The Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC) has added three new team members as it continues expanding services to meet the workforce needs of industry.
Tiffany Ellis of Huntington has been named program manager for Apprenticeship Works, the National Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship Partnership operated by MAMC. In her new role, Ellis will arrange train-the-trainer services for companies that establish apprenticeship programs, work with them to customize training to their particular operation, help track the progress of apprentices and serve as a liaison with the U.S. Department of Labor.
A native of Wheeling, Ellis came to Huntington to attend Marshall University and never left. She met her future husband in her very first university class in 1998 (though they didn’t marry until more than 20 years later). Ellis earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, a master’s degree in adult technical education and a post-master’s education specialist degree – all from Marshall.
She has extensive workforce experience, developing training programs for Fortune 500 companies, and providing staff training for private industry and government agencies.
When not on the job, Ellis lives what she described as “my sports mom era,” shuttling her 10-year-old son to baseball, football and basketball games and cheering him on from the stands. Ellis also enjoys reading. She just finished Spare, a memoir by Prince Harry and considers Barbara Walters as her favorite author.
Anna Holman is the second new member of the Apprenticeship Works team, joining MAMC as administrative specialist. The Chesapeake, Ohio, native is responsible for coordinating workforce events, data collection and analysis, database management, generating reports and scheduling for the Apprenticeship Works team.
Holman previously worked providing administrative support for the National Youth Science Academy based in Davis. The organization delivers STEM outreach to students across West Virginia.
After graduating from the Tri-State STEM+M Early College High School in South Point, Ohio, Holman earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary social sciences with a minor in business administration from Clarkson University in New York. “I originally went there to study engineering,” she explained. “I quickly figured out that I really like engineering in theory but it’s not something I want to be doing it every day.”
In her spare time, Holman enjoys reading, participating in community theater and using her sewing skills to create historical costumes such as the 1860s dress she’s currently making – complete with bustle, corsetry, crinoline and petticoats.
Colby McCoy has joined MAMC as an advanced manufacturing industrial instructor for the SMART (Systems, Maintenance Automation and Regional Technology) career skills program, offered in Huntington and Point Pleasant. He will teach students in both locations.
McCoy brings 18 years of industry experience to the position. He previously worked for companies such as Toyota, Special Metals and as a private contractor.
McCoy earned his Six Sigma blackbelt with a focus on manufacturing and lean management through the University of South Florida. He also achieved OSHA certification through the American Safety Council.
A graduate of Point Pleasant High School, the Mason County native grew up in Hendersonville. He now resides in Ona with his wife and five children: four boys and a girl, the youngest of whom are twins. “Our house is fun, to say the least… always one of them to keep us on our toes.”
As the start of the fall semester approaches, McCoy said he looks forward to helping individuals launch careers. “What I hope students take from my teaching is the belief that good careers are created through hard work and dedication to discipline in learning,” he explained. “If they can absorb the curriculum and knowledge of the industry I have to teach them, they will be able to find careers with longevity, not just jobs to go to.”
July 25, 2025
