Rowan County, recognized as a pivotal manufacturing hub, recently hosted a week of extensive and engaging activities, spotlighting the industry and aiming to inspire the forthcoming workforce generation while reshaping public perceptions about the sector.
Throughout the week, Rowan hosted a series of manufacturing facility tours for middle and high school students. Approximately 562 students represented six high schools and four middle schools from the Rowan-Salisbury School (RSS) district in this immersive industry experience. More than 200 students also embarked on a journey through the Advanced Technology Center at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, exploring the next level of education and technological advancements in manufacturing.
“These students represent the future workforce of Rowan County,” Rod Crider, Rowan EDC president, said. “It’s our sincere hope that they find not just jobs but rewarding, well-paying careers here at home. It’s vital to make them aware of the opportunities that exist in Rowan County so they understand they don’t have to look far to obtain success and build their futures within our vibrant community.”
Participating manufacturers included Chandler Concrete, Daimler, Driveshaft Shop, DuPont, Eastern Fence, Freshouse, Gränges, Henkel, Hexagon Agility, Imperial Brown, Imperial Supplies, Infiltrator Water Technologies, Innospec, Pinnacle Corrugated, Power Curbers, Schneider Electric, Shat-R-Shield Lighting, and Teijin Automotive.
“It’s great to see our local youth enthusiastic about manufacturing careers at Power Curbers and throughout Rowan County,” Randy Ward, manufacturing manager for Power Curbers, said.
“I was blown away at the number of manufacturers in our county that were willing to open their doors to engage our students and teach them about careers in manufacturing,” Kresen Whitmarsh, curriculum instruction management coordinator with RSS, said. “CTE focuses on creating student experiences that connect what they are learning in class to the real world. I was privileged to witness first-hand the excitement on our students’ faces as they toured these facilities. Exposing students to the world of work and the endless opportunities they have right in their backyard is important for the growth of our community and I am happy I had a small part in creating that for them.”
