Rowan EDC adds weeklong events to celebrate Manufacturing Day
Published 12:05 am Tuesday, October 3, 2023
SALISBURY — As a nod to national Manufacturing Day, an initiative of the Manufacturing Institute, the Rowan EDC and the Rowan-Salisbury Schools Career and Technical Education program have come together to chart out a week-long series of activities, which are being conducted this week.
Spearheading the initiative are Kendall Henderson, director of Business Services with Rowan EDC, and Kresen Whitmarsh, CIMC Community Partners with RSS CTE Program.
As part of the initiative, an anticipated 524 students from RSS will tour eminent manufacturing facilities across Rowan County, such as Pinnacle Corrugated, Driveshaft Shop, Shat-R-Shield, Freshouse, Henkel, Daimler, Infiltrator Water Technologies, Schneider Electric, Innospec, Granges, Imperial Supplies, DuPont, Chewy, Hexagon Agility and Chandler Concrete, among others.
Part of the week will be a manufacturing appreciation luncheon on Wednesday at Daimler Trucks in Cleveland which will include special guests from Salisbury High Advanced Manufacturing Academy who will get the opportunity to network with top manufacturing leaders from across the county. Jeff Allen, SVP operations & specialty vehicles of Daimler Trucks North America, will be the guest speaker for the luncheon. With over 25 years of leadership at Daimler Trucks, Allen currently oversees DTNA’s manufacturing network, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation and Thomas Built Buses.
Several visits to the Advanced Technology Center in Kannapolis are also on the agenda. Participating students range from middle schools like Southeast, Charles Erwin and China Grove to high schools such as Salisbury, East Rowan, Jesse Carson, West Rowan, South Rowan and North Rowan.
“I am incredibly thrilled about the inclusion of middle school students in this year’s Manufacturing Day activities,” Whitmarsh said. “Introducing them to the vast opportunities in Rowan at a younger age provides a foundational understanding of the diverse career paths available right in our community. It’s essential for our young minds to recognize that traditional pathways aren’t the only routes to success. By exposing them early on, we’re giving them ample time to discover, engage with and truly comprehend the rich tapestry of professional avenues that Rowan offers.”
Community members will also have the opportunity to join tours at selected locations, including Hexagon Agility, Chroma Colors and Infiltrator Water Technologies. Anyone interested in participating in community tours at any of these locations or looking for additional information about the week’s activities can contact Kendall Henderson at kendall@rowanedc.com.
“Rowan County is a stronghold for manufacturing,” said Kendall Henderson, director of business services with the Rowan EDC. “Through these week-long activities, we aim to underscore the unparalleled career opportunities offered by our esteemed manufacturing partners and inspire our next generation.”
