Schools, businesses working together can only help

Jan 4, 2019 By Mark Schambach

I was a long-haired 11th grader in Carolyn Beaver’s journalism class at Davie High School when I decided that would be my career path. Journalism. Newspaper work.

I never got rich, but I don’t regret that decision.

And the 11th grade is not too early to begin thinking about a career choice. Heck, eighth grade isn’t too early, either, just don’t set anything into stone at that young of an age.

As editor of the student newspaper at Chowan College, I learned quickly that when you’re the editor of a newspaper at a Baptist college, it’s probably best not to criticize the North Carolina Baptist State Convention. But I did. My professor loved the editorial, but the college administration did not. Chowan had just started a newswriting and advertising two-year degree program, geared towards those of us who wanted to work at a community newspaper.

The only professor on the news side was a retired editor of a major daily newspaper in the Tidewater, Virginia area. He didn’t last long at Chowan, either.

Then it was on to East Tennessee State University to study mass communications (journalism). I had a work study job on the student newspaper there, and yes, I thoroughly enraged the university president with an article. It was his fault for refusing to answer simple questions, but he didn’t see it that way.

To get a degree in journalism at East Tennessee, students had to complete a semester as an intern – at a newspaper, magazine, television station or other news outlet. It wasn’t a suggestion, it was a requirement. Get your own job or they would find one for you.

I worked for the Johnson City Press Chronicle for a few months, and received invaluable, real-world training there. I even wrote a couple of top stories for the Sunday edition.

That was the best requirement ever. I’ve seen too many students graduate from the University of North Carolina School of Journalism with no idea of what it is like in the real world. They could write, but were lost at a county commissioner’s meeting. They could write, but a deadline put them in a panic. They could write, but cringed when an editor made changes, whether for clarity or length.

I was lucky to know my career path early, and Davie County is on the right track in training our students for the workforce.

Terry Bralley and the Davie Economic Development Commission continue to amaze. Pretty much full on the employment scale, the director of economic development didn’t stop in his efforts to recruit new industry, or help local industries expand.

But he added staff to help keep more young people here.

Carolyn McManamy – DavieCONNECT Director

Carolyn McManamy, former president of the Davie County Chamber of Commerce, is heading the project, and I’m sure she will do well. The idea is to get our students and teachers familiar with local industries, learning their needs, learning the skills they expect from employees. The hope is that teachers will teach more of these skills, and students will find something they’re interested in and stay in Davie after graduating from high school or college. It’s a great idea.

Sending their kids to college is every parent’s dream, but when the student graduates with no real-world job skills, that dream can turn into a nightmare – a financially crippling nightmare. It is not entirely the fault of the student and parents, many of whom believe that a college degree in itself is a path to career success. It is not. Blame some of the colleges that offer degrees that give the student little or no hope of finding a job.

Yes, I believe in a well rounded education. College students should be exposed to all types of information, but there should be more of a focus on job skills.

Students, find a career choice that suits your desires, and learn the skills it takes to be successful in that career. Even if you change your mind later, those skills will be with you forever.

– Mike Barnhardt

By Mike Barnhardt
Editor, Davie County Enterprise Record

This editorial was originally published in the
Davie County Enterprise Record and is reprinted here with permission

Davie County Workforce Development Partnership – Teacher Externships Highlight Local Career Opportunities

Aug 29, 2018 By Jeanna Baxter White

Left to right: John Hardee, Anthony Davis, Mary Sells, Donna Dunn, Elizabeth Gordon, Leigha Wilson, Sandie Hinkle

You can’t teach what you don’t know. Six Davie County educators recently became the students as they toured area companies to gain a deeper understanding of the skills needed by employers that will help their students find meaningful careers and local industry to grow.

During the six-day externship, the educators from Davie County High School and Davidson County Community College (DCCC) toured Ashley Furniture, CommScope, CPP Global, Wake Forest Baptist Health – Davie Medical Center, Flow Honda of Winston-Salem, Ingersoll Rand, Pro Refrigeration, Inc., and VF Jeanswear to learn about all facets of their business. They even received hands-on experience at Ashley Furniture where they constructed the frame of a couch and at CPP Global where they each had the opportunity to operate a different machine to make, label, or pack jars made for companies like Clinique and Estee Lauder.

The group also visited Big Brothers Big Sisters of Davie County to learn more about the services the organization offers students and families and the role it can play in helping students reach their full potential.

Visits ranged from a couple of hours to a whole day, based upon the amount of information the host location had to share.

Together we are Davie – Five-Year Economic Growth Project
The purpose of the community partnership between Davie County High School, Davidson County Community College (DCCC), Davie County Economic Development Commission (DCEDC) and Davie County industry is to make local students aware of workforce opportunities and technological needs by providing relevant immersion experiences for Davie County High School teachers and DCCC faculty. Through these summer externships with local businesses in the areas of Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), teachers and faculty are connected to their related industries to renew their understanding of current industry practices and technology as well as the soft skills necessary for success in the organization.

“The summer externship is a tremendous collaborative effort between Davie County Schools, our Economic Development Council, The Chamber of Commerce, the Mebane Foundation, and our local businesses,” said Anthony Davis, director of CTE and Federal Programs for Davie County High School, who organized and led this year’s program. “This externship offers the opportunity for educators to learn from and create positive relationships with our business community. As a school district, it is our responsibility to make students aware of all educational and employment opportunities, and this collaborative externship is an integral piece in that communication.”

“Teachers, community leaders, and business leaders who collaborate can be helpful to our young people and our community,” said Donna Dunn, STEM English teacher at Davie County High School. “Perspective and relationships are so important. I want my students to have broad perspectives, so I need to walk that walk too.”

This workforce development partnership, which started in 2014, is funded by the Mebane Charitable Foundation’s $50,000 contribution to the EDC’s five-year economic growth plan, Together We Are Davie.

DCEDC President, Terry Bralley, is grateful to the individuals and companies that contributed to the capital campaign and shared the vision for growing Davie County.

“Together We are Davie provided the means to bring this valuable program to the community,” Bralley said. “It’s amazing what happens when you unleash people’s creativity. This truly is a remarkable community.”

Passion Drives Davie Educators to Explore Local Career Opportunities
The externship program was open to all CTE and STEM teachers and counselors. The participants were selected through an application process at each institution and received a daily stipend and mileage for their time. The knowledge they gained will be shared with their students and fellow teachers.

In addition to Davis and Dunn, this year’s participants included John Hardee, DCCC math; Elizabeth Gordon, lead guidance counselor; Sandie Hinkle, CTE (family and consumer science); Mary Sells, CTE (family and consumer science); and Leigha Wilson, STEM math from Davie High.

Each was motivated to participate by a passion for helping their students succeed, not only in school, but in life.

“I applied for the opportunity so that I could learn more about the type of jobs available for our graduates,” said Gordon. “I learned that all the businesses we visited had job openings. Many of them hire students right out of high school. They are looking for workers with a positive attitude, strong work ethic, and that are teachable.

Many employers expressed concern that applicants could not pass the drug test or were not dependable once hired. All the businesses were willing to train and even pay for schooling if the employee was committed to the company.”

“I will use the information to share with students the skills necessary for various plants and the characteristics that employers are looking for in their applicants,” she added.

Dunn said the experience reinforced the importance of teaching soft skills in addition to technical skills.

She was also pleased to see that many of the companies raise up employees who show leadership promise.

“If you want to hustle, you will have a future in many/most of these companies. If you have leadership and people skills, you will advance. I met one line supervisor who was a dynamic individual who began as a custodian and after a few short years became a line supervisor. His goal is that his people on the line make more money on any given day than he does because of the line’s functioning with fluidity. I hope to invite him to speak at the high school.”

“The message was that if you have technical skills and/or technical education (rather than a four-year degree), you are employable–especially if you have people skills!!!!”

Companies Getting the Word Out about Local Career Opportunities,
The opportunity to share that message and to let high school and community college students know that there are jobs available was the primary reason Flow Honda chose to participate in the externship, according to Dean Hines, sales manager. Representatives from the other corporate participants agreed.

“Ingersoll Rand participated in the Externship Program because we understand the importance of a relationship between Davie County Schools and Ingersoll Rand,” said Ashley Kern, human resources generalist. “It’s so important for teachers and administrators to understand local businesses so they can better prepare their students, who are the future of our company!”

“Wake Forest Baptist Health Davie Medical Center strongly believes that we need to support our community,” said Matt Britt, marketing manager, Davie and Lexington Medical Centers. “The benefit for us is short-term in the sense that we get to connect with community leaders in education and affirm our commitment, but it is also long-term as we have the chance to help support the development of our local workforce. Hopefully, this program helps these school employees lead a young student to consider the Healthcare industry and the many roles we are always working to fill with smart, hard-working, and caring individuals. We expect to participate in this program again.

Jacky Spivey, plant manager at VF Jeanswear, added, “This is the second or third year we have participated in the externship, and we will participate again next year if asked. I think it is beneficial to us and other local industry if the teachers understand our needs and concerns when looking for potential new hires. Hopefully, by participating, they will be better able to describe and explain what the requirements are to be successful employees.”

In addition to highlighting career opportunities available locally, the tours also served to dispel preconceived notions about today’s advanced manufacturing.

Teachers Learning About Local Career Options
“Seeing hands on what happens in the plants, I was super impressed with each of the job sites we visited,” said Gordon. “I did not know the extent of production at any of the plants. I learned what was made at CPP Global. Despite driving past this plant for several years to go to the old high school, I never knew that they made jars for various companies like Clinique make-up. It was a wonderful experience. I wish all our teachers and students could tour the plants.”

“I learned that modern manufacturing is much more aware of safety than my paradigms suggested,” said Dunn. “I have lived and worked in the county many years, but I still learned a lot. I would love to do this externship again next year! It was a wonderful opportunity. We asked so many questions that we threw every site host off schedule. That’s what we do! (And what we want our kids to do–ask, ask, ask!)”

Her favorite part, talking to the people on the floor. “I ran into some of my former students who were working hard, doing well, and who have families they are supporting! I LOVED that!”

Although not a potential employer, Big Brothers Big Sisters had equally valuable information to share as part of the collaboration.

“Big Brothers Big Sisters enjoyed taking part in the Externship Program,” said Jenna Hendricks, director of programs. “It’s a great way to meet some of the wonderful Davie County High School staff and share information about the organization. BBBS was able to share information regarding programs and resources that are offered to students at the elementary, middle and high school level. BBBS benefited from hearing the needs that the teachers and students are facing on a consistent basis. Big Brothers Big Sisters knows that we can’t combat adversity facing youth alone. It takes community collaboration to make sure every child achieves success. We are excited for the next opportunity to participate”

Davis is grateful to the organizations that allowed the externs entry into their facilities and hopes that additional businesses will want to participate next summer.

“I’m truly trying to create a partnership,” he said. “I want to include as many businesses as possible. We want our local businesses to know that we aren’t just coming to them for a handout, we really want to give back to them. We want to know what they need in an employee at all different levels, from just graduating high school to a two-year degree or four-year degree. Just because a kid goes to Carolina and graduates with a degree doesn’t mean they can’t come back and have a successful career in Davie County.

“Communication is key. For the businesses to get their word out, they need us, and for us to get the word out, we need them. Businesses are telling us they can’t fill slots. We want them to know that we are a direct pipeline to community workforce development. Through communication and collaboration, we can be utilized as an important avenue for these workforce vacancies,” he added. “We need to make sure the students know all of their options. We don’t want to steer any child toward a direction they do not want to go, but we need to make sure that they and their parents know all of the opportunities that are in Davie County.”

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs – Ingersoll Rand “Showcase Facility” Expanding in Mocksville

May 18, 2018 By Jeanna Baxter White

Ingersoll Rand is expanding its operations with plans to create 25 jobs and invest nearly $30 million in the Mocksville plant by the end of 2019. The Mocksville plant sits on 130 acres in Davie County, employs around 400 full-time employees, and supports the Compression Technology Services Branch of Ingersoll Rand through the manufacturing of Rotary, Centrifugal, and Thermo King air compressors and fabricating parts for our Trane businesses.

The capital investment is the result of the plant’s endeavor to become Ingersoll Rand’s “showcase facility,” according to Ashley Kern, Senior Human Resources Generalist. “Becoming a showcase facility is a three-pronged approach: 1) Process Capability – which is why we are investing a significant amount of money into our equipment. 2) People Capability – we are also investing in our people so that the organization can grow and mature. 3) The appearance of the facility – this is as simple as new paint, better lighting, and the cleanliness of the plant.”

In Region, For Region
“Ingersoll Rand operates by an “in region, for region” strategy which means we build a product in the region in which we want to sell it,” Kern said. “As a result of the recent closing of an Ingersoll Rand plant in Oberhausen, Germany and the in-sourcing of the contact-cooled airend product to the Mocksville plant, the company has made twenty local hires and we aren’t finished yet!” Kern said.

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
The facility also has openings for CNC Machinists, Precision Assemblers, Change Agent, Quality Engineer, Electrical Assembler, and Maintenance Manager.

“We offer highly competitive wages, and our health, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, and 401K benefits begin on day one, which is rather rare,” Kern said. “Our 401K match is significantly better than the industry standard with a dollar for dollar match up to six percent, plus an additional two percent from the company.”

IR Investments Improving Lives at Work & in the Community
Aesthetically, Ingersoll Rand has committed capital to renovate bathrooms, the employee break room, paint the floors, and replace the ceiling lighting.

“We are buying oil scrubbers to clean the air of the machine shop so that it is a more comfortable work environment for our machinists,” she said. “There are a lot of good things happening to improve the environment and to make this plant a showcase facility for Ingersoll Rand.”

Ingersoll Rand is also expanding its focus on reinvesting in the community through donations, time, and supplies.

“Our leadership team is involved with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and we are trying to participate more with Relay for Life and the Dragonfly House and other community organizations. We’ve also started donating food and supplies leftover from large events to Just HOPE.”

“We are making a significant, intentional attempt to give back to the community, and the employees are asking for it. They are driving us to action.”

“I believe there are a lot of big things on the horizon for this plant,” Kern said with a smile.

Terry Bralley, president of the Davie County Economic Development Commission, appreciates the significant role Ingersoll Rand has played in the community for more than 50 years.

“Mocksville and Davie County are proud to host Ingersoll Rand, one of the leaders in the world in advanced manufacturing,” said Bralley. “For decades Ingersoll Rand has been the crown jewel of our community, providing jobs, and developing skills in the workforce for generations. This continued investment into their machining operation is great news for the future of this facility and our community. Their efforts in the community speak volumes about the commitment from the managers and workforce.”

About Ingersoll Rand
Ingersoll Rand is a diversified industrial manufacturer with market-leading brands serving customers in global commercial, industrial and residential markets.

The Mocksville plant opened in 1965 and began machining rotary components for air compressors. Since then, the Mocksville team has manufactured assemblies and components for many products within Ingersoll Rand’s product portfolio. The plant has experienced tremendous growth over the last several years as select assembly operations for Trane and Thermo King equipment were moved to the Mocksville plant.

To apply for a job at Ingersoll Rand visit: www.IngersollRand.com/Careers

Economic Development is a Team Sport – Strengthening the Davie County Workforce

Feb 8, 2017 By Mark Schambach

Dozens of Human Resources Managers from companies across Davie County met during the last week of January at the Triple J Manor House in Mocksville to discuss the state of the County in terms of workforce development.

Sustained growth in the number of manufacturing and industrial jobs being created in Davie County over the last 5 years is putting pressure on HR managers to attract and retain the talented workforce that is necessary to compete successfully in a growing economy.

As with most challenges in Davie County, local leaders are stepping up to the plate to develop plans of action to address this pressure before it becomes a limiting factor for continued economic development. The Davie County Economic Development Commission, the Davie Chamber of Commerce, Davidson County Community College and the Davie County School System worked together to host a “Lunch and Learn” meeting on Wednesday, January 25 with manufacturing and industry HR managers from across the county.

Apprenticeship Programs in North Carolina
Dr. Pamela Howze, from the North Carolina Department of Commerce and NC Works delivered the feature presentation, “Apprenticeship Programs in North Carolina.”

Many are familiar with “OJT” or On the Job Training and an apprenticeship program works in much the same way. The expert shows the apprentice how to do a task, watches as the apprentice practices portions of the task, and then turns over more and more responsibility until the apprentice is proficient enough to accomplish the task independently. According to Dr. Howze, there are 400K apprentices across the USA in more than 1,000 occupations with 150,000 employers.

Apprentices start at a low wage scale and as they make progress their wage is increased. Many are very productive in their second year of Apprenticeship. A 2009 Return on Investment Study says that for every dollar spent on Apprenticeship training, an employer receives a benefit, on average of $1.47

The State of North Carolina is currently supporting apprenticeship initiatives by offering free community college tuition to any North Carolina workers that enter an apprenticeship program. The North Carolina Department of Commerce has also submitted a $1.3 million grant proposal to grow apprenticeship programs across the state.

After the presentation by Dr. Howze, HR managers engaged in a substantive period of brainstorming and lively discussion with Dr. Howze and with representatives from Davie County Schools, Davidson County Community College and local temporary agencies who were also on hand in support of the HR managers and Davie County Industry. Discussion was wide ranging, exploring a number of options and arrangements were made by several companies to continue the discussion with local leaders after the meeting.

In Davie County, Economic Development is a Team Sport
As Terry Bralley noted, “Economic Development is a team sport. As we move forward as a community, we must create a local awareness that we are in competition with the world.”

Opening Doors in Davie County — Reeb Millwork Expanding, Adding Jobs

Dec 6, 2016 By Jeanna Baxter White

The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority has awarded the Town of Mocksville a $100,000 building reuse grant that will facilitate a 10-job expansion as well as renovations at REEB Millwork. The grant is part of a total capital investment of $320,451. The company custom-manufactures and distributes millwork products such as entry doors,interior doors, columns and accessories stairs across the eastern United States.

“Opening doors in Davie County is what we continue to do as Reeb brings new jobs and opportunities to our community,” said Davie County Economic Development President Terry Bralley. “With Reeb, Davie County now hosts one of the largest distributors of custom mill products on the east coast.”

Reeb Mocksville, North Carolina, located at 346 Bethel Church Road, is one of five east coast branches for the family-owned door distribution company. Building One, as it’s referred to, is 242,000 sq. ft. and sits on 29 acres.The building and property, formerly King Sash & Door, was purchased by Reeb in 2010 in order to expand operations and offer full-line service to the Carolinas, southern Virginia and northeast Georgia.

The Mocksville branch opened with a staff of 45 people and six shipping docks. Now the company employs a staff of 110 and operates 19 shipping docks, according to Office Manager Scott Rush. “We’ve been growing and hiring and things are going well.”

Securing this grant will bring approximately ten new jobs to the Mocksville location. Reeb is looking to fill positions for assemblers, warehouse, drivers, and customer service. The company offers a comprehensive benefits package for employees that includes medical, dental, vision, paid time off, and a 401K retirement program. At each of its five locations, the company makes an effort to get involved in the local community in the form of hands-on training and education, and community outreach.

“ We were happy to assist their current growth needs to make this possible,” Bralley said. “The talented craftsmanship of our workforce coordinates with the vision and talent of Reeb’s management as they open new markets and experience tremendous growth at this location,” Bralley said.

As the company continues to grow, so will the number of jobs. Reeb has grown consistently over the last three decades and is now the largest distributor of exterior doors on the east coast working with over 3,500 dealers and their customers.

To aid in the recent growth, Reeb Mocksville will be undergoing renovations that include installing more energy efficient lighting in the warehouse, adding additional shipping docks, upgrading bathrooms and the breakroom, expanding office space, and adding a showroom.

In Davie County, the company assembles interior and exterior doors made of wood, fiberglass and steel. The company creates an array of both custom specialty doors and standard doors that are sold by home improvement stores and contractor yards throughout the area. Each is built on a per-order basis with a three-day turnaround time for stock products, according to Rush.

Davie County resident and Reeb’s Director of Product, Mike Crume, who began working for the company in 2013, has had a positive experience stating, “Great people throughout the organization help drive everyone to improve themselves, as well as the products and services provided to our customers.”

“Reeb is truly unique in offering a tremendous amount of growth opportunities,” says Crume. As for the working environment one can expect, he added, “It’s built upon a foundation of core values that resonates through the company. It’s really a great place to work.” To view current open positions, visit Reeb’s career page at www.reeb.com/careers.

Thank You Sabeti Wain Aerospace – Another Manufacturer Expanding in Davie County

Nov 15, 2016 By Jeanna Baxter White

The next time you buckle up on an airplane, you may be sitting on a little piece of home.

Sabeti Wain Aerospace (SWA) makes seat covers right here in Davie County for Southwest Airlines and many other international airlines as well as numerous airline seat vendors.

The company is recognized as an innovator in seat cover design and manufacturing, and pioneered the development of lamination technology. The lamination process enhances styling options, improves overall appearance, and increases durability and comfort.

“The interior design of the aircraft is one of the only opportunities an airline has to distinguish itself,” said Ian Westwood, managing director. “Creating comfort and image are key elements of what we do.”

SWA currently employs more than 40 people in Mocksville to design, cut, sew, test, and ship the custom-designed seat covers, and there are plans for expansion over the next two years as the company continues to grow its US market. This expansion will occur through the reconfiguration of the current facility.

A New Phase of Expansion
The company is headquartered in the UK and also has a production facility in Dubai. With a growing international market came the need to service overseas clients more directly and more responsively. To meet this demand, SWA established its new US-based subsidiary in Mocksville in 2013. Unlike the Dubai operation which is run from the UK, it is a standalone operation. All sales activity, customer service, product design and manufacturing are done locally.

The Mocksville facility provides a rapid response and faster overall turn round times for customers in the United States, Canada and South America, which together form about 75% of the global seat cover market. It has also allowed the company to dramatically reduce shipping costs, a significant benefit in an industry with tight profit margins.

Why North Carolina?
“You go where your primary customers are,” said Westwood, who relocated from a ten-year spell in Seattle to manage the company in 2014, but who has known and worked with the Sabeti Wain “family” for more than 20 years through working in the industry. “B/E Aerospace and HAECO Americas, which make airline seats, are two of our largest customers. Both have locations in the Piedmont Triad area and wanted a local Sabeti Wain facility to cut down on the time it took to develop the fresh brand images and cover designs demanded by the world’s airlines.”

A Missing Gas Cap Led to the Perfect Location in Mocksville
Hoping to capitalize on the thriving aerospace industry that has developed in the Piedmont in recent years, SWA’s executives were looking at locations between Charlotte and Hickory and the Piedmont Triad, including Davie County, for the new subsidiary.

While doing the 1-40 shuffle, crossing North Carolina to find the perfect location, a Sabeti Wain representative found his way to downtown Mocksville and to Restaurant 101 for lunch. Returning to his rental car, he noticed drops of oil on the hood. Mr. York at York’s Exxon quickly discovered that the oil filler cap was missing, replaced it free of charge, and the representative went on his way.

Still seeking the perfect location, the representative stopped at Restaurant 101 again several weeks later. Noting a sign for the Total Real Estate Company, he decided to learn about the little community that had treated him so well a few weeks earlier. Glen Stanley walked him over to talk with Terry Bralley, president of the Davie County Economic Development Commission. Bralley identified a property at 852 US Hwy 64 W., the former Eagle Heights Church building, and the rest, as they say, is history.

“You have no idea who you are talking to at a restaurant,” said Bralley. “The best ambassadors we have are our citizens. Most people are proud to live here and naturally promote our community.”

Triple J Manor – Historic Davie County Farmhouse Gets New Lease on Life

Nov 6, 2016 By Jeanna Baxter White

A historic Davie County farmhouse is getting a new lease on life as a beautifully appointed event center. Join us for the Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting of the Triple J Manor House this Thursday, November 10, 2016 from 4:30-6:30 pm.

Triple J Manor House will be providing drinks (water, tea, lemonade, and wine), appetizers, and desserts. There will be music by the Happy Ones and Sunset Slush of the Piedmont will be serving Italian ice.

Originally built in the early 1800s for Benjamin F. Holton, the farmhouse has been transformed into a premier 6,000 ft. venue perfect for weddings, private events, receptions, meetings, showers, dinners, and much more.

With its large wrap-around porch overlooking beautifully landscaped grounds, the Triple J Manor House is a delightful location for both inside and outside events of all sizes. The Manor House will seat 300 inside and 100-200 outside. It also features a bridal suite and a stunning twin staircase.

An Event Center is Born
Bill Junker, owner of Trailers of the East Coast, purchased the property about five years ago from Dee’s Antiques since it borders the trailer dealership, but he didn’t want to tear down the old farmhouse. Last January, the Junker family put their heads together to decide what could be done with the property. They decided to create an event center that would be managed by the mother and daughter team of Deitre and Madison Junker.

“Something like this has always been a dream of mine,” said Madison, who graduated in May from Meredith College with a degree in event planning. “So far it has been a lot of fun and I’ve loved every minute of it.”

Deitre agreed. “I’ve always enjoyed throwing parties and planning events, so this something I got really excited about.”

Family members visited many special event venues to get ideas and to help develop a vision for the Manor House.

“The Manor House has really come together nicely as a family affair,” said Deitre. “We all shared the same vision and the result has been amazing.” All agreed that they wanted to retain the farmhouse’s rustic charm while adding modern amenities like Wi-Fi and the technology for music and videos. Although Deitre and Madison will handle the day to day details, the Triple J Manor House has truly been a family affair.

To maintain the rustic theme, Will Junker, Deitre’s husband and Madison’s dad hand-crafted rustic bar stands. Bill, who Deitre credits with having an eye for detail and a wonderful sense of style, served as project manager. The entire family was on hand to set up for the first wedding a couple weeks ago, with everyone chipping in, setting up tables and chairs, decorating… whatever needed to be done.

“We’ve tried to create a laid back environment where the customer’s event can truly be their event,” said Madison with a smile. “We want this to be a venue for making memories.”

The Triple J Manor House is located at 362 Interstate Drive in Mocksville. For more information, go to http://www.triplejmanorhouse.com or call (336) 407-4826 or (336) 909-5764.

Special Thanks to Jessica Marie Photography for the wonderful photographs, Styled Gatherings for the styling, and Dish GardenArT for the flowers!

Davie County Manufacturing Job Growth Continues – Comfort-Bilt is hiring!

Sep 15, 2016 By Jeanna Baxter White

Comfort Bilt® Windows and Doors has manufactured millions of storm doors and windows at its Davie County plant during the past seventeen years.

Part of the LARSON family of companies, Comfort Bilt® began operations in Mocksville in 1999 with just one product. Today, nine different product lines are manufactured by 200 dedicated employees residing in Davie and surrounding counties.

The company manufactures both stock and custom storm doors and windows, including many sold at Lowe’s and other home improvement stores.

A Quiet Giant and an Exceptional Place to Work
A quiet giant, Comfort Bilt® has flown under the Davie County radar for many years, but Michael Barron, plant manager, would like to change that and share with the community what makes Comfort Bilt® an exceptional place to work.

“I don’t know that the community knows that we are here, what we do, or how much opportunity we have to offer,” Barron said. “We are proud of the fact that we’ve never had a layoff, even during the recession. We’ve added a new product line about every 1 ½ years and will be adding another new one next year.”

Comfort Bilt is Hiring
The company is currently hiring as many as 20 new employees in preparation for the new product line that debuts next year. Both Debbie’s Staffing and The Resource are taking applications for those positions since temporary to permanent is the way the company has hired most of its employees.

In addition to good benefits, Barron is proud of the little extras the company offers its employees like turkeys and hams at Thanksgiving and Christmas and a trip to Carowinds for full-time employees and their families.

Comfort Bilt & Southpoint Business Park – a Match made in Heaven
Comfort Bilt got its start in Davie County in 1999 as the first tenant of the SouthPoint Business Park on Hwy 601 in Mocksville. Its parent company, LARSON Manufacturing Company, headquartered in Brookings, South Dakota, had been seeking an East Coast location.

According to Barron, the company desired a location in a growing area near an interstate, with competitive property prices, good utilities, and a skilled labor force where it could develop a good working relationship with city and county government.

At the same time, Joe Hollingsworth of the Hollingsworth group was looking for a manufacturer to anchor his brand new business park by purchasing or leasing the first 86,000 square foot speculation building. That original 86,000 square feet expanded to 194,000 square feet in 2004.

LARSON liked the location and Hollingsworth was willing to accommodate the company’s needs by flying an architect out to the plant in Brookings to ensure that the new Mocksville location would meet all requirements.

Terry Bralley, President of Davie County Economic Development Commission, said it was a match made in heaven. “Without the business park, LARSON wouldn’t be here, and without LARSON, there’d be no business park.”

“The venture also served as a learning curve for the Davie County community, teaching us how to attract industry and how to create jobs,” he added.

Comfort Bilt continues to thrive in Davie County.
Together, Comfort Bilt Windows and Doors and the SouthPoint Business Park have helped fuel the manufacturing boom that has provided Davie County with hundreds of needed jobs as well as increased tax base.

“We are growing, and where there is growth, there is opportunity,” Barron said.

Retail Recruiting Project Update

Jun 22, 2016 By Mark Schambach

As we reported back in April, the Davie County Economic Development Commission is directing some of its attention to growing the retail base in Davie County.

“Our goal is to recruit more retail, restaurants, and entertainment to Davie County to offer our residents more opportunities to buy clothing, electronics, or whatever they need locally; to retain the businesses and restaurants already here; and to keep our current shopping centers and districts vibrant while developing new centers,” said Terry Bralley, President of the Davie County Economic Development Commission.

“We realized as a small community, but with a terrific location connected to a major interstate, we needed the help of an outside professional to assist us with attracting those larger retailers that will help minimize sales leakage, fill vacant storefronts and lots, and expand our retail options,” he added. “We hired the Retail Coach to help us develop and implement a retail sales plan for the entire county. The EDC has invited the towns of Bermuda Run, Cooleemee, and Mocksville, and the Chamber of Commerce to actively engage in the process. We believe this retail plan is another way to add value to the county and will help us grow our future.”

Progress Update and Project Dashboards

We are pleased to report that the retail recruiting project has achieved some milestones. The Retail Coach has helped identify the true market size, the dollar amount of retail sales, and the amount of retail sales that are lost (retail leakage) for Davie County as well as each town in the County (Bermuda Run, Cooleemee and Mocksville).

Links to the retail dashboards for Davie County and the communities of Bermuda Run, Cooleemee and Mocksville are below. Each dashboard has a set of links to PDF documents which provide detailed demographic profiles, retail market profiles, and workplace population profiles.

Davie County Retail Dashboard
Bermuda Run Retail Dashboard
Cooleemee Retail Dashboard
Mocksville Retail Dashboard

The Retail Coach and your Economic Development Commission are in the process of preparing a preliminary list of potential retailers for recruiting efforts.

Riveting Success at GESIPA® Fasteners USA - Expansion in Davie County Adds 16 Jobs

May 15, 2016 By Jeanna Baxter White

Gesipa Fasteners USA Mocksville GESIPA® Fasteners USA, Inc., a German-based company which manufactures rivets and state-of-the-art riveting systems, is growing and expanding its Davie County operations, creating sixteen new manufacturing jobs in Mocksville.

How to Apply
In addition to expanding its facilities and adding jobs, GESIPA® Fasteners USA is also transitioning to two shifts. According to Karen Creason, HR/Office Manager, the company has hired a number of positions already this year and is actively seeking a plant electrician as well as skilled machine operators. The company anticipates adding sixteen additional highly skilled, well-paying positions by the end of 2016. For information on how to apply call Karen Creason at 336-751‐1555, ext. 101 or email kcreason@gesipausa.com.

Innovation Driving Company Expansion
The Company is advancing from providing standard products to also engineering custom applications to meet an individual customer’s unique needs, according to Brian Cole, General Manager.

Mark Grigg, Plant Manager, is excited about the company’s opportunity to fill a niche in the automotive market. “The new equipment we are buying will allow us to do research and development as well as custom production right on site. We are equipped to make whatever fastener a company might need.”

“GESIPA® believes that things need to be world class or don’t need to exist,” Cole said. “We will do whatever we can to be bigger, better, and faster in order to add value for our customers.”

In order to implement this innovative manufacturing approach, GESIPA® Fasteners USA, Inc. is expanding, retooling, and renovating its 83,000 square foot facility in the South Point business park on US Hwy 601 in Mocksville. The plant currently manufactures and distributes non-structural rivets and installation tools, and repairs installation tools.

Rural Infrastructure Grant Assists with Building Up-fit Expense
A $160,000 grant from the NC Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) to the Town of Mocksville will help fund electrical, plumbing, compressed air, and other interior upgrades at the plant which also serves as the company’s North American corporate headquarters. RIA provides grants to support infrastructure development, building renovation, site improvements, and economic innovation.

“We are blessed to have an international company like GESIPA® bringing jobs and opportunities to our community,” said Terry Bralley, President of Davie County Economic Development Commission. “I continue to be inspired by the vision, leadership, and talent that GESIPA® has invested in their top management. This truly will be a company to watch as they set pace to become a leader in the global market.”