Sheet metal certification: MATC
TrueMan McGee, an alumnus of Milwaukee Area Technical College, founded Milwaukee-based Funky Fresh Spring Rolls in 2013, initially selling his gourmet, grilled spring rolls at area farmers markets and events. Today, the brand has its packaged frozen spring rolls in 400 stores across the country.
National growth was part of the plan when McGee sold a majority of the business to Milwaukee-based Palermo Villa Inc. in 2022. McGee promotes his product line in grocery stores from North Carolina to California and on various social media platforms.
McGee was born in Milwaukee and grew up at 26th and Burleigh streets. He graduated from Milwaukee Technical High School, now known as Bradley Tech. The school emphasized the trades as the best way to a career, so McGee took sheet metal classes. He ultimately enrolled in MATC’s sheet metal apprenticeship program, earning his certificate in 2010.
“The things I learned at MATC I still use to this day: project management, troubleshooting, math,” said McGee. “At MATC, I learned that math isn’t just paper on a test. I learned that I had to apply math at my job. If I wasn’t good at math, I wouldn’t have a job.”
