Rookie CNC Machinist Excelling at Gray Manufacturing
CNC machining was something Andrew Hutchens just wanted to try. He didn’t expect to love it. When he started at Gray Manufacturing Technologies a little more than a year ago, Andrew just needed a job with better long-term potential.
Andrew has found that at the Compass Precision operating company. But not only that, Andrew has outperformed all expectations and begun to thoroughly enjoy CNC machining.
To reward his efforts, Andrew has received the Compass Employee of the Month selection for October 2025.
“We picked Andrew because he came here having basically zero experience and is now running our 5-axis equipment pretty much on his own with just a little oversight,” said Gray Manufacturing Vice President & General Manager Evan Grose. “To me that shows two things. His ability to learn and our ability to teach.
“He has developed a real passion for the trade, and I hope he stays with us for quite some time.”
Andrew is the 11th Gray Manufacturing employee, including second this year, to earn the honor. He is also the 67th overall employee at the nine Compass operating companies to receive the award since the program started in March 2020.
Both of Andrew’s bosses, Evan and Quality Manager Luke Honbarger, are previous Compass employees of the month at Gray. In addition to their nominations, Evan and Luke have received promotions for their hard work.
It’s the possibility of that type of personal growth that caused Andrew to fall in love with Gray.
“It just feels like a good place to have a future. You can tell the company cares about the employees,” Andrew said. “There’s always people willing to help. In racing, a lot of times you are never going to grow from where you are.
“It was often very hard to feel like I was growing in the racing industry. It always felt like I was stuck. Here, I feel very optimistic about my future.”
Andrew said that when he started at Gray in August 2024, he knew nothing about CNC machining. He came from a racing background, where there was a much greater emphasis of making parts by hand via cutting, grinding or welding.
But at Gray, Andrew first worked hard to learn the Mazak machines. Then, he began learning about the Micron machines. Andrew absorbed tips and tricks from Evan and the machinists in the shop. He also watched YouTube videos at home to further help his training.
“I was very nervous the first day because there’s so much to learn at such a fast rate. But once I got into it, it wasn’t as bad,” Andrew said. “I went from basically needing someone to hold my hand the whole time and kind of show me what to do, what not to do and things to look out for to where now I’m at a point where I can pretty much work on my own.”
Andrew’s expertise, and therefore confidence, grew over time. He said he felt very proud the first time he completed a job on his own with no scrap. Andrew still asks questions when needed, but he’s become one of the more efficient machinists on Gray’s shop floor.
Today, he focuses most of his time on running Gray’s 5-axis Micron 600. But Andrew’s knowledge has also grown to the point where he can help others.
When he has time, he hops back and forth between multiple machines. Andrew also contributes in the deburring department when needed.
“I like the fact that they trust me enough to have me come and help them,” he said. “That makes me feel good.”
For his hard work, Andrew is growing at one of the fastest-developing operating companies within the Compass portfolio. That was not something he said he felt while working in the racing industry.
Prior to joining Gray, Andrew worked for Loenbro Motorsports, which went through a few different transformations and/or mergers during his five-year tenure. Over half a decade with the company, Andrew did everything from build dirt cars to construct late models.
He continues to be around motorsports through his relatively new hobby – motorcycle stunt riding. In his younger years, Andrew loved racing motorcycles, but a bad accident caused him to give up racing.
At that point, he started building showcars and race cars in his spare time. But motorcycle stunt riding has re-ignited his passion for bikes.
Andrew said he plans to enter competitions once he becomes more proficient with the stunts over the next couple years.
Born and raised in North Carolina, Andrew spent most of his childhood living in Yadkinville. His family moved to Waughton, which is another town close to Winston-Salem, when Andrew was in high school.
Today, Andrew lives in Winston-Salem with his fiancée, Madison, and two-year-old daughter, Nova. His family also has three dogs and multiple reptiles, including a couple tortoises and lizards.