A New Era of Making
“Through collaboration, culture, and storytelling, this brand will serve as a trusted community hub driving the manufacturing renaissance forward.”
“When people talk about the manufacturing skills gap, they usually point to numbers like unfilled jobs, missing credentials, and workforce shortages. But behind those numbers, there’s something more personal going on. Somewhere along the way, we stopped showing the world how beautiful this work really is.”
-Blake Horton, Founder
Why Connection Matters
In my work with The Machinists Institute, I’ve seen both sides of the story. I’ve met students who didn’t even know manufacturing existed as a career path — who thought parts and products simply appeared. And I’ve met employers who are searching for people ready to start at level ten, unaware that there’s no bridge to get there.
Between those two worlds, there’s a missing link. Those of us who’ve spent our lives in this trade understand that manufacturing isn’t just about machines and materials; it’s about imagination, problem solving, patience, and pride.
We are the keepers of the craft, and now, we must be bridge builders.
Inspiration Through Visibility
We need to make manufacturing visible again. That means telling real stories. Not press releases, not marketing campaigns, but beautiful, honest stories about the people who make things, the shops that shape ideas and turn imagination into reality.
I want to create content that speaks for itself — film, photography, stories, and experiences that inspire the next generation not because someone told them to care, but because they can feel the beauty in what they see.
A Network of Possibilities
This is the purpose of thecnc.network: connection through craft.
Students should be able to see what’s possible and find their first opportunity.
Educators should have access to specialists who can bring real-world knowledge into the classroom.
Specialists should be visible — as mentors, problem solvers, and champions of the trade.
Industry should be connected to the people who will shape its future.
If we do this right, everyone wins. The students find purpose. The educators find relevance. The specialists find a voice. And industry finds strength in the next generation of makers.
The Road Ahead
This isn’t just about workforce development. It’s about cultural development, and giving manufacturing its story back.
Through collaboration, culture, and storytelling, we can restore pride in making things. We can build the bridge that reconnects people with the craft. We can remind the world that the future is still being built — by hands, by minds, by us.
Our mission: To connect the people, skills, and stories that make manufacturing matter.
About the Author:
Blake Horton is an educator, machinist, and designer based in the Pacific Northwest. As Senior Instructional Designer for the Machinists Institute and founder of The CNC Specialists, he works to connect the people, skills, and stories that make manufacturing matter.