PEOSTA—Northeast Iowa Community College helped translate a high schooler’s
interest in machining into a thriving career and self-employment. Randy Decker, now
president of Decker Precision Machining of Peosta, has grown his local business into a 35,000
square foot, state-of-the-art CNC facility with 45 dedicated employees that serves domestic
and international markets for industries. The 1982 Machining graduate will be honored for his
contributions to his profession and the community at the NICC Alumni Hall of Fame induction
ceremony on Nov. 17.
As a junior at Dubuque Senior High School, Decker realized he had a natural ability in
the vocational area and keen entrepreneurial skills that he wished to pursue further. Upon
graduation from NICC’s Machinist program, he worked at a local machine shop and refined his
skills. In 1989 Randy and his brother started their own company in Peosta. In nearly 20 years
of work at the Peosta facility, the Decker brothers have grown their business to a machining
firm that is over three times its start-up size.
“In the 19 and one-half years of Decker Precision’s operation, we have had as few as
two employees – my brother and me – to the 45 employees who work there today. And we
have never had a layoff,” Decker said. “I would say that NICC gave me a broader idea of
many subjects, including things that I needed to learn, like metallurgy, blueprint reading and
inspection. I also received a lot of encouragement from NICC instructors about the machining
jobs that were available when I graduated,” he said.
Decker made the most of his NICC experience and later sought out the Greater
Dubuque Development Corporation, particularly Charlie Tonn, to learn the financial aspects of
running his own business. When he was ready to start his own machining business, Decker
made a clean break from his full time job and part time work on the family farm. Decker said
there are always challenges in business. Sometimes staffing a business can be very difficult,
and he feels fortunate to have found qualified employees with strong work ethics.
In his spare time Randy volunteers with the Grand View United Methodist Church in
Dubuque, serving as the chair of finance and in the past as project manager for the
construction of the new facility. He lives in Dubuque with his wife, Joni, and children, Sydney
and Dylan. Decker rewards himself with family vacations, boating and skiing.
Since the College was founded in 1966, many students have achieved distinction in
their professions and communities. NICC’s alumni association, Connection Point, celebrates
distinguished alumni at the NIC Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies each fall. The alumni
inducted are not only chosen for success in their career but also for what they give back to
their local community. Those chosen fully embody NICC’s values of service, respect, integrity,
innovation and stewardship. For more information on Connection Point, contact Barb O’Hea,
associate director for the NICC Foundation, at (563) 556-5110, ext. 284.
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