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Rowan-Salisbury Schools students visit GLR Kitchen and Bath Design on a Manufacturing Day tour. – Sent

SALISBURY — Rowan County wrapped up an exciting week of Manufacturing Day activities, giving students from Rowan-Salisbury schools the opportunity to tour more than a dozen local manufacturing facilities. This large-scale initiative gave students a first-hand look at the dynamic career opportunities available in the manufacturing sector, which continues to thrive in Rowan County.

Participating companies included Chroma Color, Daimler Truck North America, The Driveshaft Shop, Freshhouse Produce LLC, GLR Kitchen and Bath Design, Gränges, Innospec Active Chemicals, Johnson Concrete, New York Air Brake, Pinnacle Corrugated, Power Curbers Companies, Staclean and SupplyOne Rockwell, Inc.

Students also explored advanced manufacturing resources and training opportunities at the Advanced Manufacturing Institute at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.

The week of the tours kicked off with an open house at Salisbury High School, home to the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Advanced Manufacturing Academy. Guests toured the new expanded metals lab and learned how the academy equips students with practical technical skills to move straight into careers or further education in manufacturing. Industry representatives from Henkel, Hexagon Agility and Mill-Spec Manufacturing attended, highlighting the strong connection between education and local workforce needs.

Kresen Whitmarsh, CIMC Community Partner with the RSS CTE Program, emphasized the importance of early exposure to local career options, noting that exposing the future workforce to opportunities in Rowan County’s top industry, manufacturing, is critical.

“It allows students to see what’s possible after graduation, whether they’re pursuing a 4-year degree, technical training, or going straight into the workforce. Careers in modern manufacturing are endless,” said Whitmarsh.

Kendall Henderson, director of business services at Rowan EDC, emphasized the strategic value of the tours and the importance of employer participation.

“It is important that our employers take advantage of this brand awareness opportunity,” Henderson said. “Through our ‘Choose Rowan’ talent attraction campaign, we hear time and time again from local talent that they are simply not aware of the opportunities available right here. Starting with our students is key to future success in securing talent for vital roles in our manufacturing sector.”

This year, Manufacturing Day has grown from a week-long celebration to a full month of activity, with the addition of two new events later in October. On Tuesday, October 29, the community will gather for a local maker appreciation luncheon from 11:30am to 1pm at New York Air Brake (NYAB). The luncheon will honor local manufacturers for their contribution to job creation and innovation, with Darren Skiles, operations manager at NYAB, as the keynote speaker.

Skiles joined NYAB in 2015 and has over 25 years of manufacturing experience. A graduate of Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and Supervision, he began his career as a production manager at Doorcraft in Indiana. He later served as general manager of the Jeld-Wen Corporation in Lexington. Under his leadership, NYAB has continued to meet and exceed the high standards of quality and delivery that its customers expect. Skiles will provide insight into how Rowan County manufacturers are driving innovation and achieving steady growth in a competitive landscape.

The month will conclude with a Women Manufacturing Leaders group breakfast on Thursday, October 31, from 9 to 10 a.m. at Hexagon Agility. The panel will feature prominent female leaders from some of Rowan County’s top manufacturing companies, including Kris Baum of Gränges Americas, Teresa Stephens of Chroma Color and Brittany Dorn of Hexagon Agility. This event provides attendees with an opportunity to learn from the experiences of these leaders and gain insight into the opportunities available in manufacturing. A continental breakfast will be served and the event will be open to manufacturing leaders, graduates of the North Carolina Institute of Manufacturing, and students from the Salisbury High School Manufacturing Academy.

By expanding Manufacturing Day into a month-long celebration, Rowan County continues to foster connections between students, educators and local manufacturers – ensuring future talent is aware of the many career opportunities in the region’s top industry.