WPCC and The Industrial Commons Celebrate First Class of Upholstery Graduates
Pictured are students and industry partners at graduation, sitting on chairs made during the Introduction to Upholstery class.
On Thursday, August 18, 2022, a graduation ceremony was held to celebrate and recognize the very first Introduction to Upholstery class. This class, which was created through a partnership between The Industrial Commons and Western Piedmont Community College graduated eight students who completed the 96-hour course.
The course covered topics such as inside and outside upholstery, spring-up and other basic upholstery skills, as well as fundamentals of manufacturing. Filling a need and helping serve the community through manufacturing was a focus as the course was being designed.
The Industrial Commons (TIC) received grants from Appalachian Regional Commission and Golden Leaf Foundation to construct and upfit a space in their building to simulate an upholstery operation. Kellex Furniture and Vanguard Furniture donated much of the equipment not provided by grant funds. Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC) provided Instructor Brian Craig and many students were awarded GEER Scholarships through WPCC to participate in the program.
With over 25 years of upholstery experience and working a myriad of different jobs in the industry, Craig has served in an instructor role for upholstery skills for over 13 years.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to serve the community by training potential employees for the manufacturing sector. WPCC and TIC have made the privilege possible,” Craig said.
Several local furniture companies – Kellex, Vanguard, and E.J.Victor donated frames and fabric.
“I didn’t know anything about this program until it was advertised on our board near our timeclock, and I thought it sounded awesome. I was a little nervous at first because I had never upholstered in my life. After the first week, I was hooked,” Kellex employee Dustin Berry said. “This is amazing, and I really enjoy this.”
“It has been a goal of ours for many years to implement more training opportunities to support the furniture and textile sectors in Burke County,” said TIC Co-Executive Director Sara Chester. “There is a perception that ‘furniture is gone’. No doubt, the industry has changed here over the years; however, the reality is that there are still a lot of furniture companies in our County, and they are growing and doing very well.”
As part of the ceremony, students received their certificates and attendees toured the new upholstery area at The Industrial Commons.
About WPCC: Western Piedmont Community College is situated in the picturesque rolling foothills of Morganton, North Carolina, and has served the citizens of Burke County since 1964. Apply online at wpcc.edu or visit the WPCC campus to apply in person.
About The Industrial Commons: The Industrial Commons (TIC) is a 501(c)(3) that founds and scales employee owned social enterprises and industrial cooperatives, and supports frontline workers to build a new southern working class that erases the inequities of generational poverty and builds an economy and future for all.