Building the Future—One Chocolate 3-D Print at a Time

Written By Andrea Shirey

Caleb McCurdy’s summer internship with the Appalachian Ohio Manufacturers' Coalition (AOMC) transformed a simple passion project into a practical engineering triumph. A recent high school graduate enrolled at Washington State Community College, Caleb combined his carpentry background with emerging skills in electrical engineering to design and create a tabletop 3D printer—one that literally builds chocolate designs, layer by delicious layer.

Over two years, Caleb taught himself to navigate professional design software, coding protocols, and machine part fabrication—skills that served him well at Micro Machine Works in Vincent, Ohio. Under the mentorship of AOMC President Linn Yost, he not only completed his impressive chocolate printer but soon found himself fixing 3D printers in schools across the region—even in nearby West Virginia.

Caleb’s story embodies the AOMC’s mission: empowering students with hands-on STEM experience to fill the region’s manufacturing talent gap. By turning a creative spark into technical skill and real-world impact, he’s now helping schools keep their equipment running smoothly—arming the next generation of innovators.

Andrea Shirey

Andrea Shirey is the CEO and Founder of One Nine Design, an agency dedicated to empowering nonprofits and small businesses through effective digital marketing tools. With over two decades of experience as a nonprofit fundraiser, executive director, and designer, Andrea combines creative expertise with a deep understanding of the unique challenges nonprofits face. She’s passionate about designing websites that not only look great, but also work as effective tools for engagement and growth.

https://www.oneninedesign.net
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