MCC student balances work, study for brighter future
Hard work and showing up pay off. Just ask Hunter Miles.
Miles, 20, of Russell, is wrapping up his study in Meridian Community College’s Industrial Maintenance Program with plans to graduate in May; he’s already working as a controls technician lead at Amazon’s facility in Canton, Mississippi.
“I’ve always liked figuring out how stuff works,” Miles said. “Ever since I was a kid, if something small broke at the house, I’d try to fix it. I guess it’s just part of my personality.”
His hard work in the classroom caught the attention of industry leaders. “Somebody who went through this program is now in management at CBRE, the company that handles maintenance at Amazon,” Miles said. “They called Mr. Dickerson, my instructor, looking for good workers. Mr. Dickerson called me, I went out there for an interview, and I got the job.”
Now, Miles is earning a paycheck while finishing his degree. “Right now, I’m doing online training, but pretty soon, I’ll be hands-on — replacing bearings, troubleshooting photo-eye sensors, working on conveyor belts, and even doing some PLC and HMI work,” he said.
His position is through CBRE, but he works directly with Amazon. “The good thing about CBRE is, if I’m ready to move up and there’s no open spot in Canton, I can transfer to any Amazon site in the country,” Miles explained.
Currently, Miles is balancing a demanding schedule. He leaves for Canton on Thursdays and works 12-hour shifts until Sunday. After that, he heads back to Meridian for class Monday through Thursday. “They’re working with me really good,” he said.
The pay, Miles said, is “tremendous.” He expects to bring home more than $80,000 within a year.
Miles said the MCC program made all the difference. “If you can read a tape measure, you can make it in this class,” he said. “And they teach you that in the first two weeks.”
He admits school wasn’t always his thing. “I wasn’t the best in high school — probably somewhere in the middle. But this class, it’s simple if you’ve got the drive. Show up, pay attention, take notes — that’s it,” he said. “Last semester alone, I filled up eight or nine notebooks.”
The instructors, he said, won’t let you fail. “If you need help, just ask. They’ll help you.”
For more information, visit meridiancc.edu/cte.