Catawba Valley Furniture Academy Recognizes June Graduates

Furniture Academy Grads-June 2018

The Catawba Valley Furniture Academy, a public/private partnership, between Catawba Valley Community College and major western North Carolina furniture manufacturers, recently celebrated the success of several graduates.

Students who completed the Sewing component were Xoua Her, Hickory; Sherry Millsaps, Lincolnton; Hanna Rosek, Newton; and Mai Lor, Statesville.

Students who completed the Outside Upholstery component were Stacey Holderman, Hickory; and Jasmine Lemus, Hiddenite.

Ronald Austin, of Taylorsville, completed the Automated Cutting component.

Chris Danner, of Hickory, completed the Inside Upholstery component.

Ismail Troxler, of Hickory, completed the Automated Cutting component.

Numerous skilled craftsmen/women in the furniture industry are retiring or close to retiring. The Catawba Valley Furniture Academy’s unique training prepares a future workforce for immediate employment opportunities upon successful completion of the program. Training is conducted in the evenings and is taught by skilled artisans employed by local furniture manufacturers in seven different disciplines.

Founding partners who assisted with the curriculum design, instructional support of the program and donations of equipment, materials, and scholarships include Century Furniture, LEE Industries, Lexington Home Brands, Sherrill Furniture, and Vanguard Furniture.

Additional supporting partners include American Home Furnishings Alliance, Atlantic Packaging, Autoquip Corporation, Bassett Furniture, CR Laine, Dimension Wood Products, DUO Fast/Southern Carlson, Ethan Allen, Fairfield Chair, Fairgrove Furniture, Geiger International, Gerber Technology, Harris Handling , Haworth Health Environments, HBF Textiles, HSM Solutions, Heico Fasteners, Heritage Home Group, Image Industries, Interstate Foam & Supply Co., Leggett & Platt, NC Works Career Center Catawba, Precedent, Snyder Paper, TB Arhaus, TCS Designs Inc., Thomasville-Drexel, United Sewing and Wesley Hall, Inc.

The next eight-week CVFA Furniture Fundamentals class begins July 17. For more information, contact Lori Price with CVCC’s Business & Industry Services, 828-327-7000, ext. 4284, lprice@cvcc.edu or Cindy Fulbright, CVFA Project Manager, 828-327-7000, ext. 4778, lfulbright@cvcc,.edu.