Less than a year ago, Tamara Shinn of Sissonville was struggling to figure out what to do with her life. The mother of a high schooler and two adult children had worked a series of relatively low-paying jobs and was searching for something better.
“I was looking for something physically gratifying yet also monetarily lucrative,” she said. Shinn heard about a program called the Step Up for Women Advanced Manufacturing Pre-Apprenticeship and decided to enroll. Presented by West Virginia Women Work in partnership with the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC), the free 10-week Step Up program prepares women for entry-level jobs as machinists.
“I was at a very low point in my journey and Step Up was the answer to my prayers,” she explained.
Gwynna Midkiff can relate. The Amma mother of three was coping with the deaths of her mother and grandmother in early 2023 – then lost her job of 14 years. She submitted multiple employment applications but never was called for an interview. “My local workforce representative told me about the Step Up program. She said ‘try it, you might like it,’ and she was right.”
Though the women said they did not know what machinists did before enrolling in the program, they quickly found metalworking fascinating.
“I love watching the machines transform a chunk of metal into a shiny, patterned, function object,” Shinn explained. “I’m interested in all of the different components of different metals and their properties and strengths. I also love the fact that some make beautiful sounds when tapped a certain way. So musical!”
Midkiff and Shinn graduated from the Step Up program in spring 2024.
They decided to continue their machinist training, enrolling in MAMC’s Machinist Technology/CNC career skills program, offered in South Charleston in partnership with BridgeValley Community and Technical College. Students can earn industry credentials, a one-year certificate and a two-year associate of applied science degree.
“I decided to continue because I realized I was actually enjoying machining and wanted to learn more about it,” Midkiff said. “There is a lot to machining that I like so where do I even start. Watching the machines take a raw piece of material and make a part out of it is pretty awesome.”
The women attend hands-on classes Mondays and Tuesdays at MAMC’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology Training and Education Center in South Charleston. The program prepares individuals to operate various types of computer-controlled equipment with additional instruction in blueprint reading, computer-aided design, metallurgy, precision measuring and safety.
“I fell in love with the laid back atmosphere of the program,” Shinn said. “The instructors know so very much about machining. It’s pretty impressive. They make machining seem accessible to anyone with a little patience, which they have so much of.”
Midkiff and Shinn are not just training to be machinists. They already are working in the industry, serving paid internships Wednesday through Friday at Industrial Bolting Technologies in Charleston, where they operate computer-numerical-controlled machines similar to those at MAMC. The company manufactures hydraulic torque wrenches sold across the country and around the world.
“After completing the training and getting my associates degree in machining, I hope to stay with Industrial Bolting,” Midkiff said. It’s a great company to work for because they treat you like family.” Shinn said she also would like to continue working at Industrial Bolting after graduation or for a small company that produces metal components.
To other women considering pursuing a career in machining, Midkiff offered a bit of advice. “Even if you are unsure of the industry, just try it. Don’t second guess it because you never know if you like it until you try it. I know I love it!”
Shinn is glad she took the leap. After overcoming a lot of adversity in life, she took a chance and things are looking up. “I keep saying that even if nobody else is proud of me, I am proud of me. It’s taken a long time to say that. I have worked really hard and my hard work is finally paying off!”
To learn more about Step Up for Women, visit the website here. For additional information about MAMC’s CNC Machining academic program, visit the website here.
Jan. 28, 2025
