Burke at Work 2015

Burke
at
Work
10.25.2015
THE NEWS HERALD
THE NEWS HERALD
2 | MORGANTON.COM
BURKE AT WORK
To our Kellex Family:

We thank you for being such an inspiration to your
fellow employees and to our community.
Your commitment, perseverance, and passion to
Make it Here and Make it Happen does not go unnoticed.
That dedication to making quality commercial
upholstered furniture has made Kellex a leader in
our industry. We appreciate each of you and your
spirit. You are the heart of Kellex.
Donald Gray, Plant Manager
OCTOBER 2015
OCTOBER 2015
Table
Contents
BURKE AT WORK
21 Health care field a call to bring healing

26 Company stays on the cutting edge
27 From Corvettes to trucks, company breaks mold in
of
4
9
10
12
16
17
19
MORGANTON NEWS HERALD | 3
Local leaders aim to change perception of manufacturing

Programs help prepare students for hi-tech careers
Preparing the way for brighter futures
Classes give students jumpstart on education career goals
Company gets crafty at putting people to work
Employment agency works to connect companies, employees
Career center aims to employ workers in Burke
2 8
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
37
41
43
auto manufacturing
Broad-reaching company keeps community a priority
Companys furniture made to be eternal
Company has local, national and global connections
Company aims expand high-end furniture business
Small business attractions help create jobs, boost economy
Blacksmith takes iron work to artistic heights
Shop showcases local brews, wines, artists
Brewers continue to expand operations to meet demand
Pottery studio offers venue for artistic, functional pieces
Winery stays true to Burke County with offerings
Other Local Wineries
Keeping Burke at Work

By Lisa Wall | Editor
What is the driving force behind Burke Countys

economy? Twenty years ago, the answer most
people would have given is textile and furniture
manufacturing. What many might not realize,
however, is that, although the face of manufacturing
has changed, it still represents the largest job sector
in the county today.
No, its not the same industry that many of us
remember our parents or grandparents working in,
but in many ways, its better.
As manufacturing has changed, so has the
level of education and skills necessary to work
in industries now. Gone are the days of people
being able to leave high school with or without
a diploma and find a job that pays at or above
the medium average wage. Today, as technology
continues to drive how companies in all industries
do business, workers often need an associate degree
or specialized training to find a job that pays well.
And by achieving that post-secondary education,
workers can likely adapt more easily when job cuts
do occur.
To help train the workers of tomorrow, Burke
County Public Schools and Western Piedmont
Community College are adapting their curriculum
and programs to better align with the opportunities
available in Burke County. Through the Career/
Technical Education classes at BCPS, students are
able to gain training in their areas of interest and
get college credits in high school. Many of WPCCs

programs target the leading job sectors in Burke
County, including manufacturing and health care.
This allows students to attend college and put the
skills they learned to work locally.
Burke Development Inc., under its new
leadership, is collaborating with BCPS, WPCC and
existing industries to create a partnership aimed at
connecting potential employees with employers.
In every county across the state, there is the
assumption that attracting one large manufacturer
will solve the unemployment woes that many
still face after the Great Recession. But the level
of competition among neighboring counties and
states to land the big one is great. And one factor
these types of companies look at is whether the
existing workforce is trained to fill those jobs. To
compete for these companies, it is up to economic,
academic, business leaders and the working
population to be prepared for the jobs of the future.
In this section, youll find out what industries are
driving our local economy, as well as how current
and future workers can find the needed resources
and education to either get back to work or train
for a better job. Certainly, there is much work to be
done by local leaders, existing companies and our
workforce to create the economic environment we
all envision. In essence, we all must be part of the
driving force to keep Burke at work.
4 | MORGANTON.COM
Local
leaders
aim to change
perception of
manufacturing
By Sharon McBrayer | Staff Writer
Manufacturing is dead is a common
refrain from some people in the area.
Many in the area still remember the
furniture and textile mills that closed
around 2000 and the people who were put
out to pasture. They ended up retiring, on
the unemployment line and/or going back
to school to learn a new skill.
But manufacturing is not dead in Burke
County or the Unifour area, it has just
changed and the people who work in the
industry have had to change with it.

BURKE AT WORK
production workers and 37 positions for
laborers and freight, stock and material
movers, as well as 40 general and
operations managers.
Scott Millar, president of Catawba
County Economic Development
Corporation, said the metro areas
economy is still more than 20 percent
manufacturing. While there is potential
for attracting non-manufacturing jobs to
the area, the manufacturing sector is what
the areas workforce is used to doing,
he said. We are the use your hands and
make something folks, Millar said.
But its important for people to know
the manufacturing of today is not the
manufacturing of yesterday, Millar said.
Its working with computers to make a
drive-shaft or a transmission, he said.
If you dont run it tight and you
dont run it clean and efficient, youre
probably out of business, Millar said of
manufacturing companies.
Todays manufacturing
Manufacturing is still a large chunk of

the economy in Burke County.
More than 50 percent of jobs in the
county are in manufacturing or health
care and social assistance, said Taylor
Dellinger, analyst for Western Piedmont
Council of Governments.
In the first quarter of this year,
manufacturing was the sector that
employed, on average, the highest
number of workers in Burke County, at
8,082 (27.6 percent), according to figures
from the Labor and Economic Analysis
Division of the N.C. Department of
Commerce. Manufacturing had an
average weekly wage of $756.
And there are manufacturing jobs up
for grabs.
On Sept. 21, NCWorks Online listed nine
production work jobs in Burke County,
six general and operations managers
positions and six laborers and freight,
stock and material mover jobs, as well as
four maintenance and repair jobs.
On the same day in the HickoryLenoir-Morganton Metropolitan
Statistical Area, NC Works Online listed
30 positions open for upholsterers, 29
A student sharpens a screw in a

machining technology class at Western
Piedmont Community College. Photo by
Jonelle Bobak.
The dirty, inefficient manufacturing

jobs of yesterday have gone to China and
theyre not coming back, he said.
So how can folks be sure manufacturing
companies will stay around in the area?
While there are no guarantees, there are
economic factors that are keeping or
driving manufacturers to the U.S.
Millar said energy and labor costs are
not that much different now between the
OCTOBER 2015
U.S. and China. In addition, production
now is located where the demand is, he
said. The localization of production is the
mindset now of manufacturers, he said.
If youre going to sell in the United
States, its much more likely going to be
made in the United States than it was 10
years ago, Millar said.
He added, The math speaks: that it
makes sense for manufacturing to occur
in the United States again.
Changing the mindset
Manufacturing jobs are in Burke

County and the Unifour but company
officials in the area have lamented for
several years that its difficult to find
enough skilled workers needed to fill all
of the jobs.
Perceptions of what manufacturing
used to be may be keeping younger
generations away.
But officials are working to
change common perceptions about
manufacturing to be able to attract and
train high-tech workers for todays
companies.
Alan Wood, president/CEO of Burke
Development Inc., said Burke County
is facing the same issue as almost every
community in the U.S.
Wood said there is a skills gap between
the workforce and what manufacturers
need in employees.
But I think, and there seems to be
agreement from our industries and our
other partners, that we have a public
relations issue surrounding the jobs we
have now and the ones expected in the
future, Wood said. We are working to
develop a long-term plan to address this
issue.
Wood said BDI and other officials
in Burke County will be involving the
school system, the community college,
Chamber of Commerce, local industries,
workforce development and many others
to support the effort.
We must convince our students that
manufacturing and service jobs of all
types are desirable and have a future,
Wood said.
He said officials will use multiple
marketing channels to reach internal
target market, which is, more than likely,
the most important part of the plan if they
hope to grow the countys industry base,
as well as support existing industry.
OCTOBER 2015
High-tech manufacturing
David Jones, plant manager of

Continentals Morganton location,
recently gave a presentation about the
company to the Burke County Board of
Commissioners.
So often we hear about the demise of
manufacturing but Im here to tell you
manufacturing at Continental is strong,
Jones said.
The companys sales last year was $40
billion, with the two plants in Morganton
contributing $1 billion in sales, he said.
With 600 local employees, one of
Continentals local plants make stability
control components that are required
on vehicles, while another makes air
suspensions, Jones said.
But its not the same type of
manufacturing of 20 years ago, when the
furniture and textile sectors were king in
the area.
Manufacturing now is high-tech and
state-of-the-art, Jones said.
Jones said the company uses processes
that are very technologically-driven and
there are great opportunities for hightech jobs with the company. He said the
company is in need of technically-savvy
people.
In the first quarter of this year,

manufacturing was the sector
that employed, on average, the
highest number of workers in
Burke County, at 8,082 (27.6
percent), according to figures
from the Labor and Economic
Analysis Division of the N.C.
Department of Commerce.
Manufacturing had an average
weekly wage of $756.
Were hiring and were looking for the
best and brightest, Jones said.
Jones said high-tech manufacturing
jobs can offer great careers for people
in Burke County and he said the seed
for doing the jobs should be planted
in middle school. He doesnt believe
everyone needs a four-year degree to
have a great career.
After Jones presentation, Burke
County Manager Bryan Steen said when
officials in the county were preparing an
BURKE AT WORK
application for a grant for a mechatronics
program at the local community college,
he was told there were more than 30 jobs
open in the county requiring those skills.
Steen said he was told by a Siemens
representative that someone with a degree
in mechatronics can make $75,000 a year.

increasingly be technical in nature and
will require increasingly specialized
skills. Students will need to be life-long
learners and able to adapt.
I think the pace of changing
technology will increase and those who
are best able to adapt will be the most
Burke County Employment, 1st Qtr. 2010-2015
Source: Labor and Economic Analysis Division, NC Department of Commerce.
Other work
The number of people employed in

Burke County has continued to climb
over the last five years. According to
figures with the N.C. Department of
Commerce, in the first quarter of 2010
in Burke County, which was in the
midst of an economic recession, saw
28,075 people working. That number
has steadily increased each year, with
the first quarter of this year seeing
29,285 people working, according to
the figures. Average weekly wages also
have increased, going from $581 in the
first quarter of 2010 to $643 in the first
quarter of this year.
The health care and social assistance
sector followed manufacturing in Burke
County as one of the biggest employers,
with an average of 7,260 workers (24.79
percent) and a weekly wage of $734,
according to the figures from the N.C.
While manufacturing is still big
in Burke County, Wood said he will
continue to try to recruit other industries.
Whatever those industries end up
being, Wood said he believes they will
successful, Wood said. I think the

long-term growth potential for the county
depends, in large part, on how well we
develop and carry out this plan. If we can
create the type of adaptive workers we
need, the future is exceedingly bright.

The health care and social

assistance sector followed
manufacturing in Burke
County as one of the biggest
employers, with an average
of 7,260 workers (24.79
percent) and a weekly
wage of $734, according to
the figures from the N.C.
Wood said BDI is continuing to
develop strategies for recruiting new
industry, focusing on new business that
will support what is currently here.
continued on page 6
BURKE AT WORK
6 | MORGANTON.COM
continued from page 5
Those new industries will probably be

companies that focus on metalworking
for the auto, aerospace and medical
device industries.
We feel we have strong support here
for these manufacturers from our existing
tool and die companies, Wood said.
BDI will focus on suppliers that do not
need to be located onsite with the major
manufacturers.
In addition, BDI also will take a look
at outdoor recreation manufacturing
companies because of existing industry
in the county to support them, Wood
said. BDI will look for opportunities as
they arise for distribution centers because
the county is in a good location to allow
access to the major population centers on
the east coast, he said.
To recruit the new industries, BDI
will strive to build relationships with
brokers site consultants, the Economic
Development Partnership of NC and
other select partners, as well as contacts
with existing industry, Wood said.
He said BDI staff will attend select

industry trade shows to make sure they
have meetings established with potential
clients while there.
OCTOBER 2015
We will spend a major portion of our
time working with existing industry to
assist them with their needs and to assist
them any way possible, Wood said.
Burke County Average Weekly Wage,

1st Quarter 2010-2015
Source: Labor and Economic Analysis Division, NC Department of Commerce.
BDI 2015-2016 Action Plan

Public Sector Investors
Board of Directors
Private Sector Investors

Committee of 100
President/CEO
Staff
Support Existing Industry
Recruitment
Small Businesses,
Entrepreneurs and
Industry Clusters
Workforce Development
Continue communication and

visits with existing
manufacturers
Maintain strong relationships

with site consultants, NCDOC
and EDPNC
Act as lead organization for

BEBO activities including
networking and scaling
Establish task force to develop

an aspiration plan for
workforce development
Assist manufacturers
interested in expanding
Develop branded marketing

materials to demonstrate
available sites and buildings
Connect high growth, scalable

businesses with the resources
necessary to grow
Maintain relationships with

local and state workforce
development partners
Host existing industry events

for networking such as BMEC
and B2B Manufacturing Expo
Develop target industry list

and seek opportunities to
recruit target industries
Develop competitive
advantages through growing
the Carolina Textile District
Develop internal marketing

plan and implement
Act as liaison by providing

resources and information to
existing companies
Infrastructure expansion to
targeted sites (Broughton and
BBP)
Support the development of

small to mid-size industrial
spaces for targeted industries
Explore and expand existing

training opportunities and
programs
Do these strategies support and promote development of jobs, investment and wealth in Burke County?
BURKE AT WORK
OCTOBER 2015
ESTABLISHMENTS
AVG. EMPLOYMENT
% OF EMPLOYMENT
Total Employment
Total Employment
Total Employment
1.488
29,285
100%
Manufacturing 131
Manufacturing 8,082
Manufacturing 27.60%
Health Care/Social Assistance 175
Health Care/Social Assistance 7,260
Health Care/Social Assistance 24.79%
Retail Trade 242
Retail Trade 2,684
Retail Trade 9.17%
Educational Services 42
Educational Services 2,481
Educational Services 8.47%
Accommodation/Food Services 127
Accommodation/Food Services 2,333
Accommodation/Food Services 7.97%
Public Administration 30
Public Administration 2,205
Public Administration 7.53%
Administrative/Waste Services 68
Administrative/Waste Services 990
Administrative/Waste Services 3.38%
Construction 127
Construction 555
Construction 1.90%
Other Services, Ex. Public Admin 110
Other Services, Ex. Public Admin 492
Other Services, Ex. Public Admin 1.68%
Professional/Technical Services 131
Professional/Technical Services 461
Professional/Technical Services 1.57%
Wholesale Trade 64
Wholesale Trade 420
Wholesale Trade 1.43%
Transportation/Warehousing 45
Transportation/Warehousing 412
Transportation/Warehousing 1.41%
Finance/Insurance 77
Finance/Insurance 341
Finance/Insurance 1.16%
Real Estate/Rental/Leasing 59
Real Estate/Rental/Leasing 166
Real Estate/Rental/Leasing .57%
Arts/Entertainment/Recreation 22
Arts/Entertainment/Recreation 128
Arts/Entertainment/Recreation .44%
Information 12
Information 91
Information .31%
Agriculture/Forestry/Fishing/Hunting 13
Agriculture/Forestry/Fishing/Hunting 82
Agriculture/Forestry/Fishing/Hunting .28%
Utilities 5
Utilities 53
Utilities .18%
Management of Companies/Enterprises 6
Management of Companies/Enterprises 32
Management of Companies/Enterprises .11%
AVG. WEEKLY WAGE
Total Employment
$643
Manufacturing $756
Wholesale Trade $795
Health Care/Social Assistance $734
Transportation/Warehousing $809
Retail Trade $425
Finance/Insurance $1,017
Educational Services $638
Real Estate/Rental/Leasing $560
Accommodation/Food Services $243
Arts/Entertainment/Recreation $322
Public Administration $656
Information $710
Administrative/Waste Services $411
Agriculture/Forestry/Fishing/Hunting $564
Construction $572
Utilities $1,102
Other Services, Ex. Public Admin $517
Management of Companies/Enterprises $1,009
Professional/Technical Services $702
8 | MORGANTON.COM
BURKE AT WORK
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State of the Art production facilities
Computerized Yarn Dyeing Operation
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1000 Perkins Road SE

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(828) 874-2181
OCTOBER 2015
BURKE AT WORK
OCTOBER 2015
education
staffing
Mechatronics
Programs
helps prepare
students for
hi-tech careers
A new addition at Western Piedmont
Community College that will train people
for high-tech manufacturing jobs is
expected to be completed by this time
next year.
The college, via its Career and
College Promise Program in partnership
with Burke County Public Schools, is
currently offering mechatronics-related
classes on its campus and in all four
county high schools. The classes are part
of the colleges Industrial System AAS
degree program and credits earned will
apply toward the pending Mechatronics
AAS degree program, which is open to
college-age students as well, said Atticus
Simpson, vice president for student
development with the college.
The industrial systems technology and
mechatronics engineering technology
degree programs will include technical
disciplines such as mechanical, electrical,
computer and industrial competencies,
according to college officials.
The Career and College Promise
program offers a valuable opportunity for
Burke County Public Schools students
to receive college credits credits that
transfer to colleges and universities in
the North Carolina system, said Larry
Putnam, superintendent of Burke County
health care
manufacturing
Public Schools. In addition to saving

their parents money, CCP allows students
to get required courses out of the way so
they can get into courses related to their
chosen degree field sooner.
Western Piedmont Community
College instructors provide the high
school students a rigorous, challenging
academic experience that also prepares
them for what they will encounter when
they enter college. We are grateful to
Western Piedmont for providing this
fantastic opportunity to our students.
Simpson said the college anticipates a
Mechatronics Engineering Technology
Associate in Applied Science degree
program will be approved by the North
Carolina State Board of Community
Colleges by February. He said approval
could come sooner but February is
the latest expected date it will happen.
College officials also remain focused on
implementing the new degree program in
the fall, he said.
To make room for the classes, the

college is planning to build a new facility
on its campus.
The new building will be located
between Breeden Hall and the Rostan
building on the campus and will have
two classrooms, one large and one small
lab, a conference room, a student lounge,
offices, bathrooms and supply rooms,
Simpson said.
The total cost of the building, needed
retail/tourism
equipment and program is $2.2 million,

say college officials.
Western Piedmont Community College
received a $750,000 grant from Golden
LEAF Foundation for the expansion.
Burke County is giving $433,000 as a
grant match. Others that have committed
funding to the expansion includes
$133,000 from WPCC, $184,000 from
Duke Energy, $10,000 from the North
Carolina Community Foundations/
Unifour Endowment Fund, and $40,000
in-kind contributions of equipment
from industry partners, according to
information from the college.
The state construction office has just
finished reviewing the design proposal
package from LaBella Associates,
P.C. and are in the process of creating
the design contract with release to
LaBella, Simpson said. Subject to state
construction approvals, weather and any
other issues, construction on the building
should start in May and be completed
toward the end of October 2016, he said.
The mechatronics program will
help train workers for 30 different
manufacturers, say officials.
Manufacturing leaders in the region have
complained for years about the lack of
trained high-tech workers.
Local business and industry has
expressed a need for mechatronics
technicians, and we here at Burke
County Public Schools are grateful for
Western Piedmont Community Colleges
willingness to partner with us to offer
high school students the foundational
skills needed to enter the mechatronics
field, Putnam said. Advanced
manufacturing is a major part of our
local economy, and we are committed
to preparing our students for the modern
work environment.
BURKE AT WORK
10 | MORGANTON.COM
education
staffing
health care
OCTOBER 2015
manufacturing
retail/tourism
Western Piedmont
Community College
Preparing the
way for
brighter
futures
By Jonelle Bobak | Staff Writer
has been a part of the Burke County
community since 1964 and, since that
time, has helped thousands of students
succeed in furthering their education.
Students can work toward an associate
degree, a certification or diploma in more
than 80 areas of study.
The college helps prepare students for
job industries in Burke County, focusing
on manufacturing and health care, among
various others.
Over the past few years, education
requirements for many of these jobs
have heightened, according to WPCC
President Michael Helmick.
The minimum requirement for jobs
used to be a high school diploma and now
the minimum requirement is very close to
being a two-year degree, Helmick said.
Since industry has been changing,
the skilled workers needed to fill many
positions at Burke County companies are
in short supply, Helmick said.
There are very few jobs for people
who do not have a skill set, Helmick
said. There is a shortage of workers for
those jobs that require those high skills or
high-wage jobs.
Helmick wants people to realize
the opportunity that furthering their
education can give them.
If we had a deficit for anything it
would be the number of people that are
coming here, Helmick said. Its not that
we arent out there selling it, but people
dont understand what all you can do
with a two-year degree.
WPCC has updated its curriculum to
Sparks fly as a screw is being

sharpened by a student in a
machining class at Western
Piedmont Community College.
Photo by Jonelle Bobak.
Students learn how to operate high tech

machinery in machining technology classes.
Photo by Jonelle Bobak.
better help those that are already in the

workforce by teaching students not
only the work skills needed, but also
soft skills, said Atticus Simpson, vice
president of student development.
Soft skills include teamwork and the
ability to communicate clearly with
others, Simpson said.
A lot of discussion is around hard
skills that these students are learning, but
one of the things we are hearing from
industries is that hard skills are great, but
the skills that we also need are the soft
skills, Simpson said.
In a class that teaches simulation and
game development, Instructor Jonathan
Pardue, makes his class work in groups
and problem solve together to help build
their soft skills.
An instructor turns on a machine

that is used in their machining
technology classes. Photo by
Jonelle Bobak.
We always encourage them to join in

on the critiquing process with one another
by giving the feedback and taking the
feedback, Pardue said.
Brandon Hensley, instructor of
computer integrated machining
technology, is preparing students for the
workforce by ensuring they understand
not only the basics of machining
technology, but the details as well.
One of the things that sets us apart
from other (machining) shops is, unlike
some of the other shops in the state
where they have tried to fast track their
students through, we have slowed down
and really started to go through the shop
and making sure they have those skills,
Hensley said.

continued on page 11
BURKE AT WORK
OCTOBER 2015
education
staffing
So instead of cutting the manual

machining out of the program we have
added hours to it so the students know
what they are doing every step of the
way, Hensley said.
There is nothing that we do in the
course of a week, whether it be in
here on the simulators or out there on
the machines, the projects that they
are doing, that isnt lining up directly
with what they are going to see in the
workplace, Hensley said.
A growing program called
mechatronics that WPCC offers, is a
combination of mechanical, computer
and engineering technology programs.
Students who receive their degree
in mechatronics will be educated in
welding, hydraulics, pneumatics and
electronics.
The easiest way to describe
(mechatronics) it is that we take care of
the machines that make things, Helmick
said. It used to be called industrial
maintenance, but it has gone well beyond
industrial maintenance.
There are already about 20 high
schools students in the mechatronics
program, Helmick said.
They will know how to go and in
make sure the machines do what they
do, Helmick said. Everything to setting
up the machine on the floor all the way
to making sure it produces whatever the
product is with the consistency that is
needed.
It is a growing field that many
industries have an increased need for and
WPCC is in the midst of building a new
center to house the developing program.
We know that there will be more
demand for that program, which means
there will be more students and more
learning space will be needed, Simpson
said.
Helmick hopes to overfill the program
and fill all the needs of not only Burke
County industries, but also those in
surrounding counties.
My hope is that it becomes one of
several signature programs that we have
here at the college and that people begin
to realize that coming here will help
health care
manufacturing
change their lives and help them make a

really good living, Helmick said.
In each department at WPCC, they
have advisory committees that meet once
or twice a year to see what businesses
and industries need from their students.
Basically, they (each WPCC
department) have committees where they
choose people out in the community
who may be alumni or people who
are invested in that particular business
who serve on the advisory committee,
Simpson said. Its a form of building
cohesiveness with people who may
employ our students later on down the
road.
WPCC uses these committees to help
them plan for the future of each of its
programs.
Our guys (instructors) cant be in the
industry all the time, but these advisory
committees sort of help us by saying
you could teach this, or this is the next
big thing coming up with health care,
Helmick said. They are constantly
feeding us information about where we
should be going with these programs.
The college hopes to educate students
with the most relevant curriculum based
on the specific need of that industry.
We are constantly looking at what is
retail/tourism
new and trending in whatever industry

it is and creating programs to fill a need
that may not be there yet, but is on the
horizon and that way we make sure our
graduates have a place to go to work,
Helmick said. We are also trying to
anticipate what the future needs of
industry are by looking at new industries
that might consider this area and making
sure we have a workforce prepared to go
to work there.
The partnerships that WPCC have
are stable resources that help to provide
feedback and scholarship opportunities,
Simpson said.
We couldnt do any of this without the
partnerships with Burke County Public
Schools, the county commissioners, the
board of education and, most importantly,
our industry players like Continental,
Leviton, James Tool, and Carolinas
Healthcare System Blue Ridge, Simpson
said.
Helmick is proud to be a part of am
institution that he believes changes lives.
This community is poised for growth
and I have never been in a place that I felt
as positive for growth as this place right
here, Helmick said.
For more information on WPCC, visit
www.wpcc.edu or call 828-438-6000.
Students calculate codes and input them into systems that tell machines how to operate
in a machining technology class at Western Piedmont Community College. Photo by
Jonelle Bobak.
BURKE AT WORK
12 | MORGANTON.COM
education
staffing
Burke County Public Schools
Classes
give students
jumpstart on
education,
career goals
By Jonelle Bobak | Staff Writer

Many students in high school anticipate
going to a four-year university to further
their education, but for those who
choose to start a career, opportunities are
available.
Preparation for the work force has been
a part of Burke County Public Schools
curriculum for years, offering classes in
health care
OCTOBER 2015
manufacturing
auto mechanics, carpentry, food services,

business, finance and allied health.
Food service
Susan Coleman, a career technical

education teacher at Draughn High
School, teaches Foods 1, Foods 2
Enterprise, ProStart 1 and ProStart 2.
Students in my classes acquire a wide
variety of skills, which will empower
them to be successful citizens, workers
and leaders in the food service industry,
Coleman said.
In her Food 1 class, students learn
the fundamentals of the food industry
such as culinary terms, equipment and
techniques, she said.
Foods 2 Enterprise continues on
improving their culinary skills to include
cakes, yeast breads and advanced knife
skills, Coleman said.
Students have the choice to become
ServSafe certified, which is conducted
through the National Restaurant
retail/tourism
Association, she said.

It is a nationally recognized program
in food safety and has helped several
of my students gain entry into the food
service industry, Coleman said.
In the ProStart classes, students are
introduced to successful customer
relations, communication skills,
management and food service cost.
To give students hands-on experience,
the advanced classes prepare, set up and
serve food for various school functions
such as faculty meetings and luncheons,
prom, senior project presentations, as
well as community functions, Coleman
said.
They get real-world experience in
catering events for as few as 30 and as
many as 300 people, Coleman said.
She believes that her CTE class in
important because her students gain a
skill set that will help them in the future.
Machines may have the ability to
replace people in some industries, but
At Case Foods, Inc. we work together striving

to satisfy our customers needs; we focus
on consistent quality every time, a safer
workplace, and operational excellence, all for
the purpose of being the best managed and most
profitable company in the U.S. chicken industry.
ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
APPLY IN PERSON OR ONLINE
121 Rand Street

Morganton, NC 29655
828-438-6900
www.casefarms.com
BURKE AT WORK
OCTOBER 2015
education
staffing
they cannot replace made-from-scratch

pies or biscuits, Coleman said. One
of my main goals is for each and every
student to safely and successfully prepare
foods or meals from scratch or semiscratch, not out of a box and heated in the
microwave or oven.
According to the National Restaurant
Association, about four in 10 restaurant
industry employees are 16- to 24-yearolds, Coleman said.
Employers look for people with
experience, she said. By sharing
the knowledge and experiences they
have learned in classes with a potential
employer, my students are more likely to
be hired.
health care
manufacturing
retail/tourism
Students at Draughn High School learn to

create meals from scratch.
Students learn how to sculpt fruit pieces,

such as a strawberry rose, in their foods
class at Draughn High School.
Students make a dessert from peanut

butter and chocolate in their foods class.
Students prepare sandwich trays in a

Career and Technical Education class.
Firefighters
A new program that started this

year at two county high schools is
giving students a peek into the life of a
firefighter.
There are only 39 high schools in
North Carolina that have a fire academy,
said Shane Calaway, fire academy chief
at Draughn High School.
The academy teaches the basic skills
that students will need to know if they are
interested in becoming firefighters.
The skills that they learn are CPR,
forcible entry, fire operations and fire
rescue technique, Calaway said.
If students finish the program, they will
only need two more classes to become
certified with the International Fire
Service Accreditation Congress.
That means that they are certified in
48 states and several different countries,
Calaway said.
Not everyone in the academy will
become firefighters, but those who dont
want to make it a career can still be a
volunteer firefighter, he said.
The fire academy gives students
workforce training by preparing them for
what is to come after high school.
It helps (students) because it is
structured training, Calaway said. They
learn life skills and interview processes
and they have to fill out resumes and
not only that, but they learn how to give
back to the community because we have
community projects (to complete).
They plan to organize fundraisers
for local firefighters and burn victims,

Calaway said.
Burke County Schools is really
proactive in the CTE program and its
really good that they give students a
lot of options and that exposes them to
a lot of different careers they might be
interested in, he said.
Students are able to find their niche in
the CTE classes, Calaway said.
There are two different tracks
college or career that high school
students can go on to do after high
school.
I think a lot of students are not
university material. Its not that they
arent intelligent enough, its just that
they arent interested in going to do
that, Calaway said. There are so many
different CTE programs and a lot of
students like the hands-on type of classes
and they excel better at those types of
classes instead of sitting in the classroom
all the time.

He has two students that were not
entirely interested in the fire academy,
but have now been in his class since
the beginning of the 2015-16 school
year and now want to volunteer at a fire
department.
Life skills
Having these types of skills coming out

of high school is beneficial because it
lays a foundation for students to have if
they decide to take the career or college
path.
The CTE program is key to really
exposing students to the types of technical
jobs in the community, said Sara Chester,
project and communications manager
for Burke Development Incorporated.
I think the opportunity with the CTE
program is to provide exposure to the type
BURKE AT WORK
14 | MORGANTON.COM
education
staffing
health care
OCTOBER 2015
manufacturing
retail/tourism
A student drives a nail into a shed that

they are building in CTE class.
Students in an Allied Health class study

the different organs of the human body.
of jobs that are out there and allow the

student to try and figure out if they have
the right capabilities and interest for those
types of jobs.
BDI works with most of the large
corporations in Burke County and tries
to promote economic growth, innovation
and sustainability in order to improve
the standard of living and well-being of
its citizens, according to their mission
statement.
Chester advises students to consider
furthering their education once they find
a field that they enjoy.
Personal recommendation would be
that they kind of get into the field and
explore things and see what they like
they have the opportunity to figure what
they want to do and where they want to
be and then pair that work experience
with further education, Chester said.
She believes that the Burke County
economy depends on the students who
join the workforce and the skills they
learn in the CTE classes.
A student cuts through a piece of wood by using a electric saw.
Burke County will not have a future if

we cant keep those kids here and if those
kids and their interests and their skill sets
are not matched up with the jobs that
are available, or will be available, in the
future, Chester said.
The CTE program is helping to
prepare students for the opportunities of
the future, BCPS superintendent Larry
Putnam said.
CTE courses offer our students
practical, hands-on experiences, whether
it is using tools in carpentry classes or
learning food management practices
in ProStart culinary classes or learning
business skills in the Microsoft classes
or taking vital signs in allied health
classes, said Putnam. Students have the
opportunity to complete CTE pathways
and receive certificates that they can
then take to show potential employers
that they have the skills needed to be
successful in a particular field.
Many of the courses that BCPS
offers through CTE have originated by

listening to business and industry in
the community and finding out what
their needs are as they seek to fill job
openings, Putnam said.
That is certainly how the
mechatronics program came about.
With other courses, such as the new fire
academy, we listen to our students and
find out their interests, Putnam said.
Two students learn how to check the oil

in a car during a Career and Technical
Education class.
OCTOBER 2015
BURKE AT WORK
BURKE AT WORK
16 | MORGANTON.COM
education
staffing
WorkSource West
Company gets
crafty
at putting
people to work
By Glen Luke Flanagan | Staff Writer
Tucked away in a little cottage on
Enola Road in Morganton is a treasure
trove of old-fashioned goodies.
Wooden toys, kitchenware and
ornaments sprawl throughout the shop,
making it look like a place Grandma
and Grandpa might have visited when
they were young. This is Fruits of Our
Labors where everything is made
locally by trainees at WorkSource West in
Morganton.
The shop has been open for just over
half a year, and has struggled to find its
footing in an area of town long mired in
construction work. Despite that, things
are looking up.
Every month, even with the road mess
and everything, there has been a small,
steady growth, said Facility Director
Connie Barnette.
Instructors at WorkSource West work
with clients with disabilities mental or
physical and help them learn the social
skills they need to enter the workforce.
One such instructor is Randy Caudle,
who has been teaching at the facility for
seven years.
As far as doing this level of stuff,
the crafts, its only been a couple of
years, Caudle said. Now, theres been a
woodworking department since the 70s,
but it was just building shipping crates,
skids and pallets for the furniture industry
thats what it has always been before.
This is kind of something new.
Caudle teaches woodworking at the
facility, and supervises projects ranging
from simple such as wreathes made
from wooden rectangles nailed together
to the complex, such as small,
health care
OCTOBER 2015
manufacturing
polished reindeer and larger hobbyhorses.

Trainees get paid for their duties at
WorkSource West, and learn skills such
as punctuality, money management and
working with a team. At the end of their
time in the vocational rehabilitation
programs, staff members will help them
apply for jobs and make their way into
the workforce.
The items made during training find
their way into the community through
Fruits of Our Labors, where they sell for
just enough to cover material and labor
costs.
Thats just the start, however the
WorkSource West team also hopes
to bring their wares to the Historic
Morganton Festival next year, and
perhaps festivals in Marion and
Hendersonville.
Its beginning to take on a life of its
own and that is so great, Barnette said.
In addition to the woodworking
training, WorkSource West also offers a
hydroponics garden where trainees can
help grow fresh herbs, which are then
sold to local restaurants and offered
straight to consumers at Fruits of Our
Labors.
The garden focuses on basil and
cilantro, and facility staff and trainees
grow fresh herbs even through the winter.
In the years to come, they hope to expand
their growing space and herb selection.
The facility also partners with local
retail/tourism
industries, aiming to stay relevant to the

local economy.
We always keep our fingers on the
pulse of all the businesses in the county
and ask them, What do you need? What
is your business doing? Barnette said.
If we train folks, but give them skill
sets where they can only get a job if they
move away, it doesnt benefit anybody.
One trainee who has benefited from
the facility is Skyler Smith. Under
Caudles tutelage, Smith spent time
in the woodworking shop learning the
tools and the planning skills involved in
shaping blocks and planks into something
magical.
Im just working with wood handson stuff, Smith said. I enjoy it a lot.
The difficult part would be the jigsaw.
Thats the only weak point I have right
now.
As the staffers at WorkSource West
strive to help their clients, the constant
aim is to give back to the community, and
make sure everyone in Burke County has
equal access to that community, Barnette
stressed.
In a nutshell, we are one of the
partners in the community as we all
work together, she said. We help all
our citizens access the services offered
in Morganton and Burke County with
one of the most important of those being
employment.
Ellie Tate-Hooper works on handcrafted reindeer at WorkSource West in Morganton.
BURKE AT WORK
OCTOBER 2015
education
staffing
Catawba Valley Staffing
Employment
agency works to
connect
companies,
employees
By Tammie Gercken
News Herald Correspondent
Catawba Valley Staffing describes itself
on its website as a full-service staffing
firm that invests in growing relationships
with people and businesses to benefit the
communities where we work, play, learn
and live.
The staffing agency was started in
1999 by Hope Lowman and her daughter,
health care
manufacturing
Wendy Ward, who is currently serving

as CEO. Ward said her mothers main
objectives were to be able to work
close to home and to help people in the
community.
Catawba Valley Staffing is a member
of both the American Staffing Association
and the North Carolina Association of
Staffing Professionals.
Ward mentioned that the agency
requires all of their managers to
achieve Certified Temporary Specialist
certification through the state association.
She said the training for the certification
focuses on employment regulatory laws
and how they apply to staffing.
The agency has offices in Hickory,
Valdese, Marion and Morganton. Christy
Hildebran, human resources manager
at the Morganton office, explained their
mission in simpler terms.
When I sit down with someone,
Hildebran said, I mainly ask them what
can I do for you, and what do you expect
of me?
retail/tourism
Everyone who works with us has

unlimited opportunities. My mother went
from making $6 an hour to six figures.
Ward said the agency provided 65
companies with 1,754 workers in 2014
through all four offices.
Hildebran stressed the importance
of the staffing agencys job in finding
the best fit between their associates and
the client companies they serve. She
said potential associates go through an
involved interviewing and screening
process before the agency connects them
with a company. The screening process
includes a drug test and a criminal
background check.
Hildebran said the agency staff asks
them about their long-term goals and
interests to better match them to a
position. The agency also evaluates them
on what she called the three As: attitude,
attendance, and ability.

Pictured (from left) Christy Hildebran, human resources manager, and Amber Bolick, client relations manager, both of Catawba Valley
Staffing greet visitors and prospective associates at the job fair the agency recently held at its office in River Village in Morganton.
BURKE AT WORK
18 | MORGANTON.COM
education
staffing
health care
manufacturing
OCTOBER 2015
retail/tourism
Our goal is to make sure its a winwin situation for everyone, she said.
When approved for work, associates
are considered employees of Catawba
Valley Staffing, according to Ward. Their
client companies pay the agency for
their services, and the agency pays their
associates for the work they do for those
companies.
In addition to ensuring a good job
fit, Hildebran noted that the agencys
resources enable them to supply
associates with multiple options and
positions, something they may not find if
searching for a job on their own. Catawba
Valley Staffing also posts information
about jobs they have available on their
Facebook and Twitter pages.
Hildebran mentioned that due to their
efforts in connecting associates to the
jobs best suited for them, she has seen a
lot of companies retain those associates
as full-time employees. Associates are
allowed to become employees of the
client company instead of the agency
after they have worked for the company
for at least 520 hours.
If you meet the three As and they
really like you, companies will often find
a spot for you, she said.
Hildebran shared that she is a former
associate of the agency that was asked
to stay on full-time about a year and half
ago.
The jobs the agency staffs for local
companies are mainly clerical and
industrial.
Manufacturings really come back
a lot during the recession, Hildebran
said. She said there are many positions
available with furniture and textile
companies, some that require highly
skilled labor thats in short supply these
days.
Hildebran said some local
manufacturers are now offering
apprenticeship programs to give workers
the skills they need to do those jobs.
She said the agency is working with
participants in Western Piedmont
Community Colleges Mechatronics
program to connect them with the
internships and apprenticeships that are

available.
Hildebran said the agency also
has done workshops with students at
Hallyburton Academy to teach them
skills like how to fill out a job application
and dress for an interview.
She pointed out the benefits that
companies get from using the agencys
services that go beyond finding the most
appropriate job candidates.
We take care of all the liability,
processing, screening, drug tests,
background checks, and any preemployment tests that companies might
require, Hildebran said. It takes a lot
of pressure off them in the recruiting
process. Its just a time-saver for them.
There are small companies that
dont have an HR (human resources)
department, so we can be that for them,
Ward said.
Hildebran also mentioned that
Catawba Valley Staffing recently has
convened a safety committee that tours
the companies where they have placed
workers to ensure those companies are
complying with OSHA and other safety
standards.
We really care about our associates
and we want to make sure they have a
good place to work, Hildebran said.
She added that the agency stays on call
24 hours a day, seven days a week, so
associates can instantly connect with
them should any problems arise, such as
getting hurt on the job.
Hildebran, who described herself as
addicted to staffing, said she greatly
enjoys connecting workers with jobs.
The most exciting thing is when one of
our associates on a job goes to full time,
she said. Sometimes when were touring
a company, well see an associate of ours
thats been working there for years.
Ward said she is glad to be able to help
be the connection for companies and
potential employees.
My heart for it (Catawba Valley
Staffing) is to be a positive place to
work, and a positive resource for the
community, Ward said.
Burke
County
Staffing
Agencies
AccuForce
Staffing Services
828-432-2950
Fiddlers Run Blvd
www.accuforce.com
Friday Staffing
828-437-4200
303 W. Fleming Drive
www.friday-staffing.com
NC Employment
Security Commission
828-438-6161
www.ncesc.com
The Laviz
Group, Inc.
828-430-9252
108 W. Union St.
www.lavizgroup.com
Catawba Valley
Staffing
828-432-9797
351 Sanford Drive
cv-staffing.com
BURKE AT WORK
OCTOBER 2015
education
staffing
Employment Security
Commission
Career center
aims to
employ
workers
By Tracie Farnham | Staff Writer

Folks looking for work in Burke
County often seek assistance from the
N.C. Works Career Center.
Chuck Brown, the career center
manager, said his office works to employ
people in jobs input on the centers site
by employers. The site typically has
approximately 150 available jobs per day
health care
manufacturing
from various job sectors.

Job offerings and availability is stable,
he said.
It has been being fairly steady around
130-150 jobs available on any given day
for the past few months, Brown said.
To the surprise of many, manufacturing
is still the leading job sector in Burke
County, Brown said.
Manufacturing is still the biggest
employer in the county, Brown said.
While many furniture and textile
operations closed within the past 10 to 15
years, Brown said those still in operation
require a different skill set.
The number of manufacturing jobs
in the county is obviously not what it
was seven or 10 years ago. We certainly
dont have as many manufacturing jobs
in the county as we did, but it is still the
biggest sector (for employment), Brown
said. It is still a strong component of our
economic base in the county and there is
still demand for people. The skills that
retail/tourism
are in demand are probably lot different

than 10 years ago.
ESC JOB LISTINGS
To see what jobs are available

in Burke County, visit www.
nccommerce.com/workforce/
job-seekers.
Manufacturing jobs, including furniture

and textiles, are listed at the center while
Brown said some manufacturers choose
to employee workers through temp
agencies or direct hire. One of the largest
manufacturers is in need of workers.
Leviton is one of the biggest
employers in the county and they are
doing some hiring, Brown said.

A P ROUD BURK E COUNTY NORTH C AROL INA

COM MUNITY PA RTNER & EM P LOY ER.
WWW.GEIGERFURNITURE.COM | 1.800.456.6452
BURKE AT WORK
20 | MORGANTON.COM
education
staffing
While the county experienced a decline

in the manufacturing hiring sector, the
service sector has grown and has a steady
demand for workers, Brown said.
The service sector, in terms of
proportion of the workforce, is what grew
while manufacturing shrank, he said.
The largest private employer in the
county falls in the health care sector, he
said.
Carolinas HealthCare System (Blue
Ridge) is the biggest single, private
employer in the county, Brown said.
For county and state employment,
Brown said he refers folks to the county
government website and the state office
of human resource website.
Those jobs arent listed directly with
us, he said. We work to connect job
seekers to those jobs.
Positions that see a steady demand for
workers include health care technicians
health care
manufacturing
and food service assistants, Brown said.

More specifically, he said these workers
are hired at Broughton Hospital and J.
Iverson Riddle Developmental Center.
On a typical day, there might be 45 to
50 jobs listed as open in Burke County
for jobs across the health care field from
housekeeper to physician, he added.
Although Burke County has
experienced a large number of
construction jobs, these worksites
havent necessarily contributed to
hiring local workers. Brown said that
many contractors employ trades people
and contractors that travel with the
construction company.
Some of these construction companies
hired and retained local workers, but
there is just not a whole lot going on in
terms of hiring, he said.
The area of transportation has
experienced a solid need for experienced
workers, Brown said.
There is a steady demand for truck
THE FUTURE IS ON
113 Industrial Boulevard

Morganton
828.584.1611
OCTOBER 2015
retail/tourism
drivers. Not so much in terms of

warehousing and shipping in Burke
County, but these are places we can send
folks, he said.
The center makes referrals for qualified
truck drivers to those employers who are
hiring and Brown said qualified, longdistance drivers are most in need.
There is a greater demand for the
long-distance, experienced truck drivers
and there are good wages for some of
those as well, he said.
Local driving jobs are easier for
employers to fill, Brown added.
BURKE AT WORK
OCTOBER 2015
education

staffing
Carolina HealthCare
System Blue Ridge
Health care
field a call to
bring
healing
By Tammie Gercken
News Herald Correspondent

Carolinas HealthCare System Blue
Ridge is a network of health care
facilities serving Burke County and
the surrounding area that includes two
hospitals in Morganton and Valdese,
an urgent care center, two express care
centers, two rehabilitation/long-term
care centers, a wellness center, and 31
physician practice locations in three
counties.
According to spokesperson Kelly
Schermerhorn, Blue Ridge currently has
253 providers on its medical staff, and
is one of the largest employers in Burke
County, employing 1,800 people last
year.
Members of Blue Ridge staff recently
shared information on work and
opportunities within the system. These
include Joseph Mazzola, chief medical
officer and senior VP of Graduate
Medical Education; Brenda Hemphill,
director of human resources; Susan
Brown, chief nursing officer; and Beckey
Carswell, nurse manager, Telemetry.
They all emphasized the wide range
of positions available with Blue Ridge,
starting with the familiar jobs of doctor,
nurse, pharmacist, and lab technician.
They also recognized the lesser-known
but vital jobs performed by office staff
and the Environmental and Facility
Services workers like electricians,
plumbers, food service staff, and other
personnel. One could even get a job
flying a helicopter with MedCenter Air,
health care
manufacturing
retail/tourism
Carolinas HealthCare Systems medical

air transport service.
Hemphill said Blue Ridge filled 281
full-time positions and 10 part-time
positions in 2014. They also filled 91
work as needed positions people
who serve as substitutes for regular
workers.
In addition to jobs, Blue Ridge also
looks for people to work in its three
volunteer groups, Medical Explorers,
Volunteens, and Volunteers.
Medical Explorers is a program
designed for high school students who
are interested in a future in health care,
according to Traci Jacobs, Blue Ridge

pharmacy director.
The students get to tour the facilities
and take part in hands-on activities.
The Volunteens program, also for high
school students, is a more in-depth
experience than Medical Explorers
more like an internship in which they
can gain valuable experience and receive
mentorship from veteran professionals.
The Volunteers group is for adults only
and covers a wide range of opportunities.
TRAINING AND EDUCATION

offers several degree programs that can
prepare people for a job in health care.
These include nursing, medical and office
assisting, dental assisting, lab work, and
recreational therapy. Information on all

health care degree programs is available
at www.wpcc.edu.
Cindy Cross, system manager of
recruitment and retention with Blue
Ridge, said the system currently employs
eight acute nurses and three long-term
care nurses that received nursing degrees
from WPCC.

BURKE AT WORK
22 | MORGANTON.COM
The Committee of 100
Partners for Progress
OCTOBER 2015
Partners for Progress Campaign
My three-year financial commitment indicated below:
Our Mission:
Since the Committee of 100 was formed,

it has provided resources and funding
to Burke Development, Inc (BDI), the
economic development organization
for Burke County. This private sector
support has aided BDIs recent
successes including:
I would like to pay in equal installments:

Annually
Recruitment of new companies

410 Hogan Ekornes Geiger
The Committee of 100

strategy centers around
these priorities:
Provide private sector experience,

thinking and guidance to
economic development efforts
Recruit new business; support
retention and expansion of
existing industry
Increase the national and
international visibility of
Burke County
Strengthen regional economic
development partnerships
American Roller Bearing

Case Farms
Caterpillar
CE Foam
Duralee
Ice River Springs
Kellex Seating
Leviton
Peds
Siegwerk
SpartaCraft
Email:_____________________________________________
Please check here if you do NOT want to receive email updates.
Signature: __________________________ Date:_________

Please make checks payable to:
Burke County Committee of 100, Inc.

Attention: Lisa Buff, Treasurer
P.O. Box 1236 | Morganton, NC 28680
Burke County Committee of 100, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit
corporation. For federal tax purposes, investments made to this
program can be tax deductible as a charitable contribution or can
be treated the same way as membership dues ordinary and
necessary to the conduct of business. No goods or services have
been exchanged for this contribution. Please consult with your tax
advisor for specific advice.
www.Burke100.com
Assist BDI with establishing

a long-term coordinated
development plan for
Burke County
Existing industry expansions
BURKE AT WORK
OCTOBER 2015
education
staffing

Carswell is one of those nurses. She
praised the nursing program at WPCC,
saying it prepared her well for the work
she does today.
The hands-on experience you get in
the program is amazing, Carswell said.
You get more clinical time than you do
in other programs.
She said they were also
accommodating with her schedule when
she had child-care issues.
Hemphill said Blue Ridge provides
a transitional class for the newly
graduated nurses they hire to help
them orient to their work. She said the
class includes an educational book and
discussions about the challenges the
nurses face as they begin their careers.
All of the staff members pointed
out that Blue Ridge offers a tuition
reimbursement program for employees
who choose to further their education in a
health care field.
The staff members spoke candidly in
response to questions people may have
about working with Carolinas HealthCare
System Blue Ridge:
What are the benefits of working

in health care?
Mazzola: Theres a tremendous about

of stability in health care careers. Were
going to be here, and well always have a
need for highly qualified people to work
in our system.
Brown: With the aging Baby Boomer
population, youre going to have a stable
job and income you can depend on.
Its also a profession that has a lot of
opportunities within the different fields.
Carswell: Seeing people come in
sick and then seeing them get a little
better every day gives you a sense of
accomplishment. Serving as a cheerleader
and educator to patients and their families
so they can have a better outcome is
encouraging and rewarding.

What do you enjoy about
your job?
Mazzola: Taking care of patients. As a

physician, I took care of one patient at a
health care
manufacturing
time. Now as an administrative leader, I

get to take care of thousands of patients
a day through influencing policy and
training.
Brown: I like to inspire nurses to
learn and grow in their practices. I told
my nurses recently that, were not just
nurses, were professionals in the most
trusted profession of nursing. Theyre
friends and neighbors taking care of
friends and neighbors. Theyre there
when patients are born, and there on
their last day. Theyre really doing heroic
work.
Carswell: I enjoy helping people, and
I enjoy the variety of positions you can
do within the field.
retail/tourism
hard to teach compassion. Its much

easier if its already part of someones
personality.
What advice would you give

to someone thinking about
pursuing a career in health
care?
Mazzola: Do some volunteer work

first to make sure thats what you really
want to do. We have some excellent
volunteer programs. They give people
the opportunity to shadow health care
professionals and see what working in a
health care environment would be like.
Brown: I would tell them to not do
it for the money. They have to love
the work. They have to bring joy and
purpose into the work and in the lives of
the patients, or theyre not going to be
happy.
Why should health care

professionals choose to work at
Carolinas HealthCare System
Blue Ridge?
What qualities are important
for someone to have to work in
health care?
Mazzola: Being outgoing, caring,

committed, and eager to learn are key
attributes to being successful in health
care.
Hemphill: You must have a call to
provide care and services to people in
need. You must have compassion and the
ability to make sound decisions. Its not
for everyone.
Brown: Empathy, kindness, clarity,
being mindful of everything you do, and
present in the moment when there are
a lot of things going on. A love of the
sciences, a love of learning, and curiosity
are also important. We continue to learn
all the time, because theres such a
turbulence of change in health care. We
have to be able to change on the fly based
on the evidence within the health care
environment, and its a real challenge to
keep up with that and make sure were
practicing that way.
Carswell: They have to have
compassion and service in them. Its
Hemphill: Its an excellent place to

work and an excellent place to receive
care. We practice shared governance,
where the staff helps to develop policy
and protocol. Our management has an
open-door policy, and they listen to
suggestions. We also focus on family,
especially with our Family Fun Day that
we offer to our employees once a year.
Carswell: This is a great group of
people to work with. I really appreciate
the team work that takes place here, and
how everyone knows each other and is
quick to offer help and encouragement
when its needed. The upper management
works really hard, and they come out to
the floor and see whats happening. They
know whats going on, and theyre all
very personable and approachable.
Brown: Ive worked in many different
organizations, and this is probably
the healthiest work environment Ive
experienced.
Mazzola: Anyone whos joining our
organization is joining our family.
To learn more about job opportunities
or volunteering with Carolinas
HealthCare System Blue Ridge, go to
blueridgehealth.org.
Downtown Morganton
in the Business of Putting Y
Artistic rendering of future housing
n Main Street Program
You in Business ... through
DID YOU KNOW? If each of us spent $100 a year more

on LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES, it would put an extra
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thousands of new jobs! #SupportLocalBusinesses
BURKE AT WORK
26 | MORGANTON.COM
education
staffing
health care
Stonegraphics and
Commercial Sandblasting
Company
stays
on the
cutting edge
By Rebecca Lynch
Special to The News Herald
With its 10th anniversary this year, Stonegraphics and

Commercial Sandblasting has many different clients, including
monument companies and individuals.
While Edyth Pruitt keeps the records and runs the office out
of their home, Mike Pruitt has an apprentice of his own, Joshua
Smiley.
I was like 2 weeks old when we met, said Smiley.
Our history goes way back, said Pruitt. When I wanted
somebody to come in to be the apprentice and help me out, there
wasnt another choice.
Sandblasting requires a lot of patience, practice and training.
Knowledge of the hardness scale of rocks is imperative.
You have to know the hardness scale pretty much by looking
at the stone to decide what youre gonna have to use to cut that
thing and put graphics on it, said Pruitt.
Most of the time, sand does just fine, he said. Other times,
you may have to go to aluminum oxide because its tougher and
cuts better.
Humble Beginnings
Mike Pruitt had been making his living doing construction,

up until he injured both elbows and had to have the tendons
replaced.
Unsure of what he would do with his life at that point, he and
his wife Edyth, a minister at Fairview Presbyterian in Lenoir,
manufacturing
OCTOBER 2015
retail/tourism
headed to Petersburg, Virginia, to volunteer at a work camp.

It was there that the solution to his problem presented itself in
the form of a staff member at the camp.
One of the staff members came to me and offered to teach me
what he had done for a living, which was graphics sandblasting,
said Pruitt.
Sandblasting is essentially using compressed air or steam to
propel small bits of material, most often sand, at a surface in
order to erode it to form words or a design.
We can do in 30 minutes what God does in 30,000 years,
Pruitt joked. Sandblasting is nothing but controlling a
miniaturized tornado in your hand.
His Own Business
Pruitt travelled once a month as an apprentice, learning his

new trade.
I was fortunate enough that he was really good at what
he did, and that he was willing to teach somebody something
different, said Pruitt.
After training, Pruitt came back to Drexel and sold all of
his construction equipment, using the money to pay for the
sandblasting equipment he would need to start his own business.
At first, the going was slow. As an unestablished craftsman,
customers were hesitant to call on Pruitt for work.
Pruitts first sandblasting job was cutting death dates into
headstones at Sossoman Funeral Home.
He really took a big chance on me because I didnt really
have anyone down here that would even talk to me, he said.
A Tool of Healing
Pruitt isnt doing this work just for monetary profit, though.
While his wife works in the church, he does his own missionary
work in the field.
If I can go in there with quick turnaround, put that death date
on that headstone and have the family come out to look at it, if it
starts that healing process, thats what the whole things about.
For more information on Stonegraphics and Commercial
Sandblasting, call 828-413-3630 or 828-413-0087 or email
info@stonegraphics.us.
BURKE AT WORK
OCTOBER 2015
education

staffing
health care
Molded Fiber Glass
From Corvettes to
trucks, company

By Rebecca Lynch

A glance at an original 1954 Corvette brings up many different
thoughts. For most people, the question of how much it weighs
and why, may not be one of them.
Robert Morrison created Molded Fiber Glass Companies in
1948 and has made many contributions to the mass production of
fiberglass products.
In 1953, following a fateful elevator meeting in Detroit with
General Motors Purchasing Director, Elmer Gormesen, a
decision was made to make the Corvette the very first car to be
made out of fiberglass. MFG makes the fiberglass parts for the
newest Corvettes to this day.
breaks
mold
in auto manufacturing
manufacturing
retail/tourism
The company actually drives the original Corvette around

to all of the different plants so that the workers can see it, said
Dean Justus, human resources manager at Molded Fiber Glass.
Molded Fiber Glass North Carolina was established in 1994.
Molded Fiber Glass had been looking at locations to be closer
to some of the companies that theyve been working with, so that
they wouldnt have to ship the parts so far, said Justus. This
location in Morganton fit the bill.
This plant compression-molds and assembles both roof caps
and hoods for class 7 business class trucks.
We dont just make the pieces and ship them off, we
assemble them, too, said Justus. Half of the plant compressionmolds the parts, and the other half assembles them, and it runs
24/7.
MFG North Carolina also builds hoods for school buses
all over the country. They also designed the roof cap for the
Freightliner Supertruck unveiled earlier this year, assisting the
truck in achieving a record-breaking 12.2 mpg.
We were actually the first company to put fiberglass on a
truck in order to save fuel, said Justus. Youd be amazed at
how much lighter it really makes the truck.
MFGs Morganton plant is located at 213 Reep Drive.
For more information, call 828-584-4974 or visit www.
moldedfiberglass.com.
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education
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Geiger Furniture

By Rebecca Lynch

Special
to The News Herald

HILDEBRAN The Pathway to
Greatness on the back wall is essentially
a chevron pattern with each arrow
including an inspirational quote. The first
quote reads If you aint first, youre last
Ricky Bobby.
The workers requested that one, so
we had to include it, Gene Bryson, vice
president of manufacturing, said with a
smile.
Geiger Furniture is a small division of
Herman Miller Corporation. Originally,
Geigers seating manufacturer was based
in Wisconsin, while the manufacturer for
the frames resided in Hickory.
In 2010, it was elected to consolidate
the two manufacturers. The only question
was where would it be located?
After looking at many existing
buildings in the area, Hildebran seemed
like the best choice.
We researched many different options,
and felt good with Burke County, said
Bryson.
In other instances, working under a
large corporation such as Herman Miller
might be a hassle, but thats simply not
the case at Geiger.
It really supports us as having a
large corporation behind us financially
and with resources and programs that
really give us more of an ability to do
things than if we were independent, he
said. On the other hand, we are small
enough in some respects to the rest of
the company that we dont get too much
Broad-reaching
company
keeps
community a
priority
health care
OCTOBER 2015
manufacturing
over-support. Its a nice relationship.

Geigers customer base reaches
throughout the U.S. and abroad, from
Mexico to Japan, selling primarily
office furniture for hospitals, financial
institutions, and colleges.
Our customer base is very broad, in
that its more national and international
than local, he said.
Although the company may stretch
from sea to shining sea, it still has an
active role in the community.
We try and be here for the betterment
of the community in the respect that
they employ more people with a good
paying jobs, and support the company by
being a good neighbor and a friend to the
community, said Bryson.
Geiger is one of the most vertically

integrated factories in Herman Miller.
They create their products from raw
wood, and take it through each step
within the factory until the product
is finished and ready to be sent to the
customer.
We use a lot of high-technology
equipment that constitutes a lot of the
woodwork on the chairs and such, and to
that end I think that that requires a good
base of employment strength thats highskilled in what they do, said Bryson.
He also said the company strives to be
a good corporate citizen as well as a place
that shows appreciation for its workers.
We like to think of ourselves as being
a good neighbor and supporting the
community in ways that we can, and we
try and make sure that our employees feel
this is a good place to work.
retail/tourism
Geiger Furniture International is

located at 218 Cline Park Drive in
Hildebran. For more information, visit
www.geigerfurniture.com or call
828-324-6500.
BURKE AT WORK
OCTOBER 2015
education
staffing
health care
manufacturing
retail/tourism
EXODUS
Companys
furniture
made to be
eternal
The News Herald
301 Collett Street Morganton, N.C. Phone: 828-437-2161

The News Herald is in its 130th year of
delivering news to the doorsteps of Burke
County, as well as computer screens and
cell phones around the world. In addition to
covering the news that is important to those
government meetings, and crime news, the News Herald provides
local organizations the opportunity to share their news and events
with the community. News tips, community news, calendar of
events, church news, and celebrations can be submitted via email
at news@morganton.com or by calling 828-437-2161.
The News Heralds advertising department offers free marketing
consultation and analysis. Through print and its digital audience,
The News Herald reaches more readers than ever before. Backed
by an award-winning graphics team and the latest demographic
information, The News Heralds sales team can provide exclusive
advertising options. Free consultation meetings are available
by emailing the department at advertising@morganton.com or
calling the office at 828-432-8971.
The News Herald is owned by BH Media, a Berkshire Hathaway
Company. Our office is located at 301 Collett St., across from the
Collett Street Recreation Center and beside Marthas Park.
AB
erkshire Hat
North
Carolina
Media
Group
ed i
a Company
ncmg
a
w
ha

From Staff Reports

EXODUS CoffinWorks is making furniture for
eternity the final bed! The company uses furniture
grade wood and veneer to produce smaller, lighter and
simple designs. Each coffin is finished inside and out
allowing for full-open display or using the companys
signature flip-back lid for partial display. Even the
bottom of the lid is finished, accenting the wood grain.
Every part of EXODUS liner serves a purpose. The
wrapping serves a twofold purpose: It protects during
shipping and at time of use, and can be removed and
used to line the bottom of the coffin serving as a tray.
With our unique lightweight patent pending liner, there
is no need for adjustment of the body for display. It is
designed to do that automatically, keeping the body in
position during transport as well. Another uniqueness of
the liner, is that it allows it to be covered with material
provided by the family simply by draping over the form
and still maintaining the shape and requirements for the
funeral director to display the deceased.
The companys board of directors wants to be clear on
what our company stands for and is all about helping
others! Some of the things listed on our updated website
that sum up our focus are the following:
All profits go into a charitable foundation to help
those in need. The company was set up from the
beginning based on Paul Newmans business concept.
Pricing is set to enable folks to afford a real burial
and funeral with a wood coffin.
Keeping folks employed and American made.
Yes, they are very focused on eternity and
resurrection of the body, believing in real burial and
funerals. That is a win-win and plus for the funeral
industry.
For more information, visit www.exoduscoffinworks.
com that further details our mission.
The News Herald - Your Source for Local News

Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm
BURKE AT WORK
30 | MORGANTON.COM
education
staffing
Toner Machining
Technologies
Company
has
local,
national
and global
connections
By Justin Epley | Staff writer
Toner Machining Technologies is a

local company founded and based in
Morganton, but its reach spans much
further than that. TMT has contracts
and clients across the United States and
located internationally.
We tend to do aerospace, nuclear,
automotive and power generation, said
Jim Toner, owner of and president of
TMT. Within that group of industries,
we work with General Electric, CurtissWright Aircraft, Dana and those types of
corporations.
The company lists its machining
solutions as CNC contract machining,
design and build of custom workholding
fixtures, complete turnkey machining,
custom gages, tooling, special machines,
and welding and fabrication.
Machining is described as a form
of subtractive manufacturing in which
a collection of processes are used to
remove material to achieve a desired
shape. In the modern day, many of these
health care
OCTOBER 2015
manufacturing
processes are achieved through computer

numerical control and sophisticated
cutting machines.
Usually, Fortune 100- to 500-sized
companies who manufacture components
are who we go after in any one of the
sectors, Toner said.
According to the companys website,
www.tonermachining.com, it also works
with such corporations as Boeing, John
Deere, Cummins, Caterpillar, Sypris,
Ingersoll-Rand and Haas. But that doesnt
mean that a career at Toner Machining
Technologies is out of reach for local
workers. In fact, Toner says he actively
seeks to hire from the area.
I like hiring people locally, Toner
said. Its a good workforce. There are
a lot of ethics in this area and good,
grounded people. So, yes, I like to hire
from this area, if possible.
Many of the skills needed to work as a
machinist at TMT can be acquired locally
as well. Toner says programs available at
in Morganton are beneficial to employees
and potential employees at his company.
Some of the tasks expected of a
machinist are calculating dimensions,
aligning tools or materials onto machines,
monitoring and operating machines,
checking for defects and entering
commands to edit computerized machine
control media.
As far as a machinist on the floor,
what we like to see is where theyve
taken a little bit of initiative to take some
classes at like a Western Piedmont or
they have experience coming in. We look
for about three to four years experience
coming in the door.
(We look for) good math skills,
programming skills. Ability to work with
others is big with us.
Learning at WPCC is a proven pathway
to potential work at TMT. According
to Toner, a significant portion of his
employees have done just that.
Id say we have probably 10 guys
on staff (who have taken courses at
WPCC), Toner said. We have probably
45 people and 10 of them have been
through Piedmont or a similar program
somewhere else.
Toner says these vocational programs
retail/tourism
have been very beneficial for the

employees using them and the company.
(The courses) are very helpful, he
said. They at least get the basics before
they come in with measuring tools, math
skills, a little bit of programming. Weve
been fortunate to hire some really good
young guys here in the last year or year
and a half.

Toner Machine
Technologies Tactical has
custom-made handguns
for celebrities such as Ted
Nugent, Kid Rock and
Sarah Palin.
Toner recommended several specific

areas of learning to get a job as a
machinist.
Id pursue the math, said Toner. Id
pursue going through (Western) Piedmont
or a similar program. Take machining,
programming, maybe some model CAD
(computer-aided design), Mastercam or
SOLIDWORKS. Any of those would be
very beneficial.
The median annual salary for a
machinist in the Hickory area is $35,973
with a median hourly wage of $17.
Both of these figures and figures for
the machining industry as a whole are
above average. The demand for precision
machining is certain to remain high and
jobs are available in the field.
In addition to its machining, Toner
Machining Technologies offers handgun
customization and custom-built outdoor
wallets. This work is done through the
TMT Tactical branch of the business.
These products and services have been
purchased and endorsed by Ted Nugent,
Kid Rock and Sarah Palin.
ONLINE: See a video about TMT Tactical
handgun customization and custom-built
Attacoa Wallets at www.morganton.com/
burkeatwork.
BURKE AT WORK
OCTOBER 2015
education
staffing
health care
manufacturing
retail/tourism
Pictured is table
crafted by Chaddock
Furniture that was
engraved with the
N.C. State seal. The
table was given to
Gov. Pat McCrory.
Chaddock Furniture
expand
Company aims to
high-end
furniture
business
By Rebecca Lynch
Chaddock Furniture specializes in domestic retail furniture,
including bedroom, living room, dining room, and family room
furniture.
The company has existed for 20 years, but has been given new
life due to its rebranding from Ferguson Copeland Furniture two
years ago.
Although owned by a private equity firm in New York,
90 percent of the Chaddocks products are made here in the
Morganton facility.
Ive been in this industry almost 25 years, and this is
probably the most special company Ive worked for, said
Chaddocks president and CEO, Dan Bradley.

One of the things that make Chaddock furniture unique is the
option to customize any order. Chaddocks products are madeto-order, making such customization easy.
If you like this chair that youre sitting in, but you want it to
be made into a sofa, we can do that, said Bradley.
The customization options are seemingly endless. The scaling,
finishing, and hardware can be changed on almost the entire
product line.
If we dont have the fabric you want, then you can actually
send in your own and well cut and apply it for you, he said.
There are currently approximately 180 people employed at
Chaddock, and they are still looking to hire more.
Because of the capabilities we have to be high-end, we do
envision doubling the size of this company in at least two years,
said Bradley.
We have enough business to do it, and what we are doing is
hiring people, some good people we know to help us with the
growth.
Chaddock is looking for both management staff and craftsmen
and women for the manufacturing facility. Some of the jobs
require some specific skill set, like upholstery work.
The workforce that we have is incredible, said Bradley.
Theyve been doing this for quite a while, and we are very
fortunate to have the group of people that we have here at
Chaddock.
Chaddock Furniture is located at 100 Reep Drive in
Morganton. For more information, visit www.chaddockhome.
com or call 828-584-7176.
BURKE AT WORK
32 | MORGANTON.COM
education
staffing
health care
manufacturing
OCTOBER 2015
retail/tourism
Retail and Tourism
Small
businesses,
attractions
create
help
jobs,
economy
boost
Its not just large industries that create jobs and bring
money into the local economy.
Tourism is a growing in Burke County.
In August, Visit North Carolina announced that
domestic visitors to and within Burke County spent
$91.34 million in 2014, an increase of 5.48 percent from
2013.
But this year appears to be on track to beat those 2014
numbers.
Ed Phillips, director of Burke County Tourism
Development Authority, recently told commissioners
Burke County was on track in September to surpass the
number of visitors it saw for the entire year in 2014.
The number of visitors to the county was up 40
percent in June and up 45 percent in July, he said.
The travel and tourism industry directly employs
more than 680 people in Burke County, with a generated
total payroll of $3 million, according to information

from Burke County Tourism Development Authority.
Phillips said those things that draw people to Burke
County include everything from restaurants, agritourism such as Apple Hill Orchard and attractions such
as Beanstalk Journey to wineries, breweries and outdoor
recreational sports.
Even something the area has long been known for
attracts visitors to the area.
Phillips said 90 percent of Pattersons Amish Furniture
customers are from out of town.
Other businesses that draw folks to the area include
Hamilton Williams Galleries and other art galleries, Old
Country Store in the upstairs portion of Morganton Feed
and Seed, My Local Bakery, JDs Smokehouse, Wisteria
Southern Gastropub and Root & Vine restaurants,
Phillips said.
BURKE AT WORK
OCTOBER 2015
education
staffing
health care
Oak Hill Iron and

Big Blu Hammer
Blacksmith
takes iron
work to
artistic
heights
By Rebecca Lynch
Lynn Curfman points at the outdoor
pizza oven her husband and business
partner Dean Curfman made for her.
That just looks like it could be there
in a hundred years and still function,
said Lynn Curfman. We strive to create
timeless pieces that will actually last.
Big Blu Hammer Mfg. Co. is the
half of the Curfmans business that
creates pneumatic power hammers for
blacksmithing. They have a dealer in
Canada, and sell the hammers all over
the world.
When he started out as a blacksmith,
Dean Curfman needed tools for his trade
but couldnt afford them. This led him to
begin making his own tools, giving birth
to the first facet of his business Big
Blu Hammer Mfg. Co.
It just so happened that Dean was
a brilliant artist on top of being able to
make tools, so he was able to bring in
an artistic flair as well as create products
that are useful in the blacksmithing
world, said Lynn Curfman. It started
with a need and then grew into a love.
The other half of the business, Oak
Hill Iron, was created in 1995. Oak
Hill crafts useful pieces of art for both
residential and commercial use.
Everything is hand-forged here,
said Lynn Curfman. We dont buy parts
from China to weld them together.
The defining characteristic of the
atmosphere at Oak Hill Iron is the sense
of family between the 11

craftsmen that dominate
the workspace.
We have fun every
day, we make stuff every
day, said Josh Smith, a
craftsman at Oak Hill Iron.
Oak Hill Irons
only location is in
Morganton, at 3308 Frank
Whisnant Road. For
more information, visit
oakhilliron.com or call
828-437-5348.
manufacturing
retail/tourism
BURKE AT WORK
34 | MORGANTON.COM
education
staffing
health care
Brown Mountain Bottleworks
Shop
showcases
local
brews,
wines, artists
By Rebecca Lynch
Brown Mountain Bottleworks began as family dream for Kory

and Collin Suttles. It finally came to fruition last November
when they opened their doors in downtown Morganton.
It was just good timing, said Kory Suttles. At the time, I
was working at a radio station in Asheville and was just at a lull
period, so we started to talk about it, and said that the timing was
right.
When we first opened, we could only sell wine and cider,
Suttles said.
In order to overcome these licensing issues, Brown Mountain
Bottleworks had to change to a private club format, requiring
them to charge a $1 membership fee.
We had a lot of great support from the community, you know
therere always hurdles, Suttles said.
The Suttles have a yearly fundraising event where they donate
all of their membership fees to the Foothills Conservancy.
Within the shop, Brown Mountain showcases the paintings of
local artists. Half of the artwork was painted by Laura Cellars, a
friend of the Suttles brothers who designed their stores logo.
Making awareness of what we have locally is something
thats important to us, Kory Suttles said. I think it instills a
sense of pride in us.
The Suttles have opened up their store to the Morganton Area
Society of Homebrewing, which holds their monthly meeting in
the shop.
Being able to share recipes and ideas is pretty cool, theres
always collaborations, too, he said.
The Suttles were born in Morganton, and have focused heavily
on promoting the virtues of the Burke County area, not only
through the beer, wine and art, but also through local music.
Whats ended up being the most interesting aspect of this
is actually being a venue for local music, Suttles said. Every
Tuesday night we have a freestyle jam session. So anybody can
manufacturing
OCTOBER 2015
retail/tourism
bring an instrument, or their voice, and they just sit around in a

round table fashion and play.
Its just a great place for locals to just meet up and hang out.
Brown Mountain Bottleworks is located in downtown
Morganton, at 115 E. Union St. For more information, visit
www.brownmountainbottleworks.com or call 828-413-2678.
BURKE AT WORK
OCTOBER 2015
education
staffing
Catawba Brewing Co.
Brewers
continue to
expand
operations
to meet
demand
By Tracy Farnham | Staff Writer
What started out as a home brewing

operation in 1994 has now grown to
become a staple in Morganton.
Catawba Brewing Co. formerly
known as Catawba Valley Brewing
health care
manufacturing
Company has been churning out

delicious beers for the past 16 years in
Burke County.
The county has seen the brewery grow
up from its early days in Glen Alpine
to when it moved to its current home in
downtown Morganton in 2007.
The operation includes a tasting room
in Asheville and a small, pilot brewery
that produces specialty beers and test
batches, Kevin Sondey, director of
brewing operations said.
Locally, Morganton is the main
manufacturing facility for the cans and
currently operates at capacity, producing
nearly 8,000 barrels per year.
To help keep up with demand, Catawba
Brewing Co. is under construction with
a new brew house in the works. The
unit is being built in Wisconsin and will
eventually be located in Morganton,
Sondey said. The expected arrival date is
early October.
An addition to house the boiler and
retail/tourism
Catawba Brewing Co. worker James

Bradley checks the gravity of the wort, a
concoction that is produced before it is
turned into actual beer.
grain handler at the Morganton location

is underway, while new fermenters are
being built in Vancouver, Washington, he
said.
Sondey expects the new equipment
to be fully operational by the end of
November.


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able to provide you with what you need when
you need it.
We make sure we have a complete
understanding of the job and the skills
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Skills assessments are administered to
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Complete background checks, social security
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With your guidance, we develop tailored
employee reporting to meet your particular
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Direct deposit of every employees paycheck
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Friday Staffing has been in the

business of recruiting highly skilled
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OCTOBER 2015
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Anticipated production numbers for 2016 are

about 15,000 barrels in Morganton, with the
Asheville location adding 500 barrels, Sondey said.
Morganton employs around eight production
people and has a tasting room staff of six with
maybe 20 in Asheville, he added.
With the anticipated increase to production,
Sondey said addition to the brewery staff is expected.
Presently the patio and tasting room areas are
complete and Sondey said they have expanded
to a warehouse across the street to accommodate
equipment.
Catawbas products are sold in many restaurants
and grocery stores and in Bank of America Stadium
and Time Warner Cable arena in Charlotte along
with various minor league baseball teams.
Once the new brew house is up and running we
will be rolling out some new brands and styles on
the cans, he said. We also will be expanding
some distribution to cover the entire state of
North Carolina.
Banks carbonates the White Zombie White Ale in the Morganton

production facility.
OAKHILLIRON.COM
E-mail us at info@oakhilliron.com
Call us at (828) 437-5348
3308 Frank Whisnant Road Morganton, NC 28655
BURKE AT WORK
OCTOBER 2015
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Hamilton Williams Gallery
Pottery
studio
offers venue
for artistic,
functional
pieces
By Tracy Farnham | Staff Writer

A downtown gallery now has a working
kiln and clay studio to provide customers
handmade pottery made in Burke County.
Hamilton Williams is resident potter
at the studio which bears his name in
downtown Morganton.
The recent addition of the gas-fired kiln
promises efficiency in the pottery process
with the clay created, glazed and fired
under one roof, he said.
We are excited to finally have the kiln
going. We did use the electric kiln, but we
had to carry the pottery to the old studio
for glazing, he said.
Williams relocated his studio from
Valdese and the grand opening was held
in September 2013. With the recent
completion of the working kiln and pottery
studio, Williams said he plans to get back
to my wholesale roots.
So far, Williams has completed orders
to locations as far away as Wisconsin and
those closer to home including Asheville
and Sylva.
While local customers might find a
creative and unique piece to display,
Williams said each piece also can be
utilized as dinnerware.
Everything we carry here is functional
pottery, he said.
Potter Hamilton Williams stands in the firing room of his working studio in downtown
Morganton. Just behind Williams is the gas-fired kiln where the clay pottery is fired.
Hamilton Williams Gallery, located in downtown Morganton, has added a gas-fired kiln.
The process is more efficient with everything located under one roof from creation to
glazing and the final firing.
BURKE AT WORK
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OCTOBER 2015
manufacturing
Glazed items wait to be fired in the gas kiln at Hamilton Williams Gallery in downtown
Morganton.
retail/tourism
The new space also provides more

natural light and opportunity for
creativity.
I like working in this space. It has
more light, more space and it is nice to
be in the downtown area and to be part
of the downtown community, he said.
The studio will allow me to utilize
some molding techniques and allow
us to increase pottery production for a
number of designs.
Working with clay and the potters
wheel is relaxing, Williams said.
It calms me down and it clears ones
mind, he said. Paying attention to
one thing, everything else falls to the
wayside. I also enjoy the repetition.
Williams said he signed up for an
elective pottery course while he was
a student at the University of North
Carolina at Greensboro. This led to
discovering his future livelihood.
After finishing college, Williams
returned home to Hickory and opened
G A L L E R Y
&
S T U D I O
A finished bowl sits near a glazed bowl that has not been fired
yet. The firing process brings out the natural colors of the clay.
403 EAST UNION STREET DOWNTOWN MORGANTON, NC

828-438-1595 WWW.HAMILTONWILLIAMS.COM
BURKE AT WORK
OCTOBER 2015
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Finished work by Hamilton Williams is offered for sale in the studio.
his first studio, producing stoneware

pottery for sale at juried shows and
festivals. Williams moved his studio
to Valdese, and when he outgrew the
space, the decision was made to move to
Morganton.
Once I realized the best place was in
Morganton, this is where I wanted to be,
he said.
He garnered enthusiasm from
Morgantons Main Street office to
relocate the studio downtown. To have
more arts in the downtown area attracts
more people, Williams said, adding that
he sees visitors on a weekly basis.
Every weekend we get someone

traveling through town, Williams
said. It (studio) attracts people to the
downtown from elsewhere and existing
customers who want to see the gallery.
Additionally, Williams plans to
schedule workshops and communitywide firings for local clay enthusiasts. He
said the firings would be in conjunction
with Morganton Main Street.
The new artists venue supplements the
areas attractiveness for those looking to
relocate, Williams said.
I feel like this (studio) is one of the
amenities people will definitely look
upon if relocating, he said.

Williams opened the studio gallery to
showcase fellow artisans and currently
has nearly 50 artists represented.
I long wanted to do this, he said. I like
helping other artists.
As a juried member of the Southern
Highland Craft Guild, Williams is among
the more than 900 high-caliber artisans
and serves as the guilds membership
committee co-chair. He plans to offer his
first wholesale tradeshow in May 2016.
For more information about
Hamilton Williams Gallery, visit www.
hamiltonwilliams.com.
BURKE AT WORK
40 | MORGANTON.COM
education
staffing
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OCTOBER 2015
manufacturing
retail/tourism
Downtown clay studios
The exterior of Jenlumas Clayworks

Studio in downtown Morganton.
The exterior of West Union Art Studio in
downtown Morganton.
West Union
Art Studio
113 W. Union St.
828-403-4148
Jenluma
Clayworks
Studio
101 B. N. Sterling St.

828-525-0350
www.jenluma.com
Exterior of Hamilton Williams Gallery

located downtown Morganton.
Hamilton
Williams
Gallery
403 E. Union St.

828-438-1595
www.hamiltonwilliams.com
Art galleries
The Katz Arts Collective - 116 W. Union St., Morganton, NC 28655
Burke Arts Council - Jailhouse Gallery - 115 E. Meeting St., Morganton, NC 28655,
828-433-7282 www.burkearts.org
Rock School Arts Foundation - 400 W. Main St. Valdese Galleries I and II, Studio 101,
hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekends by appointment. For more
information, visit www.visitvaldese.com or call 828-879-2129
Valdese Heritage Arts Center - 146 W. Main St., Valdese. Fall and winter hours: 10 a.m.
to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. VHAC is a co-op of
local artists and crafters. For center information or to sign up, call 828-874-1849 or visit
valdeseheritageartcenter.com
TREAT - Gift Shop and Bar at 101A Sterling St.
BURKE AT WORK
OCTOBER 2015
education
staffing
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manufacturing
Lake James Cellars
Winery
stays true to
Burke
County
with offerings
By Rebecca Lynch
After making wine as a hobby with his
wife for a few years, Josh Fowler decided
to make wine as favors for their wedding
guests.
It was around then that the passion for
his hobby spread to his parents, and they
took the leap toward their own business.
After that, we decided to share our
love of wine with the public, said
Fowler.
With their 10-year anniversary having
passed this August, Fowler says that this
has been the best year thus far, and that
the business is so far, so good.
Winemaking Tips from

the Master
A lot of people dont realize

how much manual labor goes into
winemaking, Fowler said.
He glanced at the large stainless steel
tanks his wine fermented in with a frown.
People seem to think that most of a
winemakers time is spent relaxing and
drinking his wine, but no, he said.
Winemaking is one of the many
businesses that require a good amount of
upfront costs. Although the stainless steel
equipment is a little on the pricey side,
Fowler said that its worth it because the
equipment is long lasting.
Another necessary cost is the
investment of buying grapes.
Sometimes, there can be a two or
three year return on your investment,

because you have to wait for the wine
to finish to see a return on it, said
Fowler. You cant rush anything in this
business.

Local Color
Heritage is important to Fowler, who

ties in local history to his product. The
names Table Rock, Brown Mountain
White, Fonta Flora, and Linville Mist
have all been included in his list of wines.
We are using local names in our wines
to give it that local feel, Fowler said.
In 1868, when the Southern Railroad
was built through Glen Alpine, the tiny
town was dubbed Turkey Tail due to a
tree bearing resemblance to a turkeys tail
that grew next to the railroad.
A wine of the same name can be found
on the shelves at Lake James Cellars.
Tourists love hearing the names and
where they come from, he said.
Names are not the only way in which
Lake James Cellars is staying local.
Although they dont grow their own
grapes, they buy from local vineyards as
often as possible.
retail/tourism
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42 | MORGANTON.COM
education
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Changing Seasons
Some wines are available yearround, but the seasonal wines to look
forward to this winter are Fonta
Flora, which is a cranberry wine,
and Table Rock which is a black
cherry wine.
During the summer months,
watch out for Summer Slice, a
watermelon wine, and Caribbean
Mist, which is a Banana-MangoPineapple wine.
Its nice to have a product that
youre truly proud of, and hope that
everyone else loves it as much as
you do, Fowler said.
Lake James Cellars is located
204 E. Main St. in Glen Alpine.
For more information, visit
www.lakejamescellars.com or
call 828-584-4551.
health care
manufacturing
OCTOBER 2015
retail/tourism
The Morganton
Plant started
production in
1991 while internal
expansions in 2006
brought the facility
to its current position
of 20 total machine
lines.
Lake James Cellars
Other
Local
Wineries
The primary
products
manufactured in
Morganton are
vials for the global
pharmaceutical
industry.
The glass industry has mid-eastern
roots in Egypt dating back to
1550 BC and 300 BC. In the United
States, the first glass factory was
constructed in Jamestown, Virginia
due in part to the availability of
necessary raw materials; pure silica
sand, limestone and soda ash.
Furnaces were fired by hardwood
fuel; the colonists from the European
glass industry provided the skills
required. The Company was started
by Evan Kimble in Chicago in 1901,
making vials and containers from
glass tubing using hand production
methods. It became a major
supplier of pharmaceutical and
scientific glassware in this country.
Photo courtesy of facebook.com/lakejamescellars
Lake James Cellars

204 East Main Street, Highway 70
Glen Alpine, NC 28628
828-584-4551
www.lakejamescellars.com
Lake James Cellars and The Old Mill Antiques opened a little
more than 10 years ago, when the owners Mike and Betty Fowler
restored the 1915 textile mill. Their son Josh is the winemaker.
The basement now houses the winery equipment, while the upper
level holds antiques, jewelry from local artisans and other items.
In 1946 Kimble Glass was

acquired by Owens-Illinois. In
1994 Gerresheimer purchased
51% of Kimble from Owens-Illinois
and the remaining 49% in 1997.
In 2007 Kimble Glass Inc. legally
changed its name to Gerresheimer
Glass Inc. Gerresheimer AG is the
parent company and is a publicly
traded company listed on the
Frankfort, Germany Stock Exchange.
Gerresheimer Glass Inc has global
presence within nineteen locations
in Europe, fourteen locations in the
Americas and seven locations in
Asia.
114 Wamsutta Mill Road

Morganton, NC
1-828-433-5000
We continue to
strive to maintain
our premier status as
a pharmaceutical
supplier.
Gerresheimer of
Morganton is on
track to become
the largest supplier
of pharmaceutical
grade glass vials in
the United States of
America.
In 2011 the
Morganton Plant
was awarded the first
ever Gerresheimer
Management
Systems (GMS)
Plant Award out
of 45 global
Gerresheimer plants
for its outstanding
performance.
Recently in 2015,
the plant was
again awarded a
GMS Award for the
material systems
category for lot size
optimization out of 47
global Gerresheimer
plants.
BURKE AT WORK
44 | MORGANTON.COM
education
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OCTOBER 2015
manufacturing
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Owners Jennifer Foulides and Ed Wisnieski stop for a photo

opportunity on a bottling day at Silver Fork Winery.
Waldensian Heritage Winery

4950 Villar Lane, NE
Valdese NC 28690
828-879-3202
www.waldensianheritagewines.com
Silver Fork Winery

5000 Patton Road
Morganton, N.C. 28655
828-391-8783
www.silverforkwinery.com
The grape-wine process is mostly manual a year-round cycle

that includes crushing the grapes, fermenting, filtering, blending,
bottling and labeling.
Silver Fork Winery owners Jennifer Foulides and Ed Wisnieski

are living the life of their dreams after moving from New York
and purchasing a vineyard in Burke County.
No wine is bottled from bulk storage until there is a need or sold

until it has at least one year of aging because, to quote an old
adage, life is too short to drink bad wine. Manual operation of
producing quality wines by using old world technologies, coupled
with some modern equipment and innovations, creates wines that
have a true taste of the grape.
The couple honed the skills they would later use to run their
new business through a mentorship with the vineyards previous
owner. They later added to the 32-acre property a rustically
elegant tasting room with a wine bar, deck and patio that offers
guests an impressive view of the South Mountains.
Visitors are welcome to join a conducted tour along with tasting

various wines and an opportunity for purchasing. The Waldensian
Heritage Winery is available for parties, meetings, reunions,
wedding events or any scheduled gathering of friends.
Guests can purchase bottles or enjoy in the tasting room SFWs

Chardonnay, Chardonnay Reserve, Ros, Chambourcin, Cabernet
Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or the couples signature Four
Dog Red blend.
BURKE AT WORK
OCTOBER 2015
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Belle Nicho Winery

525 Patton Valley Drive
Nebo, N.C. 28761
828-659-3168
www.bellenichowinery.com
Since 2012 Belle Nicho Winery has been adding its own Southern
Style to our wines. Owner Bridget Dunford and manager Janet
Bertinuson initiated their first Vineyard Work Day in 2008, with
many faithful friends planting vines and laying mulch.
Belle Nicho produces wine using native, French-American
hybrid and vinifera grapes as well as fruit. Since 2008, they have
planted Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cynthiana, Isabella
and Seyval Blanc. Belle Nicho has also partnered with other
wineries to purchase grapes for use in wine production.
The winery is open from Thursday to Sunday from noon to 5
p.m., from just before Valentines Day through New Years Eve.
Their wine tastings have been called fun and unpretentious,
and in 2014 our wines received three silver and two bronze
medals from the NC State Fair.
* Source www.bellenichowinery.com.
Our Product is Your Workforce!

828-438-6000
WWW.WPCC.EDU
BURKE AT WORK
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OCTOBER 2015
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Catawba Brewing Co.

212 S. Green St.
Morganton, N.C. 28655
www.catawbabrewing.com
Fonta Flora Brewery

317 N. Green St. 28655
828-475-0153
www.fontaflora.com
Catawba Brewing Co. has operations in Morganton as a brewing

manufacturer and tasting room facility. The brewery has plans
to expand production in 2016. Catawba Brewing Company
formerly known as Catawba Valley Brewing Company has
been churning out delicious beers for the past 16 years in Burke
County. Production began in Glen Alpine in 1999 and moved to
its current home in downtown Morganton in 2007.
Fonta Flora Brewery integrates the soul of agriculture with the

artisanship of zymurgy to create a menagerie of rustic and savory
libations. With an emphasis on seasonal flora, Fonta Flora brings
English tradition and Belgian inspiration to the Appalachian
Mountains of North Carolina. Fonta Flora utilizes local artists
to help conceptualize the notion that fermentation is yet another
medium for creating art. This uniquely artisan approach to beer
yields a sustainable product filled with culture from our very own
community.
The operation includes a tasting room in Asheville and a small,

pilot brewery that produces specialty beers and test batches.
Catawbas products are sold in many restaurants and grocery
stores and in Bank of America Stadium and Time Warner Cable
arena in Charlotte along with various minor league baseball
teams. Production is planned to expand distribution to cover the
entire state of North Carolina.
The brewery was named on the best new breweries in the United
States by Paste Magazine in 2014 and brought home a Gold
Medal in the Great American Brewers Festival in 2014.
Fonta Flora Brewery recently beat out 57 other U.S. breweries
to win gold in the field category of the Great American Beer
Festival in Denver, Colorado. The beer that Fonta Flora entered
was Beets, Rhymes and Life.
* Source www.fontaflora.com.
OCTOBER 2015
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BDI WOULD LIKE

TO THANK BURKE
COUNTYS EXISTING
MANUFACTURERS FOR
THEIR CONTINUED
COMMITMENT
AND GROWTH.
RECEIVE CERTIFICATION IN:

Maintenance Technician
Certified Logistics Technician
CNC Router Operator - Furniture
HVAC Technician
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NC Manufacturing
FREE JOB SKILLS TRAINING FOR

UNEMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED
Program recognized and built by local industries to develop vital workforce skills.
NEW CLASSES BEGIN JANUARY 2016

CONTACT PEGGY BYRD
828.448.6140
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OCTOBER 2015
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Igniting Learning For A Brighter Future

PO Box 989 Morganton, NC 28680 828-439-4312
www.burke.k12.nc.us
facebook.com/bcps120
twitter.com/BurkeCoSchools

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THE NEWS HERALD

THE NEWS HERALD

To our Kellex Family:

21 Health care field a call to bring healing

MORGANTON NEWS HERALD | 3

Local leaders aim to change perception of manufacturing

Keeping Burke at Work

What is the driving force behind Burke Countys

get college credits in high school. Many of WPCCs

Manufacturing is still a large chunk of

A student sharpens a screw in a

The dirty, inefficient manufacturing

Changing the mindset

Manufacturing jobs are in Burke

David Jones, plant manager of

In the first quarter of this year,

MORGANTON NEWS HERALD | 5

Burke County Employment, 1st Qtr. 2010-2015

Source: Labor and Economic Analysis Division, NC Department of Commerce.

The number of people employed in

successful, Wood said. I think the

The health care and social

Those new industries will probably be

He said BDI staff will attend select

Burke County Average Weekly Wage,

Source: Labor and Economic Analysis Division, NC Department of Commerce.

BDI 2015-2016 Action Plan

Private Sector Investors

Support Existing Industry

Continue communication and

Maintain strong relationships

Act as lead organization for

Establish task force to develop

Develop branded marketing

Connect high growth, scalable

Maintain relationships with

Host existing industry events

Develop target industry list

Develop internal marketing

Act as liaison by providing

Support the development of

Explore and expand existing

MORGANTON NEWS HERALD | 7

Health Care/Social Assistance 175

Health Care/Social Assistance 7,260

Health Care/Social Assistance 24.79%

Retail Trade 242

Retail Trade 2,684

Retail Trade 9.17%

Educational Services 2,481

Educational Services 8.47%

Accommodation/Food Services 127

Accommodation/Food Services 2,333

Accommodation/Food Services 7.97%

Public Administration 2,205

Public Administration 7.53%

Administrative/Waste Services 990

Administrative/Waste Services 3.38%

Other Services, Ex. Public Admin 110

Other Services, Ex. Public Admin 492

Other Services, Ex. Public Admin 1.68%

Professional/Technical Services 131

Professional/Technical Services 461

Professional/Technical Services 1.57%

Wholesale Trade 420

Wholesale Trade 1.43%