July 23, 2025 • 10 mins
Welcome to Why Manufacturing, a podcast series from the Southwest Virginia Alliance for Manufacturing, where we share real stories from the people powering our region’s most essential industry.
In this episode, we talk with Levi McKinnon of Real Performance Machinery—a rising talent early in his manufacturing career. Levi walks us through a typical day on the job, shares what surprised him most when entering the industry, and reflects on the mentors, tools, and moments that have shaped his experience so far.
From first-day nerves to proud accomplishments, Levi’s story is proof that manufacturing offers real growth, real skills, and real opportunities—right here in Southwest Virginia.
Whether you're a student, job seeker, parent, or educator, this episode offers a firsthand look at what it’s like to start strong and grow fast in modern manufacturing.
SWVA Manufacturing Careers (open jobs / updated weekly): https://www.swvam.org/mfgcareers
Real Performance Machinery: www.rpmachinery.com
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
Hello and welcome to Why Manufacturing from the
Southwest Virginia Alliance forManufacturing.
Yep, we're SVAM, and one of ourgoals is to spotlight the
people, tech, and pathways thatkeep modern factories humming
right here in SouthwestVirginia.
Today, we're hanging out withsomeone who's fresh in the field
(00:23):
but already leading a team.
Levi McKinnon grew up in Marion,Virginia, took a detour or two,
and now runs an electricalassembly at Real Performance
Machinery.
If you're a student, a jobseeker, or a manufacturing vet
who just loves a good originstory, stick around.
Levi, thanks for joining ustoday.
(00:44):
For anyone who hasn't met you,give us a quick snapshot.
Tell us who you are, whereyou're from, and how you landed
in manufacturing.
SPEAKER_01 (00:51):
My name is Levi McKinnon.
I grew up in Marion, Virginia.
So I went to high school inMarion and went to work right
after when I was 18 at amanufacturing place there.
and left there and worked alittle while at a machine shop
and then ended up going back tocollege when I was 26.
(01:11):
Got married, went to college fortwo years and took
instrumentation and controlautomation at New River
Community College and then got ajob here at Real Performance
Machinery and I've been here fortwo years now.
SPEAKER_00 (01:22):
Okay, so let's rewind to day one on the plant
floor.
You're 18, you walk into thatbig place for the first time.
What was running through yourhead?
SPEAKER_01 (01:31):
It was definitely intimidating as far as going to
a big facility like that.
I came from working.
I got my first job when I was 14in a convenience store in town,
and I'd worked that job for mywhole high school career, so
four years, and then decided tojump into this full-time
(01:53):
manufacturing job.
So it was definitelyintimidating.
I worked with a lot more people.
I was used to working with justone other person in the public.
It was very intimidating, but itwasn't too terrible.
The job itself was just morephysical than I was used to.
So I was just kind of gettingused to that the first couple
weeks and to the fast-paced kindof style that manufacturing
(02:17):
place was.
SPEAKER_00 (02:18):
Did you know anything about manufacturing
before you walked in the doorthat first day?
SPEAKER_01 (02:24):
well i knew a little bit um my dad had worked in
manufacturing like this my wholechildhood so um i knew just kind
of what you know bits and piecesthat he had told me throughout
his career and so that's whatkind of led me to pursuing that
any i mean as far as i'd likewant to take a i want to take a
(02:44):
break from school when Igraduated high school.
So I didn't want to go to schoolfor a little longer, you know,
and so I went to work with himwhen I was 18.
That's how it kind of led me tostart my manufacturing career.
Did anything surprise you?
I would say that, you know, itwas surprising, I guess, of what
(03:07):
I was doing was definitely somuch different than what I came
from.
But the you know working thatslower paced job in high school
the days would kind of drag byand time would be real slow but
moving into the manufacturing iwas always so busy at that first
job that i went to that uh youknow the days just kind of
(03:30):
seemed to fly by and i was justuh so it was always kind of just
the days would go by easier andkeep me
SPEAKER_00 (03:39):
busy You mentioned earlier that the pace was way
faster than in retail.
How long did it take you beforeyou really felt like, yep, I've
got this?
SPEAKER_01 (03:50):
I would probably say maybe two or three months before
I kind of really set in stone towhat I was doing and kind of
used to the work and everything.
But I wouldn't say longer thanthat.
After about a couple months, Iwas kind of set in stone with it
and ready to rock and roll.
SPEAKER_00 (04:09):
course, nobody figures this stuff out alone.
Who were the people that showedyou the ropes early on and what
did they do that really clickedfor you?
SPEAKER_01 (04:17):
Yeah, I've had, when I first started, I would say,
you know, transitioning to themanufacturing kind of style.
I had just several people that Iworked with that, you know, were
real kind and as far, andpatient as far as getting me to
where I needed to be and kind ofsit, you know, showing me the
ropes as, you What it kind oftook to do that job and, you
(04:42):
know, there wasn't just like oneperson.
I had several people that I hadworked with in my first job.
And then through all my otherones, I've had, you know,
several different experiencesand people lead me that way.
I left my first manufacturingjob and went to like a machine
shop.
And it was a smaller operationin Glade Springs, Virginia, a
(05:05):
little machine shop called GladeMachine.
And I previously had noexperience in running any kind
of CNC machinery.
And the owner there took me inand hired me on with no
experience and taught me, youknow, a lot about machining and
all that stuff and, you know,was very patient with me.
So any kind of, any companythat'll do that and train you or
(05:26):
send you, you know, to collegeto further your career, I mean,
That's always great stuff.
SPEAKER_00 (05:32):
And it sounds like you're paying that forward now
with RPM's high schoolapprenticeship program.
What's one thing you always tryto pass along to the students?
SPEAKER_01 (05:39):
Yes, sir.
So where we're at now, we do atReal Performance, we do like an
apprentice program.
So kids in high school canactually come work part-time
here and get some experience.
So I actually have a young boythat is from Royal Retreat, and
he's been here, I would say,close to a year learning some
electrical stuff.
(06:00):
So, you know, anything that I'velearned, I try to instill in
anybody that I can that'swilling to listen and take the
time to understand it all.
SPEAKER_00 (06:11):
Okay, walk us through a typical day, clock in
to clock out.
What's the rhythm like?
SPEAKER_01 (06:17):
I would say that every day is a little different
in some aspect or another.
Usually when I get here, we havethe whole assembly department.
The department has like amorning meeting, and so we kind
of go into the break room andtalk about what all needs to be
done for the day and kind ofdelegate tasks.
My current role, I'm theelectrical lead here, so I have
(06:40):
two employees underneath that domost of the electrical work.
I spend my day kind of layingout what they need to do and
kind of assisting them if theyhave any questions and getting
them parts.
I'm a mediator between theassembly department and
shipping.
And so if anybody in assemblyneeds any part for any kind of
machine they're working on, I'llgo retrieve that for them.
(07:02):
But usually I'm answeringquestions and checking over
work.
And if we have a machine that'sfinished and ready to test, then
I'll take over So that's
SPEAKER_00 (07:15):
usually what my days consist of.
So what's one tool that you justcouldn't live without or do your
job without?
SPEAKER_01 (07:22):
Well, with electrical boxes, you know, we
use a flat, you know, any kindof electrical work, we use a
screwdriver.
But I carry a Milwaukee knifethat's a razor blade knife.
And the other end, it has aPhillips head and a flathead
screwdriver and a nut driver onit.
And that's probably one of thebest tools I can carry around if
it's not my pocket Nip-X pliersto tighten any kind of bolt
(07:44):
with.
SPEAKER_00 (07:45):
Every industry has myths.
What's one thing you think thatpeople totally get wrong about
manufacturing?
SPEAKER_01 (07:52):
I think it can get a bad rep for maybe being a hard
job or a bad job.
If you find the right place andthe right company and you have a
good work ethic and a goodattitude, I think that you have
a great opportunity to grow.
A lot of companies will send youto school if you're eager to do
that and pay for your educationjust to further your career.
(08:14):
I think that you have a lot ofoptions if you decide to choose
this route.
SPEAKER_00 (08:20):
We all need a good laugh sometimes.
You got any funny or memorablemoments from the floor that you
could share?
SPEAKER_01 (08:25):
Well, you know, I've had a lot and I really couldn't
think of just one.
I know that in this line ofwork, you meet a lot of great
people and you make a lot ofgreat friendships.
And, you know, there's justalways...
You know, about every daythere's somebody picking with
you or just some kind of funnyjoke.
So there's always, you know,usually every day there's
(08:46):
something going on that's justcomical or, you know, you get a
little bit of just relief in anyway with your friendships in
this kind of industry.
Some of my best friendships inlife through, you know, working
these kind of jobs.
SPEAKER_00 (08:59):
Okay, so picture a senior at Marion High School
who's not sure about college,but they love working with their
hands.
What would you tell them aboutstarting in manufacturing?
SPEAKER_01 (09:09):
I mean, I think that, you know, it's a great
choice to tell anybody,especially young, just to go get
some experience.
And, you know, especially ifthey like, you know, working
with their hands or anythinglike that, you know, I think
it's a great choice just to gosee what it's like.
And, you know, especially, likeI said, if they have a good
attitude and a good work ethic,you know, there's...
(09:30):
great opportunity to grow.
And I think it's good foranybody to have this kind of
experience, even if they decidethey don't like it.
I think it's good for everyoneto kind of see what this
industry is about, you know,just to learn more about
SPEAKER_00 (09:43):
it.
Levi, thanks so much for sharingyour story.
Fast-paced, smart tools, and awhole lot of mentorship.
Folks, if Levi's journey lit aspark for you, pass this episode
along.
This has been Why Manufacturingfeaturing Levi McKinnon from
Real Performance Machinery inIndependence, Virginia.
If you'd like to learn moreabout careers in manufacturing,
(10:03):
check the show notes.
There you'll find links toSFAM's career resources,
including over 130 currentopenings with SFAM's member
companies.
Until next time.
Hello and welcome to Why Manufacturing from the
Southwest Virginia Alliance forManufacturing.
Yep, we're SVAM, and one of ourgoals is to spotlight the
people, tech, and pathways thatkeep modern factories humming
right here in SouthwestVirginia.
Today, we're hanging out withsomeone who's fresh in the field
(00:23):
but already leading a team.
Levi McKinnon grew up in Marion,Virginia, took a detour or two,
and now runs an electricalassembly at Real Performance
Machinery.
If you're a student, a jobseeker, or a manufacturing vet
who just loves a good originstory, stick around.
Levi, thanks for joining ustoday.
(00:44):
For anyone who hasn't met you,give us a quick snapshot.
Tell us who you are, whereyou're from, and how you landed
in manufacturing.
SPEAKER_01 (00:51):
My name is Levi McKinnon.
I grew up in Marion, Virginia.
So I went to high school inMarion and went to work right
after when I was 18 at amanufacturing place there.
and left there and worked alittle while at a machine shop
and then ended up going back tocollege when I was 26.
(01:11):
Got married, went to college fortwo years and took
instrumentation and controlautomation at New River
Community College and then got ajob here at Real Performance
Machinery and I've been here fortwo years now.
SPEAKER_00 (01:22):
Okay, so let's rewind to day one on the plant
floor.
You're 18, you walk into thatbig place for the first time.
What was running through yourhead?
SPEAKER_01 (01:31):
It was definitely intimidating as far as going to
a big facility like that.
I came from working.
I got my first job when I was 14in a convenience store in town,
and I'd worked that job for mywhole high school career, so
four years, and then decided tojump into this full-time
(01:53):
manufacturing job.
So it was definitelyintimidating.
I worked with a lot more people.
I was used to working with justone other person in the public.
It was very intimidating, but itwasn't too terrible.
The job itself was just morephysical than I was used to.
So I was just kind of gettingused to that the first couple
weeks and to the fast-paced kindof style that manufacturing
(02:17):
place was.
SPEAKER_00 (02:18):
Did you know anything about manufacturing
before you walked in the doorthat first day?
SPEAKER_01 (02:24):
well i knew a little bit um my dad had worked in
manufacturing like this my wholechildhood so um i knew just kind
of what you know bits and piecesthat he had told me throughout
his career and so that's whatkind of led me to pursuing that
any i mean as far as i'd likewant to take a i want to take a
(02:44):
break from school when Igraduated high school.
So I didn't want to go to schoolfor a little longer, you know,
and so I went to work with himwhen I was 18.
That's how it kind of led me tostart my manufacturing career.
Did anything surprise you?
I would say that, you know, itwas surprising, I guess, of what
(03:07):
I was doing was definitely somuch different than what I came
from.
But the you know working thatslower paced job in high school
the days would kind of drag byand time would be real slow but
moving into the manufacturing iwas always so busy at that first
job that i went to that uh youknow the days just kind of
(03:30):
seemed to fly by and i was justuh so it was always kind of just
the days would go by easier andkeep me
SPEAKER_00 (03:39):
busy You mentioned earlier that the pace was way
faster than in retail.
How long did it take you beforeyou really felt like, yep, I've
got this?
SPEAKER_01 (03:50):
I would probably say maybe two or three months before
I kind of really set in stone towhat I was doing and kind of
used to the work and everything.
But I wouldn't say longer thanthat.
After about a couple months, Iwas kind of set in stone with it
and ready to rock and roll.
SPEAKER_00 (04:09):
course, nobody figures this stuff out alone.
Who were the people that showedyou the ropes early on and what
did they do that really clickedfor you?
SPEAKER_01 (04:17):
Yeah, I've had, when I first started, I would say,
you know, transitioning to themanufacturing kind of style.
I had just several people that Iworked with that, you know, were
real kind and as far, andpatient as far as getting me to
where I needed to be and kind ofsit, you know, showing me the
ropes as, you What it kind oftook to do that job and, you
(04:42):
know, there wasn't just like oneperson.
I had several people that I hadworked with in my first job.
And then through all my otherones, I've had, you know,
several different experiencesand people lead me that way.
I left my first manufacturingjob and went to like a machine
shop.
And it was a smaller operationin Glade Springs, Virginia, a
(05:05):
little machine shop called GladeMachine.
And I previously had noexperience in running any kind
of CNC machinery.
And the owner there took me inand hired me on with no
experience and taught me, youknow, a lot about machining and
all that stuff and, you know,was very patient with me.
So any kind of, any companythat'll do that and train you or
(05:26):
send you, you know, to collegeto further your career, I mean,
That's always great stuff.
SPEAKER_00 (05:32):
And it sounds like you're paying that forward now
with RPM's high schoolapprenticeship program.
What's one thing you always tryto pass along to the students?
SPEAKER_01 (05:39):
Yes, sir.
So where we're at now, we do atReal Performance, we do like an
apprentice program.
So kids in high school canactually come work part-time
here and get some experience.
So I actually have a young boythat is from Royal Retreat, and
he's been here, I would say,close to a year learning some
electrical stuff.
(06:00):
So, you know, anything that I'velearned, I try to instill in
anybody that I can that'swilling to listen and take the
time to understand it all.
SPEAKER_00 (06:11):
Okay, walk us through a typical day, clock in
to clock out.
What's the rhythm like?
SPEAKER_01 (06:17):
I would say that every day is a little different
in some aspect or another.
Usually when I get here, we havethe whole assembly department.
The department has like amorning meeting, and so we kind
of go into the break room andtalk about what all needs to be
done for the day and kind ofdelegate tasks.
My current role, I'm theelectrical lead here, so I have
(06:40):
two employees underneath that domost of the electrical work.
I spend my day kind of layingout what they need to do and
kind of assisting them if theyhave any questions and getting
them parts.
I'm a mediator between theassembly department and
shipping.
And so if anybody in assemblyneeds any part for any kind of
machine they're working on, I'llgo retrieve that for them.
(07:02):
But usually I'm answeringquestions and checking over
work.
And if we have a machine that'sfinished and ready to test, then
I'll take over So that's
SPEAKER_00 (07:15):
usually what my days consist of.
So what's one tool that you justcouldn't live without or do your
job without?
SPEAKER_01 (07:22):
Well, with electrical boxes, you know, we
use a flat, you know, any kindof electrical work, we use a
screwdriver.
But I carry a Milwaukee knifethat's a razor blade knife.
And the other end, it has aPhillips head and a flathead
screwdriver and a nut driver onit.
And that's probably one of thebest tools I can carry around if
it's not my pocket Nip-X pliersto tighten any kind of bolt
(07:44):
with.
SPEAKER_00 (07:45):
Every industry has myths.
What's one thing you think thatpeople totally get wrong about
manufacturing?
SPEAKER_01 (07:52):
I think it can get a bad rep for maybe being a hard
job or a bad job.
If you find the right place andthe right company and you have a
good work ethic and a goodattitude, I think that you have
a great opportunity to grow.
A lot of companies will send youto school if you're eager to do
that and pay for your educationjust to further your career.
(08:14):
I think that you have a lot ofoptions if you decide to choose
this route.
SPEAKER_00 (08:20):
We all need a good laugh sometimes.
You got any funny or memorablemoments from the floor that you
could share?
SPEAKER_01 (08:25):
Well, you know, I've had a lot and I really couldn't
think of just one.
I know that in this line ofwork, you meet a lot of great
people and you make a lot ofgreat friendships.
And, you know, there's justalways...
You know, about every daythere's somebody picking with
you or just some kind of funnyjoke.
So there's always, you know,usually every day there's
(08:46):
something going on that's justcomical or, you know, you get a
little bit of just relief in anyway with your friendships in
this kind of industry.
Some of my best friendships inlife through, you know, working
these kind of jobs.
SPEAKER_00 (08:59):
Okay, so picture a senior at Marion High School
who's not sure about college,but they love working with their
hands.
What would you tell them aboutstarting in manufacturing?
SPEAKER_01 (09:09):
I mean, I think that, you know, it's a great
choice to tell anybody,especially young, just to go get
some experience.
And, you know, especially ifthey like, you know, working
with their hands or anythinglike that, you know, I think
it's a great choice just to gosee what it's like.
And, you know, especially, likeI said, if they have a good
attitude and a good work ethic,you know, there's...
(09:30):
great opportunity to grow.
And I think it's good foranybody to have this kind of
experience, even if they decidethey don't like it.
I think it's good for everyoneto kind of see what this
industry is about, you know,just to learn more about
SPEAKER_00 (09:43):
it.
Levi, thanks so much for sharingyour story.
Fast-paced, smart tools, and awhole lot of mentorship.
Folks, if Levi's journey lit aspark for you, pass this episode
along.
This has been Why Manufacturingfeaturing Levi McKinnon from
Real Performance Machinery inIndependence, Virginia.
If you'd like to learn moreabout careers in manufacturing,
(10:03):
check the show notes.
There you'll find links toSFAM's career resources,
including over 130 currentopenings with SFAM's member
companies.
Until next time.
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.