Running a fabrication shop at 23 with Emme Hughes of EH Metal Works

At 23, Emme Hughes is already running a 10,000-square-foot fabrication shop.

In this episode of The Fabricator Podcast, she shares how she built EH Metalworks in Enid, Okla., from scratch, starting at 18 with no formal plan, just a passion for metalworking and lessons from her grandfather’s 50-year career.

She breaks down the early projects that shaped her small business, how she taught herself design and plasma cutting, and what it’s like managing employees, quoting work, and leading a modern shop.

Hughes also talks candidly about hiring challenges, earning respect as a young owner, and finding work beyond a small local market, plus why mentorship and relationships have been critical to her growth.

Go to this link to listen to the podcast and read the full transcript published by the Fabricator.