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Crawling around in a dark, cramped boiler might be your worst nightmare. But for Henry McEwen, it's a dream come true. The chief boiler inspector of the State of Mississippi started his career as a boiler operator at a power plant.

"Shortly after graduating from high school I was offered an opportunity to become a boiler operator at a power plant in Mississippi. I was overwhelmed by all the equipment and machinery associated with my work at the plant. From this grew a desire to master it."

Combining his love for business with his new-found love of boilers, McEwen earned a master's degree in engineering management and joined the Hartford Steam Boiler Insurance Company. He left the organization a year later to become deputy boiler inspector for the State of Mississippi. Three years later he was offered the chief's position, becoming the state's ninth chief in eight years.

Being Mississippi's chief inspector means McEwen has 34,000 boilers and pressure vessels to check up on. A certified public manager -- a professional designation he earned through the University Center of Mississippi -- the former boiler operator is also a member of the American Academy of Certified Public Managers.

Dedication to service is the most important aspect of an inspector's job. Madiha Kotb is proud of what she does, and wants to offer the best service possible.

"For us, it's never a chore to go to work. The tougher and more complex the problem on the job, the more we look forward to solving it."

It's this kind of attitude that has made Kotb one of the few women working in a field dominated by men. It's an attitude critical for anyone who is entering the field to have as well.

Employers look for employees who are motivated, modest, accept criticism well, and are patient and persistent. "The great thing about the apprentice tradition of learning is that newcomers aren't picking up my trade from textbooks and a shop teacher, but every day from a master."

Pride is essential to smooth the sometimes rocky relationships between inspectors and boiler owners. It provides the inspector with the right professional attitude to deal with the public and others. That includes technical assistance and education, which goes beyond simple inspection and enforcement.

For McEwen, it really boils down to having fun while doing a good job. "I guess you could say that I'm a happy person with a good attitude. My grandparents instilled in me a strong sense of patience and self-reliance that helped me get through both my early school years and adolescence. I found out early on that if I was going to make it in this world, I'd have to make my own decisions."