Head and shoulders above the rest

COLUMBUS - A Celina High School alumnus is listed among the best and brightest young individuals.

Justin Wenning, a 2011 high school graduate, has been named to Forbes Magazine's 30 Under 30 list for manufacturing and industry.

Each year Forbes releases a list of 30 people under age 30 who likely will make a big difference in one of 20 different categories.More than 15,000 up-and-comers were nominated for the various categories. Only 4 percent made the list.

Wenning, a production engineer at Fabrisonic in Columbus, admits the acclaim is "overwhelming."

"It's still sinking in. It's definitely still sinking in. ... It's an enormous honor," he said.

He was notified of the honor by the Forbes' editor the day it first appeared online. He said his inclusion last summer on a similar list from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers likely influenced his inclusion on the Forbes list.

"Last summer I won SME's Advanced Manufacturings 30 under 30, and I'm guessing that somebody at Forbes, in doing their homework, found my article and my interview and nominated me based on that," he said.

After high school, Wenning attended The Ohio State University, studying in the welding engineering program. He wrapped up his college career as an intern at Fabrisonic from January-May 2015.

He transitioned into full-time work at Fabrisonic after his graduation. During his two years at the small company, Wenning has taken on a host of duties. He noted that he has had to wear many hats since the business has only six or seven employees running on two shifts.

His current responsibilities include 3D metal printing, working with clients and researching.

"Kind of the whole shebang," he remarked.

Fabrisonic operates unique machines that use a laminate technique to weld metal layers together, which are then used in myriad technologies. This process, called ultrasonic 3D printing differs completely from other forms of 3D metal printing, Wenning said.

"It's very different ... so I never would have dreamed I would find myself in an opportunity like this," Wenning said.

He said his future in manufacturing and engineering will depend on where technology and Fabrisonic go. In the near future, he said he would "continue to help Fabrisonic produce parts for very impressive aerospace clients and to be doing research all at the same time."

This member of the honored 30 Under 30 for manufacturing and industry was quick to give credit for a lot of his success to his Mercer County upbringing and to several teachers at Celina High School.

"David Scott at the high school helped me a lot. He got me interested in chemistry, which, further on, got me into metallurgy and what I do now," Wenning said. "And having a Mercer County work ethic in the research field helps quite a bit."