Community News

The plaque for the Once Upon A Book nook at Randolph-Asheboro YMCA

RANDOLPH PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN AND RANDOLPH-ASHEBORO YMCA PARTNER TO HONOR HOOVERS

ONCE UPON A BOOK NOOK DEDICATED DURING ANNUAL FUNDRAISER VIRTUAL EVENT

Randolph Partnership for Children (RPC) Executive Director Lisa Hayworth announced during the agency’s live-stream broadcast of its virtual Gala for the Children event the unveiling of the Once

Upon a Book Nook at the Randolph-Asheboro YMCA, celebrating Ann Hoover and her late husband Bill for their dedication to early literacy in Randolph County. The announcement was followed by a pre-recorded unveiling of the literacy rich corner in the nursery at the YMCA. Hayworth and YMCA Director Patrick

O’Hara were featured in the clip.

“Ann and Bill have done so much for this YMCA and we’re so proud to be able to have this (reading) area,” O’Hara said in the video. “They are definitely champions of early literacy in Randolph County.” Ann and Bill Hoover helped the Partnership establish itself as the administrator for Dolly Parton’s

Imagination Library more than a decade ago and have supported it both financially and with their time ever since. In the wake of Bill’s untimely passing early in 2020, Ann has continued to support the work of the

Partnership, the YMCA, and other organizations in our community. “I have always loved the way the Hoovers inspire others to join them in championing young children’s discovery of reading as one of life’s greatest blessings and fundamental building blocks of personal growth,” Hayworth said. “Many of our organization’s early

literacy donors made their first gift because of Ann and Bill’s call to step up in support of the young children of Randolph County.” The Once Upon A Book Nook was made possible by the Partnership and the patrons of the 2020 Gala for the Children in coordination with the YMCA. It is part of the nursery to be enjoyed by children birth to 5 who visit the YMCA. Books will be replenished as needed through donations made to the Partnership. Information about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and other early literacy programs in Randolph County are available to parents using nursery services.

About the Randolph-Asheboro YMCA: Driven by its founding mission, the Y has served as a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening our community. The Y empowers everyone, no matter who they are or where they’re from, by ensuring access to resources, relationship and opportunities for all to learn, grow and thrive. By bringing together people from different backgrounds, perspectives and generations, the Y’s goal is to improve overall health and well-being, ignite youth empowerment and demonstrate the importance of

Lisa Hayworth, left, and Patrick O’Hara unveil Once Upon A Book Nook

connections in and across our community.

About the Randolph Partnership for Children: Since 1999, the Randolph Partnership for Children (RPC), a non-profit organization, has been the community’s lead organization for young children and their families. RPC brings together diverse agencies, individuals, organizations and communities to ensure all children enter school ready to succeed. RPC is a United Way agency. For more information, visit www.randolphkids. org.

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COMMUNITY News

Louris named RCC SBC Director

Quinton Louris has joined Randolph Community College as the new Small Business Center Director. He is responsible for organizing, implementing, and administering the Small Business

Center program, which provides free seminars, small business counseling, and links to resources for local entrepreneurs. Louris said his goals for the SBC are to be successful and operate with a vision to foster and support entrepreneurship, small business, and economic development in Randolph County, emphasizing assisting start-ups, early stage, and at-risk enterprises by providing the necessary resources to help them be successful. He hopes to provide top-notch subject matter experts to help the SBC participants, and be innovative and creative. Recently RCC President Dr. Robert S. Shackleford Jr. discussed his initiatives for the upcoming school year, which fall into five areas identified as the core values of the College. Under Community, the initiative is to be a front-and-center change agent to help Randolph County rebound from the economic and workforce devastation caused by the coronavirus pandemic, including employing its Small Business Center’s resources to aid small businesses in their recovery efforts.

“It has been rewarding as I learn the roles and responsibilities of the SBC Director position,” Louris said. “I’ve been fortunate to work with an outstanding group of Workforce Development Director, led by [Vice

President] Elbert Lassiter. I strongly believe in building great relationships and partnerships within the community and Workforce Development sectors. The Small Business Center Network Team across the state has welcomed me with open arms. The State Director, Anne Shaw, and SBCN Chair, Mark Hagenbuch, have been very resourceful to me by answering numerous questions. “I have a strong desire to represent RCC by helping small businesses and future entrepreneurs navigate the pandemic landscape. These are truly challenging times but the old cliché, ‘this too, shall pass’ reigns prominent in my thoughts and approach to my new position.” Lassiter mapped out RCC’s plans in providing sustainable business strategies during COVID-19: • The SBC provides confidential counseling services and access to resource libraries free of charge. They help plan new business ventures or expand on an existing one. • The SBC is very involved in the local community. They give a roadmap on how to contact government agencies within the county for requirements regarding permits, licenses, and local ordinances. Their goal is to make starting a business as easy of a process as possible. • As a result of the pandemic, each SBC has been given Pandemic Relief Funding to provide extra

counseling services to help local small businesses that have been affected by COVID. • The RCC SBC is also offering seminars to help small businesses in many areas of their operation and growth. Some examples of seminars are: Building Relationships Virtually, Improving Your Online Presence, and Building Customer Relationships During Downtime. “Quinton’s background in Workforce Development and connections with our business community has enabled him to make an immediate impact with our small business owners,” Lassiter added. A Southwestern Randolph High School graduate, Louris earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Entrepreneurship and his master’s in Business Administration with a specialization in Human Resource Management from American InterContinental University. Before RCC, he was the Business Engagement Coordinator for Regional Consolidated Services.

He is a board member on the Village of Barnabas Mentorship Group, and a board member of the Randolph Boys & Girls Club, the East Side Improvement Association, and the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce. He is an advisory committee and professional development committee member of Apprenticeship Randolph, and a musician at Vision of Unity Ministries. Louris lives in Randleman with his wife, Sherry. The two have four children, including Isaiah, who is studying Automotive Technology at RCC.

For questions about the Small Business Center and its services, contact Louris at 336-633-0240 or by email at qlouris@randolph.edu. The Small Business Center is located in the Continuing Education & Industrial Center at 413 Industrial Park Avenue on the Asheboro Campus.

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Community News

Apprenticeship Randolph holds annual Signing Day

Twenty-one area students signed as registered apprentices on Apprenticeship Randolph’s annual Signing Day Aug. 3, held in the R. Alton Cox Learning Resources Center Auditorium at Randolph Community College. The ceremony will air Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 6 p.m. on Apprenticeship Randolph’s YouTube channel and Facebook page. The apprentices and industry partners took the stage at 15-minute interval appointment times with family and friends looking on in the audience. Masks were required and wellness checks were made at the door per COVID-19 pandemic guidelines. The fourth Apprenticeship Randolph class represented the three local school systems — Asheboro City Schools, Randolph County Schools, and Uwharrie Charter Academy. In all, 17 apprentices are taking the Advanced Manufacturing track with four apprenticing in the newest track, Information Technology (IT). Sixteen students signed up in 2017 — the first year of the program, and 17 signed in 2018. With the addition of Automotive Systems Technology in 2019, 22 signed. Josiah Meraz and Logan Sink both signed with Jowat Adhesives on the IT track. “I saw a great opportunity to farther extend and to really have a great career in what I was really enjoying, which was working with computers,” said Meraz, a Uwharrie Ridge 6-12 student. “When I was little, I was always fascinated with working with computers and watching my brother build his own computer. “The signing ceremony was really nice. It was just such a fantastic moment to be able to go up on stage and sign those papers and to truly feel accepted into something I really enjoy.”

Sink, a Wheatmore High School student, said he looked forward to having the opportunity to grow under the leadership of those who already have the industry knowhow while earning a free college education sparked his interest in Apprenticeship Randolph.

“Information technology deals with the technology that is increasingly crucial to our everyday lives,” Sink said. “I want to be part of the change, and part of the innovation that will fuel our future success. It was great to be honored for our success and to be able to meet some of the other apprentices in our same position. I was nervous, but also thankful to have this incredible opportunity. My family came — my mother, father, sister and aunt. They were incredibly proud and appreciated the photo opportunity.

“I encourage anyone who wants to be able to get ahead of the curve to look into the apprenticeship program. There are great companies with great benefits and a lifelong journey waiting for you. You will have to persevere and put in some effort to get there, but it is definitely worth it. Keep your eyes on the prize.”

Noah Guinn of WHS signed with Mohawk Industries on the Advanced Manufacturing track. “I chose the apprenticeship because I saw no better option to get into a technical field than through this program,” he said. “My college is paid for, and I have a job already in the field I planned on pursuing, as well as having four years of on-the-job experience at the end of it. The signing ceremony was very well-orchestrated and well thought out. I appreciate the apprenticeship in every way.” Apprenticeship Randolph began in June 2016 as a collaboration among Randolph Community College, the Randolph County School System, Asheboro City Schools, the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce, and local manufacturers. The goal was to bridge both the interest and skill gaps in modern manufacturing and provide a vehicle for expanding the workforce pool for advance manufacturing in the county. With tuition funded through Career and College Promise and the N.C. Youth Apprenticeship Tuition Waiver Program and books paid for by the school systems and the participating companies,

Post Consumer Brands Maintenance Technician Apprentice Ubaldo Gutierrez, Maintenance Reliability Manager Terence Franklin, and Maintenance Technician Apprentice Christian Foley pose for pictures after signing their commitment forms.

Apprenticeship Randolph produces an educated, skilled, debt-free workforce. The program, which is for high school juniors and seniors, begins with a six-week, pre-apprenticeship summer program that consists of RCC classes and 40 hours per week of on-the-job training. Once a business selects its apprentice after this trial period, the program is spread over four years with students receiving paid, on-the-job training while earning an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Manufacturing Technology, in Automotive Systems Technology, or Information Technology through RCC and a Journeyworker Certificate from the N.C. Community College System and U.S. Department of Labor.

Tyler Hulin shakes hands with Larry Lagroon, Manager of Machining & Manufacturing Engineering at United Brass Works. Also pictured is Tiffany Jacobs, Apprenticeship Regional Coordinator and Wanda Ramos-McPherson, Apprenticeship Consultant with ApprenticeshipNC.

This year, more than 100 applications from across the county were submitted for 18 Manufacturing positions and four Information Technology positions. This year’s preapprentices (with high school) and industry partners are as follows: • Elastic Therapy Inc. — Kamden Carlyle (Southwestern Randolph High School), Danny Prieto Torres (Asheboro High School) • Energizer — Jerry Mize (Providence Grove High School), Sarah Primera (Eastern Randolph High School) • Jowat Adhesives — Travis Jackson (Wheatmore High School), Damion McCafferty (Trinity High School), Josiah Meraz (Uwharrie Ridge 6-12 School), Logan Sink (Wheatmore High School)

Maintenance Apprentice Kenneth Houston watches as his mentor, Maintenance Manager Al Fogleman of Technimark, and Human Resource Specialist Lauren Depuy sign the ApprenticeshipNC forms.

• Mohawk Industries — Noah Guinn (Wheatmore High School), Payton Murdock (Randleman High School). • Oliver Rubber — Darius Fernandez (Asheboro High School), Monye McQuaig-Graham (Randleman High School), Dean Wiseman (Asheboro High School) • Post Consumer Brands — Christian Foley (Uwharrie Charter Academy), Ubaldo Gutierrez (Asheboro High School) • Sapona Plastics — Joshua Hogan (Southwestern Randolph High School) • Randolph Community College — Daniel Botchway (Asheboro High School) • Technimark — Kenneth Houston (Eastern Randolph High School), Aiden Register (Eastern Randolph High School), Orion Simmons (Eastern Randolph High School) • United Brass Works — Tyler Hulin (Randleman High School) For more information, visit www.apprenticeshiprandolph. com, contact RCC Pathways Activities Coordinator Stacey Miller at 336-318-4958, or email apprenticeshiprandolph@ gmail.com. Apprenticeship Randolph is always looking to add company partners. Interested 2020-21 rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors should speak with their Career Development Coordinators at their high schools to indicate interest in this program.

Maintenance Reliability Manager Terence Franklin announces his two new apprentices for 2020. With the addition of Gutierrez and Foley, Post Consumer Brands has three other apprentices.