As industry demand for skilled workers grows in our region, so, too, does the number of students enrolling in the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center’s (MAMC) career skills programs.
For fall 2026, MAMC welcomed a record 72 new students in Machinist Technology/CNC, Welding Technology and Systems Maintenance, Automation and Robotics Technology (SMART).
MAMC offers machinist and welding courses in Huntington and the SMART program in Huntington and Point Pleasant in partnership with Mountwest Community and Technical College. The machinist program also is offered in South Charleston in partnership with BridgeValley Community and Technical College.
Students earn nationally recognized industry credentials, one-year certificate degrees and two-year associate of applied science degrees through MAMC’s college partners.
“Our recent workforce survey found that area companies need to hire nearly 7,000 new manufacturing workers over the next three years, including 541 machinists, 496 welders and 696 industrial maintenance technicians,” said MAMC Director Derek Scarbro. “We’re exciting that so many people have enrolled in our in-demand programs, which will prepare them to earn good wages locally, help meet industry demand for skilled talent and build the manufacturing base here in West Virginia.”
New machinist students in Huntington are Jesse Clark, Nathaniel Canterbury, Markie Gastello, Jason Hager, Matthew Keller, Braxton McKissick, Alana Muncy-Morri and Stratton Wolf of Huntington; Conner Adkins and Caleb Adkins of West Hamlin; Elyssa Fetty of Southside; Brody Proffitt of Point Pleasant; Elisha Terry of Barboursville; and Ezra Thorton of Hurricane.
In South Charleston new machinist students are Stratton Blake, Robert Goins and Derick Price of Charleston; Steven Burk, Daniel Dawson and Zachary Meadows of Nitro; Lina Graff and Jace Liptrap of Sissonville; David Neace and Solomon Neace of Logan; Austin Wilson and Nathan Zellers of South Charleston; Mason Wood of Milton; and Josh Hamric of Charlotte, NC.
Newly enrolled SMART students in Huntington are Nyjhale Botts, Kyle Kelley and William Mankin of Huntington. of Huntington; Trenton Casdorph of Culloden; Tristan Cassidy of South Point, OH; Cooper Craig of Ashton; Gage DeVault of Point Pleasant; Samuel Egnor of Lesage; Andrew Harper of Hurricane; Bobby Lucas of West Hamlin, Levi McGhee of Branchland; and Michael Walker of Proctorville, OH.
In Point Pleasant, new SMART students are Jonathan Jordon, Mascon McGraw, Anthony Smith and Braxton Whittington of Point Pleasant; Ronald Burns of Branchland; Cannon Elswick of Winfield; Jeremiah McComas of Barboursville; Robert Miller of New Haven; Jeremy Ross of Man; and Emmanuel Ventura of Gallipolis Ferry.
Incoming welding students are Erich Adkins, Jordan Branch, Kyle Clay, Nina Crislip, Gregory Deskins, Grant Haddox, Joshua Jenkins, JaiShawn Lyles, Magdalen Robinson and Kyler Spurlock of Huntington; Emma Baker of Milton; Marcus Brumfield of Ashland, KY; Jaydon Hawthorne of Ona; Allyson Haynie and Jared McCagg of Kenova; Preston Hinchcliffe of Culloden; Sheila Murphy of Parkersburg; Justin Pierce of Wayne; Landen Shapaka of Catlettsburg, KY; and Bryce Snyder of Coal Grove, OH.
“To meet demand, we’ve expanded our machinist program to South Charleston, worked hand-in-glove with industry to develop the SMART program in Huntington and Point Pleasant; and early next year we will open our new Advanced Welding & Robotics Technology Center on the old ACF Industries site near Marshall University, allowing us to double our capacity to deliver welding instruction.
“With a placement rate well over 90 percent, we don’t just educate students. We prepare them for in-demand, well-paying careers.”
To learn more about MAMC’s career skills programs, visit www.mfg.marshall.edu/careers.
Aug. 26, 2026
