2023 MFG Day Activities in Rowan County

Rowan County, North Carolina Celebrates 2023 Manufacturing Day with a Full Week of Activities!

Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) 2023 in Rowan County wasn’t just a single day of celebration – it was expanded into an entire week, brimming with activities, tours, and interactive sessions that sparked engagement across schools, companies, and the community.

🏫 Schools Leaping into the Manufacturing World:

562 Students from Rowan-Salisbury Schools got the golden opportunity to dive deep into the realm of manufacturing, exploring its intricacies, technologies, and career paths.

Participation from 6 High Schools (Jesse Carson, Salisbury, North Rowan, East Rowan, South Rowan, West Rowan) and 4 Middle Schools (China Grove, Erwin, Southeast, West Rowan) enabled students to step out of the classrooms and get a glimpse of real-world manufacturing processes.

🏭 Industries Opening Their Doors:

21 Companies, ranging from those specialized in concrete and drive shafts to electric and food production, welcomed the curious minds, shedding light on their operations, technologies, and team dynamics.

Participating companies included (click the links below to view available careers):

🎓 Insights into Advanced Manufacturing Education:

210 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 annual events inspire the next generation of manufacturing leaders,” said Kendall Henderson, Rowan EDC Director of Business Services. “They dispel false perceptions about the industry and build the manufacturing talent pipeline locally. Our goal is to educate students about the limitless opportunities that exist within a manufacturing facility. Manufacturing contributes $24 billion to our regional economy, and there are ample opportunities to participate in this growing industry. In addition to production-related jobs, the manufacturing sector also provides great career paths in areas such as engineering, product design, supply chain management, sales, marketing, human resources and more. We’re encouraging all students to give it a look.”

“We look forward to Manufacturing Day every year,” said Randy Ward, Manufacturing Manager for Power Curbers. “It’s great to see our local youth enthusiastic about manufacturing careers at Power Curbers and throughout Rowan County.”

“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,” said Kresen Whitmarsh, Curriculum Instruction Management Coordinator with RSS. “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.”

🤝 Community Engagement and Learning:

A slice of the manufacturing world was also offered to the general public through tours at Chroma Colors, Infiltrator Water Technologies, Power Curbers, and Hexagon Agility, amplifying community understanding and engagement with the manufacturing sector.

“Manufacturing Day is so significant to providing visual examples of what companies do in Rowan county, which creates interest and support,” said Joseph Dismuke, Career Center Leader for NCWorks Career Center-Rowan.

Manufacturing Appreciation Luncheon at Daimler Trucks North America in Cleveland, NC:

Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) in Cleveland, NC, became a hub for aspiring students and industry leaders during the successful Manufacturing Appreciation Luncheon organized by the Rowan EDC. This newly added event was part of the week-long Manufacturing Day activities. Jeff Allen, the Senior Vice President of Operations and Specialty Vehicles at DTNA, delivered a keynote speech, offering the 45 attendees from Salisbury High School’s Advanced Manufacturing Program a glimpse into the company’s operations and potential career avenues.

The luncheon fostered a rich environment for dialogue and networking between the students and manufacturing leaders from Rowan County, employing conversation starter questions to spur discussions around workplace culture, career opportunities, and essential soft skills.

“A heartfelt appreciation to our manufacturing partners for generously opening their doors to our middle and high school students during Manufacturing Week,” said Stacey White, RSS Executive Director of Career and Technical Education. “By providing our students with learning experiences that showcase future-focused career opportunities in their own backyard, you’re empowering them to make connections between classroom knowledge and real-world success. Together, we’re igniting passions of the future leaders and innovators of Rowan County.”

“These students represent the future workforce of Rowan County,” said Rod Crider, Rowan EDC President. “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.”