Meet Rickye McBrayer

Q & As with Rickye McBrayer

Rickye, tell us about your professional background prior to working at Advanced Heat Treat Corp. (AHT).

I actually worked right across the street from Advanced Heat Treat Corp. at an automotive stamping facility for nine years. Prior to that, I worked in construction, was an induction operator at a steel mill and assisted with electrical maintenance, welding, molds, etc. 

Having previous experience with induction hardening, electromagnetism and automotive stamping dies made for an easy transition to AHT.

What does a typical day look like as an equipment operator at AHT? What type of projects do you work on?

It mostly depends on the workload in the shop. Running induction parts, I might work with pins from the agriculture industry or a drive shaft from the oil & gas industry. I also assist with our other heat treat services offered in Cullman, Alabama such as ion nitriding, gas nitriding, UltraOx, etc. 

Induction hardening has been offered at our Alabama location since 2022. In your own words, how would you explain the benefits of this particular heat treatment?

It is beneficial for selecting sections of a part and not having to mask it out. Also, we can achieve a much greater case depth with induction. (Editor's Note: View a video about induction hardening by clicking the hyperlinked image below. Rickye is in it!)

AHT values family. Who does your family consist of?

Me, my wife Tori and our four kids (Andrew 14, Elisabeth 12, John-David 11, and Matilda 7)

When you’re not working at AHT, how do you like to spend your free time?

We are very involved in our church, Temple Baptist Church in Cullman, Alabama, and occasionally go on mission trips with the church. (Pictured is Rickye on a mission trip in Mexico where he helped build a church.)

My family and I also play lots of board games, and we love to grill out. My go-to on the smoker is bacon-wrapper tenderloins. 

What is one thing people may not know about Rickye McBrayer?

My nickname is Chicky Rickye.

If you were to give our customers advice, what would you tell them?

Try us out and I'm sure that you will not be disappointed in our ability to run quality parts on time. Our Cullman, Alabama location offers ion nitriding, gas nitriding, ferritic nitrocarburizing, induction hardening, tempering, stress relieving, age hardening and more. Check out our services at https://www.ahtcorp.com/locations/alabama-cullman/.

Now a list of quick questions….

• Favorite Food: Mexican
• A Food You Avoid: Beets
• First Job: At a cabinet shop
• Favorite Sport: Football
• Favorite Team: AUBURN UNIVERSITY WAR EAGLE
• Favorite Movie: Stand by Me
• Favorite Book: KJV Bible
• Any Pets? 6 dogs & 2 cats
• Favorite saying or quote: "For God so loved"; John 3:16
• Are you Alabama-born? Yes
• Where else have you lived? Texas
• Any organizations/associations you belong to or any volunteer work? Aside from mission work with our church, I'm also involved in pro-127.

Have a Question for Rickye? Give him a call at 256-739-2775.

1. meet cullman
2. meet the team