Emme Hughes was raised in the trades. Her grandfather, known as Papa, owned and operated an ASME code welding shop, where fabrication wasn’t a hobby — it was held to serious standards. In that environment, Hughes learned the fundamentals of metal at an age when most kids were worrying about school sports: how heat moves through steel, how a weld should sound, and why precision matters.

She entered competitive racing at 12 years old, stepping into an arena where focus, mechanical instinct, and resilience decide outcomes. Racing taught her to problem-solve fast, adapt under pressure, and stand her ground in male-dominated spaces. Media coverage followed, including KOCO and regional outlets, recognizing both her skill and her presence.

At 18, when many people are just choosing a major or a job, Hughes founded EH Metal Works. What started as a young woman’s initiative to create her own space in fabrication quickly grew into a shop blending feminine grit with serious technical capability. Under Hughes’ leadership, the company produces precision components, prototypes, custom signage, and short-run manufacturing for both industrial and consumer markets. Based in rural Oklahoma and serving customers nationwide, EH Metal Works delivers top-tier fabrication without the bureaucracy or slow response common in larger operations.

In 2024, Hughes secured a USDA rural entrepreneurship grant, expanding equipment and production capacity and reinforcing her mission to bring modern manufacturing opportunities to places industry often overlooks. Through it all, Hughes continues to embody the standards Papa instilled: do it right, build it strong, and let the work speak for itself.

Today, Hughes represents a new chapter in American fabrication — rooted in heritage, sharpened in motorsports, and driven by the belief that women can lead manufacturing with precision, creativity, and grit.