James Adkins of Mason County has always enjoyed working with his hands, but it wasn’t until high school that he realized machining could become a career. Growing up near Apple Grove, just outside of Point Pleasant, he enrolled in machining courses at the Mason County Career Center during his junior and senior years. His experience sparked a fascination he couldn’t shake.
“I became interested in the program in high school,” Adkins said. “I took machining in vocational school, and when MAMC was mentioned, I saw how much it was another level of what I had done. It just sparked my interest.”
After graduating from Hannan Junior/Senior High School in 2024, Adkins enrolled in the Machinist Technology/CNC Program offered by Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC) in partnership with Mountwest Community and Technical College. He concluded the program in December 2025.
Machinist Instructor Rick Smoot remembers Adkins as a standout from the moment he arrived. “James, he was a good student. He came in really knowing a lot more than most people do,” Smoot said. “He came from Point Pleasant, and we don’t ever get a bad student from there. He was actually kind of a class leader. He knew his stuff. He learned quickly. He came in with the right attitude.”
Adkins said one of the biggest strengths of the program is how much students can grow if they’re willing to put in the effort.
“It’s majorly up to you during this program how much you will learn,” he said. “Even if you come in knowing nothing, the instructors are very good about helping you if you want the help. If you really want the help and seek it, there’s not really a limit to how much you can learn here.”
That mindset helped him build the problem-solving skills he uses every day.
“To me, what makes a good machinist is problem solving,” Adkins said. “Everything we deal with is a problem, and there’s not always just one solution. You can ask three machinists the same question and get four right answers.”
Today, Adkins works as a machinist at Mouldagraph Corp. in Nitro, a manufacturing operation where no two days look the same.
“We’re a job shop, so you never know what you’re going to be doing,” he said. “You’re very seldom doing production-line work. It’s not repetitive. You won’t do the same thing twice within the same few months.”
At Mouldagraph, Adkins performs manual lathe work, CNC milling and other machining tasks. The diversity is exactly what drew him to the company.
“I like having an end goal,” he said. “I like watching something bare, just raw stock material, and turning it into something that will help somebody or help something run differently – a tool, or a part to a machine. I’ve been practicing this skillset for about five years now, and I love turning something rough into something functional.”
Smoot said Adkins has conveyed that same drive into his career. “He went to work at Mouldagraph, and I think he’s found a home there,” Smoot said. “He’s one of our success stories, for sure.”
Adkins encourages new students and new machinists to embrace the learning process.
“Don’t beat yourself up,” he said. “You’re going to learn from your mistakes. Don’t be afraid to make them. Just pay attention to the instructors – they’re not going to steer you wrong.”
From high school vocational classes to a full-time machining profession, Adkins has built his path through curiosity, persistence and a willingness to learn. His experience reflects what many students discover at MAMC: a place where hands-on training, encouraging instructors and real-world opportunities can turn an interest into a career.
For students considering the program, Adkins’ journey is proof that machining offers both challenge and reward, and a future built one precise cut at a time.
To learn more about MAMC’s Machinist Technology/CNC Program, visit www.mfg.marshall.edu/cnc-machinist.
Aug. 26, 2026
