21
page-template,page-template-full_width,page-template-full_width-php,page,page-id-21,page-parent,mkd-core-2.0.1,mikado-core-2.0.1,ajax_fade,page_not_loaded,,onyx-ver-3.2, vertical_menu_with_scroll,smooth_scroll,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-6.0.3,vc_responsive

Workforce & Education

Workforce Development with Impact

Ensuring a skilled workforce pipeline requires strong partnerships, as well as investments that put dollars into action.

Lincoln County, North Carolina, is proud of our innovative partnerships. Collaboration between the county, the Golden Leaf Foundation and the Timken Foundation has resulted in an investment of more than $1.5 million in award-winning workforce development programs that continue to pay dividends.

Our partnerships bring together the three stakeholder groups instrumental to a thriving and sustainable economic ecosystem:

  • Industry
  • Education
  • Economic development
The Future Begins Here

Lincoln County is known for offering a large pool of knowledgeable and skilled workers. To build on this workforce, we have joined forces with educators and manufacturers to inspire and connect students at every level, from middle school to high school to college.

Through our program Manufacturing a Future that Works, we arm our educators with high-impact resources to develop a workforce second to none. This initiative has been recognized at the national level as a model workforce development program. It also aligns with the goals of the statewide college and career readiness initiative myFutureNC.

K-12 Education

With forward-thinking programs and a graduation rate well above the state average, Lincoln County gives students the knowledge and resources to meet the demands of today’s employers. Our high schools’ Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and the Lincoln County School of Technology are on the cutting edge of workforce development, equipping students with skills in areas such as:

  • Advanced manufacturing
  • Engineering design
  • Robotics and mechatronics
  • Computer-aided drafting (CAD) for engineering and architecture
  • Computer engineering and programming
  • Multimedia and web design

Our high schools also partner with area businesses and industry through the Industrial Managers Association (IMA). This partnership is designed to keep the most promising and talented students on a direct pathway that begins in middle school with career exploration, and continues in high school with hands-on training and pre-apprenticeships. Upon graduating, students can pursue apprentice opportunities that lead to earning a journeyman’s certificate and an associate’s degree, preparing them for a successful career in Lincoln County.

Edge Factor

Groundbreaking. Forward-thinking. Empowering. Lincoln Economic Development Association (LEDA) dared to think big when it came to our workforce development initiatives to build relationships between schools, businesses and families. We found the perfect partner in Edge Factor.

LEDA was the first organization in North Carolina to join forces with these storytellers, known for productions that engage and inspire middle and high school students and their families in innovative, interactive ways.

Our workforce development initiatives include:

  • Hosting live events to inspires families to pursue local careers
  • Filming industry tours and local career profile videos
  • Producing story-driven, high-impact films and TV shows that bring to life the benefits of technical education
  • Equipping educators to spark the interest of students in the classroom and at home with tools focused on STEAM on-the-job education and virtual workplace experiences

Edge Factor lives by the motto: “Run with Runners and work with people you like.” We have already run far with our initiatives, and will continue to build on our momentum as we reach more and more of our future workforce. With Edge Factor, students see how technical education leads to advanced manufacturing jobs that are rewarding, lucrative – and cool.

To watch videos and discover local opportunities, check out the Lincoln County has the Edge page: Edge Factor – Lincoln County

Higher Education

Many of our high school graduates continue their journey at nearby Gaston College, where they can earn certificates and two-year degrees in one of more than 100 programs. The Gaston College Center for Advanced Manufacturing has become a workforce development powerhouse, providing advanced training to support Lincoln County industries.

In Lincoln County, our approach to workforce development is strategic, focused and built to last. We keep the labor pipeline full of workers who are prepared with the skills our businesses need to compete in an increasingly complex marketplace.

Quick Links

Useful Links

K-12

K-12

Apprenticeship Consortiums

Apprenticeship Consortiums

Higher Education

Higher

Workforce

Workforce

  • Headshot of Dr. Cale Sain

    I had the unique experience as an educator to travel abroad, meet some of our locally based global companies, visit their manufacturing and training facilities, and speak with their corporate leadership. To understand how Lincoln County’s manufacturing community contributes to the global economy, illuminated the necessity of our Career and Technical education programs to prepare our students with the skills required to participate immediately in the workforce or advance to any professional level. My resolve to be a partner between manufacturing and education is steadfast.

    - Dr. Cale Sain, CTE Director Lincoln County Schools

  • Headshot of Nick

    The classes I took at the Lincoln County School of Technology sparked my interest in manufacturing and was the steppingstone to choosing to become an Apprentice. Now, having graduated from the program, I have accomplished so much. I finished my education with an Associate Degree in Mechatronics and have zero debt. I’ve lived in Germany on my own for four months. I have purchased my own home and am pursing my lifelong career in manufacturing!

    - Nick, Maintenance Tenowo

  • Headshot of Elizabeth Darling

    I am so proud to work for Lincoln County Schools because of the wide variety of opportunities that we provide for our students. Being the Career Development Coordinator at East Lincoln I am able to work with our diverse population and offer them several career path opportunities. It is too often that students are not taking advantage of all the pathways and only sticking to the familiar path of 4 year college. Lincoln County schools allows our students to prepare for the workforce in a variety of ways: we offer classes with industry recognized credentials, students can choose to take classes with the community college, they can start an apprenticeship, they can do an internship, we work with military recruiters and four year universities. There are so many ways for our students to find success in Lincoln County.

    - Elizabeth Darling, Career Development Coordinator, Lincoln County Schools

  • Headshot of Beverly Gilbert

    Manufacturing has an outdated image in the eyes of many students and parents. The manufacturing curriculum implemented in the Lincoln County High School System was developed with cooperation between local manufacturing companies in Lincoln County, the county school system and the Lincoln Economic Development Association. We are trying to dispel student's misconceptions about the manufacturing industry and spark their interest before they choose other jobs or head to four-year colleges, a costly investment that has yielded disappointing results for some graduates. Manufacturing companies in the Lincoln County area benefit by having the opportunity to employ hire-ready manufacturing workers with a base knowledge of manufacturing principles that can be further developed as these students join our workforce.

    - Beverly Gilbert, GM of Human Resources & General Affairs-Cataler North America

  • Headshot of David

    By having students exposed to the manufacturing curriculum in the Lincoln County Schools, industry now has prospective employees job ready on most key topics required. This enables them to acclimate faster into their new positions and reduce the time required in the classroom teaching basic manufacturing skills.

    - David Lee, Location Director-Robert Bosch Tool Corporation

  • Headshot of Michael Geis

    Blum has been supportive of the Lincoln County Schools Advanced Manufacturing program from its inception. The curriculum lays the foundation for students to pursue various career paths in manufacturing upon graduation. They are prepared to enter the workforce immediately as automated machine operators, compete for skilled trades apprenticeship positions, or continue their education at a two or four college institution. This program provides real answers for the shortage of skilled workers that our manufacturing operation requires. We look forward to a steady pipeline of future graduates.

    - Michael Geis, Vice President of Information Services / Materials / Logistics-Blum Incorporated

  • Headshot of Kaila

    Originally from the Indianapolis area, I recently moved to the area. I am fluent in German and I started searching for German companies in the region. There are so many in the area, but I started here first as an intern and now I am a full-time logistics manager. I wasn’t sure coming to the south, I figured people would be nice, but they are so welcoming. Just the culture here with so many expats just makes it a dream situation. It is worth my commute from Charlotte. I love the company and I love the people.

    - Kaila Gieser, Logistics Planner / Scheduler

  • Headshot of Margarita

    I was born in Ukraine, moved to Russia, and then located here several years ago after marrying an American. Currently, I am a student going to UNC Charlotte majoring in accounting and I am working full-time in the finance department. I was lucky to be introduced to SAP and am exposed to projects applicable to my education as well. I truly love it here. I used to live in a city with one million people. Lincolnton is quite near to Charlotte and by being close to the big city, but I am not missing out. The location here with the mountains and the beaches, you can travel anywhere you want.

    - Margarita Bowe, Finance & Controlling Analyst

  • Headshot of Dustin

    I attended West Lincoln High School and took classes at the Lincoln County School of Technology. I attended NC State and after my junior year, I applied for an internship through the Industrial Manager’s Association. I worked as an engineering intern for a summer but had changed my major to logistics. Through my internship, I made the necessary relationships and was able to return home after graduating with a good job in a great company with so much opportunity for the future.

    - Dustin Hawn, Logistics Material Flow Analyst

  • Headshot of Hailey

    My whole life I helped my dad build things, so he first taught me to work with wood and metal, using hand and power tools. I knew the way to continue to work with my hands was to take the advanced manufacturing classes at the Lincoln County School of Technology. Through the classes, I was first introduced to tools used in an industrial setting, engineering, safety, and was even OSHA certified at the age of seventeen. My teachers encouraged us to consider getting a trade degree. Through the apprenticeship program, I am receiving my education and on the job training. Once finished, I will have an Associates of Applied Science in Mechatronics Technology.

    - Hailey, Mechatronics Apprentice