a lot of hard work, he said. “I want him to see through my schooling that when you put in the effort, you can achieve your goals.”

With graduation on the horizon, Daniel is focused on becoming a licensed electrician technician and securing a stable career with benefits that will support his family long term. But he knows this journey is about more than a job title.

“My time at UEI has given me new skills, but more importantly, it’s given me the chance to show my son what hard work and commitment can achieve,” Daniel said. “We always want our kids to be better than we are, and I want this to be a foundation he can look at and say, ‘My dad did this, and I can do even better.’”

For Daniel, success isn’t measured by a paycheck alone. It’s measured by the example he sets, the support he offers his family, and the legacy he builds. In this sense, UEI is serving as an important building block in his career journey.