Grafton Graduate: Karla Zabala Excels in Advanced Manufacturing at Blackstone Valley Hub for Workforce Development

Blackstone Valley, MA – June 17, 2025 — Karla Zabala, a recent high-honors graduate of the

Grafton Job Corps Center’s Advanced Manufacturing program, is putting her skills into action at the Blackstone Valley Hub for Workforce Development, where she is honing her precision milling techniques.

Zabala, known among her instructor and peers for their dedication and technical talent, has

attained all three NIMS certification that the program offers. She achieved a record-setting score on the NIMS CNC Lathe certification exam—an accomplishment that reflects her advanced understanding of computer numerical control machining.

“I’ve always been fascinated by how things are made,” Zabala said. “Now I get to actually make them—and make them right.”

At the Blackstone Valley Hub, Zabala is applying her knowledge in a hands-on environment that supports workforce training and industry collaboration. Her focus on milling operations is

sharpening her skills in setup, safety, and precision manufacturing—critical abilities for success in the region’s growing advanced manufacturing sector.

Talya Stebbins, Blackstone’s Advanced Manufacturing instructor, has praised Zabala for her

leadership in the classroom and shop floor. “Karla represents exactly what the program is

about—opportunity, discipline, and excellence.”

As Zabala continues to train and contribute at the Hub, her journey stands as a shining example of the transformative power of technical education and workforce development in Massachusetts.