Mike Bey
Stain Glass Instructor

If it wasn’t for Tuition Assistance and Career Development I would not be doing what I am doing today! I hired in at Bethlehem Steel’s Burns Harbor Plant in 1970. I was 18 and right out of high school. I really wanted to go to college but could not afford to. My plan was to work in the mill for a couple of years, save some money then go to college. I was fortunate and worked for a great supervisor who when he found what my plans were told me since I was clerical that I was able to use Tuition Assistance to take college classes. Needless to say, eighteen years later I was still working at Bethlehem and had received my BA and MBA from Indiana University Northwest. A few years later Burns Harbor Career Development was offering a Stained Glass class, I took it, and I was hooked. After three more classes and some additional training I am now retired and the owner of Blue Heron Stained Glass LLC. I do custom stained glass and fused glass in my studio.

The first class I taught for Career Development was in 2004. I now teach at all of the mills along the lake. I teach stained glass, mosaic glass, and glass fusing classes. I also teach a non-glass class on building tubular wind chimes. I really enjoy teaching at Career Development and I feel that I learn as much from the students as they do from me. I am always in awe of the creativity level of all the employees who take my classes. I also enjoy the fact that some people who have taken my classes are now creating their own projects for their personal enjoyment and for sale.