CCCC’s National Manufacturing Day event connects students, educators, and industry

SANFORD, N.C. — From polymers to perfumes, there is so much that gets made in central North Carolina. 

On Oct. 3, more than 700 visitors attended Central Carolina Community College’s National Manufacturing Day industry showcase, held at CCCC’s E. Eugene Moore Manufacturing & Biotech Solutions Center in Sanford.

 Students, from eighth grade through college, job seekers, and other community members connected with representatives from the manufacturing industry, CCCC, and workforce partners.

Some participants were exploring a new world. For others, this gathering is a time-honored tradition. 

Earlene Ross, a Senior Quality Engineer with Moen, which makes plumbing fixtures, said the event feels a bit like “Old Home Week,” with opportunities for manufacturers to catch up with one another and talk about their shared experiences. 

“There’s never a dull day in manufacturing,” she said. 

CCCC President Dr. Lisa M. Chapman said she has seen a generational shift in the area as far as job choices and opportunities. 

“Young people don’t have to move away from home to be successful,” she said. “What we see, in here, is a great example of local residents being able to connect with our employers, and our employers looking at their future talent and being very comfortable, knowing that they are in the right place.” 

 The gathering featured 41 booths showcasing manufacturing employers, CCCC educational programs, and workforce partners like NCSU Industry Expansion Solutions and NCWorks.

One of the manufacturing representatives at the event was Darrell Parker, Human Resources Manager with STI Polymer. Early in the event, a CCCC Industrial Systems student stopped by to chat. 

Parker and his colleague said they were struck by his confidence and technical knowledge during that conversation. 

The industry showcase, Parker said, is a great opportunity to raise awareness about the company, and he especially enjoys seeing students' curiosity as they explore possible career paths. 

Issac Ramos, a career and technical education teacher at Westover High School, accompanied students from Fayetteville to the event. 

At his school, he said, they feel it is important for students to attend as many events like this as possible. 

“It gets them to see all the different opportunities they can pursue after high school,” he said. 

At Pfizer’s booth, Tracy Schoolcraft, Director of Core Engineering, offered CCCC student Robert Austin a challenge: assemble a roughly 27-piece hose-and-filter setup from parts laid out on the table. 

Austin and several fellow CCCC Automotive Technology students jumped into action: organizing the pieces, testing fittings, and ultimately putting it all together. 

Schoolcraft said she was impressed by their teamwork and told them they were the first not to quit after just a couple pieces. 

Megan Gaines, a 12th grade student from One Academy in Chatham, who visited the showcase with her mother and sister, said she was especially interested to see the welding demonstrations at CCCC’s Welding Technology booth, and could see it as a possible career interest. 

Her sister Sarah Gaines, an 11th grader, said she most enjoyed visiting the booth of Coty Inc., which manufactures perfumes, nail polish, and skin care products.

Coty Process Engineer Luis Arenas, who was talking to visitors at the booth, said he graduated from the business administration program at CCCC, which he attended while working at Coty’s manufacturing facility. 

That meant hard work and long nights, but what he learned was relevant to him at the plant and helped lead to his promotion.

“I don’t regret one minute,” he said.