Catawba Valley Furniture Academy Grads Recognized

Furniture Academy Grads August 2016 image

The Catawba Valley Furniture Academy, a public/private partnership, between Catawba Valley Community College major western N.C. furniture manufacturers, recently celebrated another successful class of graduates.

Graduates include Asencion Ramirez, Upholstery, Conover; Elizabeth Fowler, Upholstery, HIckory; Servando Hernandez, Outside Upholstery, Hickory; Spencer Fisher, Spring Up, Hickory; Victor Garcia, Upholstery, Hickory; Waide Grigartis, Upholstery, Lawndale; and Sean Williams, Outside Upholstery, Hickory.

Instructors include Vaughn Brown, Larry Craig, and Danny Stillwell, Jorge Roman and Jeff Crump.

Numerous skilled craftsmen/women in the furniture industry are retiring or close to retiring. The unique workforce training program prepares a future workforce for immediate employment with the five partner companies: Century Furniture, Lee Industries, Lexington Home Brands, Sherrill Furniture and Vanguard Furniture. Training is conducted in the evenings and is taught by skilled artisans employed by the five partner companies.

Despite a public misperception that furniture is a “dying industry,” the Catawba Valley Furniture Academy boasts full classes with a waiting list of more than 100.

For more information about enrolling in the next class, contact Lori Price with CVCC;s Business & Industry Services,828-327-7000, ext. 4284, lprice@cvcc.edu.