May 21, 2025
Ferris State professor Mark Prosser’s innovation, craftsmanship highlighted in Fuller Moto Challenge, showing how welding leads to rewarding careers
Pushing the boundaries of innovation and craftsmanship was the spirit behind the Fuller Moto FLEETWOOD 5-Day Builder Challenge — and a way of life for Ferris State University Associate Professor Mark Prosser, who proudly inspires and trains the next generation of welders.
Prosser, a faculty member in the School of Design and Manufacturing within Ferris State’s College of Engineering Technology, was one of 22 expert craftsmen invited to join the elite team tasked with creating a custom aluminum car body from a wooden frame in less than a week. Renowned automobile designer and artist Chip Foose was also part of the team, lending his creativity and expertise to the ambitious project.
Fuller Moto, a custom car and motorcycle design shop based in Atlanta, Georgia, is owned by Bryan Fuller — a world-class builder and longtime automotive television personality. Fuller Moto specializes in unique, hand-built vehicles and shares its passion through events, collaborations, and educational content aimed at inspiring automotive enthusiasts worldwide.
The team’s challenge: build a 19-foot Fleetwood vehicle powered by a custom V16 engine, using a fully 3D-printed chassis. The project demanded collaboration among expert welders, fabricators, engineers, and craftsmen, blending traditional techniques with cutting-edge automotive technologies.
“What makes a project like this so special is that it brings together so many of the disciplines we teach at Ferris State,” Prosser said. “Design, engineering, machining, welding, metal shaping, and flawless execution — this build is a showcase of those skills at the highest level.”
Prosser’s involvement reflects a lifelong connection to the craft. He is a longtime friend of Bryan Fuller, who has appeared on popular shows like Overhaulin’, Rides, Two Guys Garage, and Naked Speed.
“Mark is one of the very best welding instructors out there,” Fuller said. “He’s very personable, but he can also educate people without intimidating them. I knew he’d be fantastic for this project because he is great at welding and he just loves to teach it to people.”
Fuller said the Fleetwood project required a new approach to the work, and he gathered a group of experts who could think big – and differently,
“This type of shaping just hasn’t been done before,” he said. “We needed someone who could join these panels to help them stand the test of time. Mark was the obvious choice.”
In preparation for the project, a Fuller Moto engineering intern designed the wooden “buck” frame by scanning a clay model of the car. That data was transformed through proprietary software to drive a shaping machine that created 48 aluminum panels — later merged by the expert team into a seamless body during five intense days and nearly 1,000 hours of craftsmanship.
“Everyone Mark worked with in Atlanta represents the top tier of the industry,” said Bill Koepf, associate dean of Ferris State’s College of Engineering Technology. “These aren’t your everyday builders — they’re the best, and it’s inspiring to see Mark right there among them, just as our students, faculty, and staff see his excellence every day.”
The challenge aimed to not only revolutionize car-building by showcasing the potential of new technologies but also celebrate the teamwork among elite builders and innovative brands.
“I’ve known and worked with many of these guys over the years,” Prosser said. “They’re highly skilled craftsmen, engineers, designers, and motorsports enthusiasts. It was amazing to see everyone come together with one goal: to meet the challenge in front of us.”
Prosser brought back lessons from the experience that he now shares with his students — emphasizing real-world applications of skills, theory, and technology.
“Inspiring and teaching students has been part of my life for a long time,” said Prosser, a proud Ferris State alumnus who completed the welding program in the early 1990s. “I’ve spent nearly 36 years in the welding profession and taught at colleges across the country. Now, I’m back where it all started, helping students prepare for the industry.”
Prosser views himself not just as an instructor, but also as a motivator.
“It’s important for students to understand that building anything isn’t just about technology or theory — it’s about hard work, skill development, and applying what they learn to something real,” he said. “This challenge demonstrated how all of those elements come together in a tangible, exciting way.”
Ferris State’s College of Engineering Technology was a top sponsor of the event. Dean Kate O’Connor celebrated Prosser’s involvement and the connection back to the college.
“Our faculty are leaders in their industries as well as in the classroom,” O’Connor said. “Mark is a great example of the tradition of excellence we’re proud to continue. We’re thrilled he shared this opportunity not just for himself, but for how it could benefit current students, future students, and alumni alike.”
O’Connor and Koepf even traveled to Atlanta to witness part of the build firsthand.
“Mark’s excitement was always about how this experience could serve Ferris State and the students,” O’Connor said. “It’s not just about one project — it’s about inspiring the next generation.”