How a Florida man went from being a bartender to a machinist
Summary: Charles Sipe worked as a bartender until a conversation with a neighbor sparked his interest in machining. After taking a tour of Pace Machine & Tool in Stuart, Florida, Charles got hired and went through the ACE program to build skills in CNC machining.
Aug. 28, 2026 (Ft. Pierce, Fla.) – Prior to 2026, Charles Sipe had no clue what machining was. In fact, Charles wasn’t involved in manufacturing at all.
His occupation?
Bartender.
That all changed after a conversation with a neighbor.
“He asked me if I was looking for a job,” Charles said. “So I asked him what he did. He explained that he pretty much ‘sculpted metal.’ From there I got interested.”
From making drinks to making parts
As he was talking with his neighbor about the specifics of the job – which involved CNC machining – Charles started to think about his high school math classes.
He said he always excelled in them, but never really knew what real-world applications could be made with them.
He finally found a connection.
“He explained that you cut down from a square or a cylinder and shape it down to what you need,” he said. “You work those down into thousandths or ten-thousandths of an inch.”
Turns out, that neighbor worked at Pace Machine & Tool, a small, family-owned machine shop in Stuart, Florida. Charles wanted to know more.
“I took a tour of the shop,” he said. “That’s when I knew it was something I could get into.”
This spring, he started working at Pace part-time.
Building skills and confidence
Charles started his work at Pace in March by rotating through the different parts of the shop and understanding everyone’s roles.
He described the experience as eye-opening to see the depth of what goes into making parts.
“Everything has its specifications, so you learn something new every day,” he said.
Soon, Pace encouraged Charles to get ACE training. He quickly signed up for a spring CNC machining and metrology bootcamp at Indian River State College.
Pace has used ACE as both an employment pipeline and training resource for new hires since Indian River started running the program in 2023.
In fact, a Pace representative was on-site during Charles’ bootcamp to scout for new talent.
“I went through the routine of advertising and interviewing people. It wastes time,” Monica Dirr, Pace Machine & Tool owner, previously told America’s Cutting Edge. “When I go to the school and hire someone out of the program, they’re ready to go.”
Participants of the in-person CNC machining bootcamp get lecture-style learning as well as hands-on training with computer-aided manufacturing software and CNC machining.
Metrology participants similarly get hands-on training with various measurement tools such as calipers, micrometers and gauge blocks.
“The way they teach you with the ACE program will definitely help you with the next steps,” said Charles.
What benefits exist for career changers into machining?
Manufacturing companies across the United States are looking for people like Charles. As of June, manufacturing has 481,000 open roles, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
“When you learn the foundations ACE teaches, it’ll carry you anywhere in the United States that would need machining,” said Charles.
Additionally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a need for 34,200 machinists annually through 2034 – making long-term job safety in machining an attractive aspect of getting involved today.
“Adults can come and change directions with their careers,” said Tim Moore, Indian River State College president. “The ACE program is instrumental because it provides that first immersion in learning a critical skillset. It’s non-judgmental. It’s an opportunity for all.”