Dustin Blankenship travelled a long and winding road to a career in welding. Now his journey has paid off.
A native of Barboursville and a 2015 graduate of Huntington High School, Blankenship spent his early career on the road, driving trucks across the region. What started as a plan to become a lineman turned into nearly five years behind the wheel. “Driving these trucks was pretty easy,” he said. “And I thought it was actually kind of fun.”
But long hours on the road gave him something else: time to think.
Eventually, that thinking led him to welding — a skill he’d dabbled in when he was younger and one that ran in the family. “It always looked neat,” he said. “I just never pursued it.” That changed when he came across the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center’s Welding Technology Program.
He still remembers the moment he applied. Sitting in a tire shop waiting on his vehicle, Blankenship filled out the application and got a call back within minutes. “I tell that story all the time,” he said. “It was probably two minutes later. They said they only had one or two spots left and asked if I wanted in. I said ‘yeah.’”
From there, he didn’t look back.
While enrolled in the program, Blankenship continued working as a regional truck driver, juggling long shifts on the road with evening classes. “I was working Saturday through Tuesday and going to class Wednesday and Thursday nights,” he said. “It was a grind, but I wanted it.”
That determination paid off. He completed the program in 2024, but even before graduating, he knew what he wanted to do next. “I always wanted to start a mobile welding business,” he said. “But I knew I needed more experience first.”
Blankenship transitioned from driving into a shop role at his company, where he quickly became the go-to welder. There, he expanded his skillset, working with MIG and TIG welding and handling everything from stainless steel and aluminum to pressure vessels. “I wanted to make sure I wasn’t just jumping out there without knowing what I was doing,” he said.
After building experience — and saving money — he launched Tri-State Mobile Welding & Construction in May 2025.
At first, it was a side hustle. Blankenship would wake up at 4 a.m. for his day job, finish in the afternoon, then head out to welding jobs in the evenings and on weekends. “I’d do three- or four-hour jobs after work, once or twice a week,” he said. “Whatever I could fit in.”
Before long, demand for his welding services outpaced his availability. “It got to where I was turning down jobs because of my regular job,” he said. “So I had to quit.”
His leap of faith paid off.
Today, Blankenship runs a growing business based in Chesapeake, Ohio, offering a service that fills a clear gap in the region. “When I did my research, there really weren’t any licensed, insured mobile welders around here,” he said. “That’s what sealed it for me. I knew there was a place in the market.”
From local repair work to contracts that take him across state lines — even as far as Richmond, Kentucky — Blankenship goes where the work is. Still, he’s mindful of why he started the business in the first place. “I’ll travel, but I don’t want to be gone for weeks or months,” he said. “That defeats the purpose of being home.”
The work itself is as varied as it is demanding. One day he’s repairing dumpsters: cutting, bracing and reinforcing worn metal. The next, he’s welding stainless steel sinks in the middle of a busy commercial kitchen. “I’ll be laying in there welding while they’re making fries,” he said with a laugh. “They don’t want to shut down, so you just make it work.”
It’s that hands-on, problem-solving nature of the job that keeps him hooked. “I like working with my hands and making nothing into something,” he said. “It’s a creative craft. You’ve got to think, measure and build. It’s not just one thing.”
He’s especially drawn to TIG welding, which he describes as “an art.” But no matter the method, Blankenship emphasizes that welding is a constant learning experience. “Every day, you’re learning something new,” he said. “Different metals, different conditions — you might be upside down one day and vertical the next. You’re never perfect at everything.”
That mindset — staying humble, staying curious — has been key to his growth.
It’s also something he encourages in others. For those considering a career in welding, his advice is simple: be certain. “It’s a very detail-oriented job, and it has to be right,” he said. “If you’re not passionate about it, you’re going to burn out pretty quick.”
Blankenship credits Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center with helping him build that foundation. “It was a great experience,” he said. “I was always asking questions. ‘Why are you holding it like that? Why are you going that slow?’ The instructors were always helping me.”
Now, he’s beginning to pay that forward. He’s hired a fellow graduate to assist on jobs when needed and hopes to continue growing. His long-term vision includes building a large shop and expanding into commercial projects. “I want to do bigger-scale work eventually,” he said. “But right now, I’m at a steady pace. I’m not forcing it.”
MAMC Welding Instructor Brad Lowe predicts Blankenship will go far with his business endeavor. “As a student, he was inquisitive. He would ask a lot of questions – good questions – the kind that made him, and his fellow students, better welders. Dustin has demonstrated that he’s the type of individual whose dedication, determination and work ethic almost guarantee success.”
To learn more about Tri-State Mobile Welding & Construction and see examples of Blankenship’s work, visit the company’s Facebook page. To contact Blankenship, call 740-302-3055.
March 26, 2026
