First Class Graduates from Julius Blum Apprenticeship Center
Blum USA in Stanley, N.C. is filling the need for qualified technicians while training individuals for well-paying skilled positions as machinists, tool-and-die makers, mold makers, machine, electronics and quality technicians.
In 1995, Apprenticeship 2000 was born of Julius Blum Inc. and Max Daetwlyer Corporation of Huntersville, a technical training program modeled after the one at Julius Blum GmbH of Austria. Following successful completion of their training, graduates are guaranteed positions with promising futures and a minimum base salary of $30,000 per year. Four North Carolina natives were selected to launch the program’s first year, leaving two potential positions empty for a lack of qualified applicants. These students, pictured left to right, were Shaun Houser of Huntersville, Spencer Davis of Iron Station, James Neal of Dallas and Chris McCandless of Stanley.
In the course of the four-year program, these young men invested 8,000 hours in training, including 1,900 hours of daytime and evening community college classes one day each week. Each graduate emerged successful, with an associate degree in manufacturing engineering technology and journeyman certification from the North Carolina Department of Labor. Apprenticeship 2000 now recruits the youth of 27 high schools in six counties and adult apprentices from the existing workforce of North Carolina based woodworking companies. Other regional participants include Accuma Corporation of Statesville, Sarstedt Inc. of Newton, Ameritech Die and Mold of Mooresville, Menziken Automation Inc. of Charlottesville and the Timken Company of Lincolnton. There are 21 of 50 students currently enrolled representing Blum and the partner companies together are planning to add another 16 each year.
The North Carolina Department of Labor has presented multiple awards to this program. Several students have won "Apprentice of the Year" while Blum USA received an excellence award as a registered high school apprenticeship program in 1996. Shaun Houser, whose parents were skeptical at first, called Apprenticeship 2000 "a tough but fair experience that not only taught me trade skills but also built character. It took (my parents) a couple of months to see that apprenticeship is a quality way of learning, which offers both classroom education and its real world applications." The program’s manager, Gernoth Dolinar, has expressed his great pride in each of these students. Modern Woodworking joins him in congratulating them and commending this program for continuous achievement.
Kendall Student Residency at David Linley
Sara Miller, who won the 1999 Studio Excellence Award for Furniture Design, met Lord David Linley in April when Linley visited Kendall College of Art and Design to speak at the Fifth Annual Beverly Russell International Lecture. Viewing Sara’s portfolio, Lindley soon invited her to work in London for three weeks last summer. For Sara, "interning at David Linley and Co. Ltd. was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Furniture produced by David’s company is a designer’s dream," she e-mailed to us here at MW.
Sara planned and financed her own trip, receiving a donation through school after her return. Setting up her own brief, she designed a lady’s writing desk, choosing Sycamore as the main solid with a combination bur/ash inlay and ebony stringing. "Sara approached the design with much enthusiasm and after some initial sketch work, produced a beautiful watercolor presentation," said Linley designer Lee Deason. Sara told us Linley clients receive watercolors of their pieces before final approval is given.
Kendall’s furniture design graduates constitute 90 percent of all U.S. residential furniture designers, says the school. Kendall is the first American art and design school to have a relationship with such a prominent international furniture designer. "The opportunity for Sara to work in David Linley’s atelier is a recognition of her extraordinary abilities. Everyone at Kendall is delighted with the relationship that has begun to develop with Viscount Linley, and we are excited about the opportunities that this relationship will provide our students," said Oliver Evans, president of Kendall College of Art and Design. Companies employing past Kendall graduates include Baker Furniture Co., Nutcraft Furniture Co., Hickory Business Furniture, Kimball Intl., La-Z-Boy Chair Co. and John Widdicomb Furniture.
Kent Career Technical Center gets WMIA WoodLINKS-USA Grant
WoodLINKS USA works to bring industry and education together with a focus on graduating students for entry level jobs in the woodworking industry. During the dedication at Stiles Education’s training center held at Stiles Machinery, Inc., Executive VP David Rothwell presented a check to Kent Career Technical Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan, an award-winning vocational institution. The KCTC’s Furniture Manufacturing Technology department has been chosen as one of five WoodLINKS-USA locations nationwide. The funds will cover KCTC’s initial costs in joining the program. "At Stiles Machinery, we understand how important it is for our customers to succeed," said Rothwell, "and one of the best ways to succeed is with educated employees. WoodLINKS and the KCTC are a conduit to success."
Please contact webmaster@modernwoodworking.com with your comments.
