Nick McGee is a self-described “good ol’ boy at heart!” He’s got the Southern accent, the fondness for hunting and fishing, the humility and easygoing manner of a hometown fella – not to mention the belief in hard work and dedication to family. We caught up with the 28-year-old to learn how he went from Machine Tool Technology student to full-time instructor at Piedmont Technical College.

In high school, you met two people who are still travelling alongside you on your journey today. Tell us about the first one, Don Lytch, who was your instructor and is now your colleague.

When I was in high school, my counselor suggested that I take some classes at the career center. It counted as school, but it didn’t really feel like school, and that sounded great to me! I started machining then, and Don was my instructor. Learning from him was easy; he’s got so much knowledge that he’s willing to share, and he made it interesting. When I graduated high school and started as a student at Piedmont Tech, he was also in the process of making that transfer as an instructor, so we kind of came over together.

I graduated from Piedmont Tech in 2016 and then spent some time in the workforce, but I always kept in touch with Don and Machine Tool Technology Program Director, Phillip Calhoun. About five years ago, Phillip asked me if I’d be interested in serving as an adjunct instructor. It turned out to be a pretty sweet gig! Sometimes it made for long days – working full-time and teaching in the evenings – but I liked hanging out with the students, teaching them what I knew, and making an impact on their lives. Having the extra money also helped since I was just starting out as a husband, father, and homeowner.

Don retired last year. But we still needed an instructor, and he’s got to have something to do! So we kind of swapped roles. He became the adjunct, and I stepped in as a full-time instructor.

He and Phillip have taken care of me, shared their lives with me, and explained how they’ve progressed in their careers. Having mentors like them makes me excited to be a mentor to others. When students come to me and share their appreciation… that goes a long way.

While Don has been a professional partner on your journey, your girlfriend (now wife) Sara has supported you for just as long. Tell us about her and your family.

We started dating when I was a junior and she was a senior in high school, in 2013. Then we both graduated from Piedmont Tech in 2016, and it was at our combined graduation party that I asked her to marry me! We got married the next year and bought a house – a pretty nice house for two young people. Now we have two sons, a 3-year-old and an 18-month-old – Brock and Waylon.

One reason I promote technical colleges and learning a trade is because I was able to get started in the field at a young age and work my way up fairly quickly. I make a steady income, my wife makes a steady income, and we’re able to give our boys the best life they could possibly have. And that’s my main priority.

Because technical college has much more affordable or even free tuition, I don’t have a ton of student loan debt dragging me down. And honestly, I’m not out here breaking my back every day. In the machine world, most of the time you work in a climate-controlled environment, where there’s always opportunities available.

And yet, despite those perks, you feel that the machine tool industry is not trending like some of the other trades – even though it should be…

I think people hear machine tool and don’t really understand what that means or how far they can go in the field. But it’s an industry that is constantly evolving. And Piedmont Tech tries to keep up with that. We’ve got 3D printers, CNC routers, a wide range of CNC machines, lathes, mills of up to five axes, state-of-the-art measuring machines, and some very nice new manual machines. We’ve also got some old-school stuff, like bench grinders, horizontal mills, and drill presses. We teach CAD (Computer-Aided Design) and CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing) software, as well as how to operate and program the equipment. And those are the skills that can give you an edge when you go into the workplace.

And you would know, because you’ve been there, right?

Yeah. When I was still in school, I started employment with a mom-and-pop machine shop, and once I got my degree, I moved on to UTC Aerospace. They shut down, and that’s when I went to Piedmont CMG and then Timken. So I’ve gained real-world, industry experience that I’ve been able to carry over into my role as instructor.

What’s your favorite thing about being a machinist?

When I’m given a project, and it’s something challenging – especially if other people have said they can’t do it – that’s when I get zoned-in. I’ll go through hell or high water to make that part, just so I can say that I did. The more challenging, the better!

I like to see change as it’s happening, and with machining, it’s all right there in front of you. It’s as much about the puzzle that goes on in your head as it is about the hands-on work.

Give us an example.

When I was at Timken, one of the supervisors asked this group of older, more experienced machinists if they could make a specific part. They said, “No, we don’t have machines capable of doing that.” But I said, “Let me try.” It was a v-belt pulley with a specific diameter, a keyway slot in the middle of it, spanner wrench holes. It had to be held to a pretty tight concentricity tolerance. And I said, “I believe I can do that.” So I made it, and that put my name on the board for everybody around there. I just had to prove myself.

Ultimately, I want to be known as somebody who does good work, takes pride in what he does, and makes a difference in people’s lives – you know, be a standout individual. I can do that as a machine tool instructor.

And you want others to experience that kind of pride in their work as well. That’s why you’re excited about the recent partnership between Piedmont, Aiken, and Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical Colleges to bring Mobile Advanced Manufacturing Labs to rural communities.

Yes, if we can show people what advanced manufacturing is, help them feel like they’re capable, and bring hands-on experience to them, they can reach for the stars and have a better, more comfortable life for them and their family. Success isn’t just about climbing the ladder, you know.

It’s about doing work you enjoy, supporting your family, and living comfortably. And a little play money on the side doesn’t hurt either!

And what’s the most recent thing you spent your play money on?

I bought two dog kennels yesterday. We used to run hog dogs, but once we had the kids, we couldn’t load up and do that anymore. So I invested in two bird dogs, and that’s our newfound hobby. It’s something we can all do together.