SEPTEMBER 2026

Come celebrate creativity this Friday at MU

---The 13th-annual West Virginia Makes Festival is shaping up to be a cornucopia of creativity and ingenuity as people of all ages prepare to converge on Marshall University’s Memorial Student Center this Friday, Oct. 2, to demonstrate what they make.

---There’s still time to enter the Design Challenge for your chance to win a share of $4,100 in prize money, offer hands-on making activities or simply showcase your creations. Learn more and sign up at www.mfg.marshall.edu/26wvmakes.
---The public is welcome and there’s no cost to attend the festival, which runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

---“We’ve got another great lineup of makers scheduled to attend this year’s festival,” said MAMC Maker Vault/STEM Coordinator Tyler Brandstetter. “Come see the exhibits, engage in some hands-on making and cheer on your favorite maker in our annual Design Challenge. There will be plenty of activities to spark the curiosity of people of all ages.”

---A new addition to this year’s festival will be Blenko Glass Company’s mobile glassmaking unit. Watch artisans bring glass creations to life as you learn about this ancient craft from one of the nation’s oldest and most reversed glass manufacturers.

---Makes Fest coincides this year with National Manufacturing Day. Leading state leading manufacturers will offer hands-on activities, including Toyota West Virginia with a robotics game and Nucor Steel West Virginia, which will feature interactive activities to test the quality of chocolate, similar to how the company tests the quality of steel.

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-TECHNICAL SERVICES-

MAMC develops automated finishing process for Mason manufacturer

MAMC Machinist Jerry Jefferson designed this fixture for PTI Custom Molding of Point Pleasant to hold compression-molded parts in a computer-controlled mill while the mill removes "flash" from the product. Jefferson also wrote code to automate the process.

---From its 50,000-square-foot production facility just north of Point Pleasant, PTI Custom Molding designs, engineers and manufactures plastic injection-molded products for clients in industries ranging from automotive, electrical and communications to medical, defense and recreation.

---PTI’s approximately 50 employees work across three shifts, producing functional components using thermoplastic and thermoset injection molding and compression presses. Those components are used around the world, and developing affordable solutions to its customers’ diverse manufacturing challenges is a hallmark of the locally owned business.

---Recently, PTI faced a manufacturing challenge of its own. Company officials turned to the expertise of Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC) for help.

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-APPRENTICESHIP WORKS-

MAMC partners to strengthen casting, forging workforce in U.S.

---A strong national defense depends on a strong domestic manufacturing industry. That’s why Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC) is partnering with IACMI - The Composites Institute to revitalize the American manufacturing workforce through apprenticeships.

---As a partner in IACMI’s METAL (Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship & Learning) initiative, MAMC will assist manufacturers across the country in the casting and forging sector with establishing apprenticeship programs and pre-apprenticeship pathways.

---METAL is supported through funding from the Department of War’s Office of Industrial Base Policy, strengthening and diversifying the U.S. metal manufacturing workforce in the casting and forging industry.

---“The shrinking supply chain for critical defense materials demands an immediate response,” explained Dr. Matthew Draper, Deputy Director - Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program. “We must rebuild a modern workforce, technologically adept and capable of meeting the demands of our defense industry with efficiency

and innovation.”

---Under the two-year agreement with IACMI, MAMC’s Apprenticeship Works team will conduct outreach to casting and forging operations across the nation to assist them in establishing, expanding and maintaining apprenticeship programs in these and related occupations.

---------------------------------------------Read the article

-ISTUDENT SUCCESS--

MAMC grad transforms curiosity into rewarding machinist career

Jenson Oesterreicher, a graduate of MAMC's Machinist Technology/CNC Program, said his education at MAMC helped build the confidence and technical skillsets he uses daily at XCAL Tools in South Point, Ohio, where he works as a CNC programmer and operator.

---When Jenson Oesterreicher walked into the machine shop at the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC), something made sense. The CNC equipment, the precision of the work and the hands-on problem-solving instantly caught his attention. In that moment, he realized he had found the career he had been looking for.

---Originally from Kenova and now living in South Point, Ohio, Oesterreicher graduated from the Machinist Technology Program in May 2024 through MAMC’s partnership with Mountwest Community and Technical College. He describes his experience in the program as transformative.

---“The instructors knew what they were doing every single day,” he said. “They’re experienced in every aspect of machining. I can’t think of a single time they ever steered me wrong.”

---Rick Smoot, a machinist instructor at MAMC, recalled having Oesterreicher in class. “He’s a smart kid, a good worker. He stayed busy. He would stay at a machine doing something until it was done.”

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-IMAKES MEETUP--

3D-print your own Halloween-themed lightbox at Oct. 15 gathering

---Bring your creativity and join us Oct. 15 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC) for another of our ongoing weekly Makes Meetups.

---Network with other makers. Share ideas. Learn something new. Turn creative energy into synergy.

---Our seasonal spooky gathering will feature a 3D-printing activity that allows participants to 3D print – and keep! – their own Halloween-themed lightbox. Participants will learn how to create a 3D model, use software to transform the model into language the printer understands, then operate the printer to produce their own lightboxes.

---The event's $25 cost includes a one-month membership to our community makerspace, the Maker Vault, at MAMC Huntington (1050 4th Ave.).

Click here to register

Click the above image to see the job descriptions.

In case you missed it . . .MAMC in the News

Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center to open new training facility in December - The State Journal

UPCOMING PARTNER EVENTS & TRAINING

Oct. 6: SBA 101

9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., online

This fast-paced, 30-minute session will give entrepreneurs and small-business owners a concise overview of how the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) supports small business growth in West Virginia. More information

Oct. 7: Statewide Virtual Job Fair
1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., online

Job seeker can connect with employers from across the state who are hiring. This virtual platform allows you to interact in real-time text chat, direct camera interviews and by pre-recorded video questions with a wide variety of employers. Recruiters will be available during the live event Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Early access to view employers and job openings begins Oct. 5 at 8 a.m. Job seekers may still access booths and upload resumes until Oct. 9 at 5 p.m. More information

Oct. 13: West Virginia Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Monthly Meeting

2 p.m. to 3 p.m., online

Join the West Virginia Entrepreneurship Ecosystem for its monthly virtual meeting, where partners from across the state come together to share updates, highlight resources and collaborate on ways to support entrepreneurs. This session includes brief presentations, open discussion and opportunities to connect with others working to strengthen West Virginia’s entrepreneurial landscape. All are welcome! More information

Oct. 13: Resource Partners Spotlight

9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., online

Join the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for a monthly, 30-minute spotlight featuring one of our resource partners, small business coaches or mentors. We’ll kick things off with a brief SBA update, then turn the spotlight over to our featured partner to share who they are, what they do, and how they can help your small business. Stick around for a live Q&A and get your questions answered! Come curious. Leave connected. Discover the people, programs and resources that can help move your business forward. More information

Oct. 22-23: SecureWV 17

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, 200 Civic Center Dr., Charleston

Secure WV 17 is West Virginia’s premier cybersecurity conference, bringing together security professionals, IT teams, students, educators, business leaders and hands-on practitioners for two days of talks, training, networking and community. This year’s conference will feature expert speakers, a Capture the Flag competition, Lockpick Village, Drone Village, sponsor exhibits and practical sessions focused on real-world cybersecurity issues. Whether you are an experienced security professional, an IT generalist, a student or a business leader trying to better understand cyber risk, Secure WV is built to be practical, local and useful. More information

Oct. 27: Manufacturing Minute
9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., online

Join representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to learn about the agency's Made In America initiative to boost U.S. manufacturing. Topics will include increasing access to capital, improving opportunities for public and private investments in support of manufacturing in America and helping small businesses export their products on a global scale. More information

Oct. 28: Mountain State Cyber Summit + Tech Yeah 2026

8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Two Waterford Place, Morgantown, WV

Two conferences. One ecosystem. Mountain State Cyber Summit and Tech Yeah are joining forces to create a stronger, more connected cyber and technology ecosystem focused on resilience, workforce development and innovation. This event is designed for leaders, practitioners, researchers, students and innovators working across cyber and technology. Hear from leaders shaping today’s cyber landscape. Connect across industry, government and education. Gain insights into emerging cyber priorities and technologies. More information

Submit details about your events and training to MAMC's Mike Friel at mike.friel@mfg.marshall.edu.