Gadsden, AL – Gadsden State Community College celebrated a major milestone in workforce development on May 15, hosting a Signing Day event for the second cohort of students joining the Consortium of Machining Education Training (CoMeT). Held at the Beck Conference Center on the Wallace Drive Campus, the ceremony highlighted the college’s continued commitment to addressing critical workforce needs in the machining industry.
CoMeT, launched in 2023 by Gadsden State faculty and staff, is a hybrid apprenticeship program that gives students the opportunity to “earn while they learn.” It combines classroom instruction with on-the-job training in collaboration with local industry partners.
“CoMeT Signing Day is a celebration of students taking their first steps into careers that matter,” said Andy Robertson, dean of Workforce Development at Gadsden State. “Our industry partners are investing in the future of advanced manufacturing. This program bridges education and employment in a powerful way.”
Fifteen students were signed by eleven industry partners as part of the new cohort. Through CoMeT, participants will attend classes at Gadsden State two days a week and work for their assigned employers the remaining three days. Students will earn a minimum of $15 per hour during the five-semester program.
“With CoMeT, our precision machining students gain hands-on experience while completing their education,” Robertson said. “It’s more than a job. It’s a launchpad into a skilled and essential career, and Signing Day marks the beginning of that journey.”
Students who complete the program will graduate with an Associate in Applied Science degree in Precision Machining. They will also have completed 1,776 hours of work-based learning and five capstone projects, guided by instructors Daniel Anderson and Peyton Amberson.
The program is offered at both the Precision Machining Building on the Ayers Campus and the Advanced Manufacturing Center on the East Broad Campus.
Students and Industry Partners in the 2025 CoMeT Cohort:
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Carmin Industries: Matthew Usry (Gadsden)
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Gadsden Tool Inc.: William Bryan (Sardis)
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Honda Manufacturing of Alabama: Ciandra Lebel (Gadsden), James Solley (Lincoln)
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Kobay South: Andrew Amos (Hokes Bluff), Destiny Griffey (Anniston)
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M&H Valve: Dashawn Kirby-Barnes (Weaver), Kendal McCants (Gadsden)
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Parker Hannifin: Cashus Hannah (Hokes Bluff)
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Prince Metal: Cody Campbell (Boaz), Riley Venable (Birmingham)
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Soteria: Tristian Page (Wellington)
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Stamped Products: William Houser (Boaz)
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Unipres: Gabriel Williams (Anniston)
The CoMeT program continues to attract students and employers looking for sustainable, long-term growth in Alabama’s precision machining and manufacturing sectors.
