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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE RPM Vanessa Mathurin reprint_fff.indd 1
10/18/16 12:49 PM
In STITCHES In STITCHES PATHWAY TO PATHWAY TO CAREERS CAREERS
Vanessa landed an internship at a
With her two years in the restoration
RPM FOUNDATION bb yy her SS tt ee first ff an LL omb arar ddprogram completed, Vanessa is now in Philadelphia after year. RPMshop FOUNDATION an omb working on her bachelor’s degree in There she worked with the in-house
applied management, though you’ll still upholsterer, and the process fascinated VANESSA MATHURIN'S FUTURE find her helping out in the lab every day. her. “When I came back to school, I With her two years in thewith restoration Vanessa landed an internship at a IS INSIDE YOUR CAR In particular, she’s working instrucstarted working on one of the sewing With her two years in the restoration Vanessa landed an internship at a program completed, Vanessa is now shop in Philadelphia after her first year. tors to help bolster the program and machines, just practicing pleats program completed, Vanessa is now shop in Philadelphia afterdoing her first year. working on her bachelor’s degree in There she worked with the in-house develop a greater focus on upholstery. and channels and edges and welts.” VANESSA Mathurin didn’t inherit her working on her bachelor’s degree in There she worked with the in-house applied management, though you’ll still upholsterer, and the process fascinated RPM b y Sand t e f an L ombar d a young As woman,though 20-year-old She continued in the program interest in cars. “My parents weren’t applied management, you’llVanstill upholsterer, andFOUNDATION the process fascinated VANESSA find outininathe lab every day. her. “When I came back to school, I at essaher is ahelping rare sight male-dominated found a second internship, this time into cars. NoMATHURIN'S one I knew wasFUTURE into VANESSA MATHURIN'S FUTURE find her helping out in the lab every day. her. “When I came back to school, I IS INSIDE YOUR CARschool.” Then In particular, working instrucstarted working on one of the Bonney sewing field, but sheshe’s reckons thatwith her passion upholstery specialist LeBaron cars, until I got to high IS INSIDE YOUR CAR In particular, she’s working with instrucstarted working on one of the sewing machines, just practicing doing pleats tors to help bolster the program and herbolster two years in the restoration Vanessa landed anTo internship for upholstery and her current focus in Amesbury, help at a tors she started attending car shows and toWith help the program and machines, justMassachusetts. practicing doing pleats program completed, Vanessa now will shop Philadelphia after her a greater focus onisand upholstery. and andinedges welts.” VANESSA Mathurin didn’t her on business sets her apart withchannels living expenses, she and applied forfirst year.develop learning about classics, butinherit it wasn’t develop a greater focus on upholstery. and channels and edges and welts.” VANESSA Mathurin didn’t inherit her working on herwoman, bachelor’s 20-year-old degree in There in shethe worked with theand in-house As a young Vancontinued program interest cars. “My parents weren’t long termthough —20-year-old especially in a andShe received a $2,500 grant the until shein Pennsylvania College As a her young woman, She continued in the program and interest intoured cars. “My parents weren’t applied management, you’ll still Vanupholsterer, and thefrom process fascinatedbenefit essa is a rare sight in a male-dominated found a second internship, this time at into cars. No one I knew was into field with so few specialists. “Because RPM Foundation. This allowed her to of Technology in Williamsport that she VANESSA FUTURE helping out in in the lab every day. her.internship, “When I camethis backtime to school, is her a rare sight a male-dominated found a second at I essafind into cars. No one I knew was intoMATHURIN'S but she reckons that her passion LeBaron Bonney cars, until I goton to high school.” Then CAR upholstery IS INSIDE YOUR In particular, she’s with instrucstarted on one of the sewing field, upholstery work isworking such a specific skill,” concentratespecialist on theworking experience, which set her sights career. “I walked field, but she reckons that her passion upholstery specialist LeBaron Bonney cars, until I got toahigh school.” Then tors to help bolster the program and machines, just practicing doing pleats for upholstery and her current focus in Amesbury, Massachusetts. To help she started attending car shows and she says, “I might eventually end up included working with an advanced through the Automotive Restoration andfocus heron current focus Amesbury, Massachusetts. To help she started attending car showsMathurin and didn’tininherit develop a greater upholstery. and channels and edges and welts.” for upholstery VANESSA her business sets her apart willthe with living expenses, shewith applied for learning about but it wasn’t running own shop, andand I think cutting machine paired to and on lab and had noclassics, idea something like“My parents As amy young woman, 20-year-old VanShe continued inCAD the program interest cars. weren’t on business sets her apart and will with living expenses, she applied for learning about classics, but itinwasn’t benefit her long term — especially in a and received a $2,500 grant from the until she toured Pennsylvania College essa is a rare sight in a male-dominated found a second internship, this time at into cars. No one I knew was into business degree will help.” create complex patterns. She was also that was offered as a degree program, benefit her long term — especially in a and received a $2,500 grant from the until she toured Pennsylvania College butso she reckons that her passion upholstery specialist LeBaron Bonney fieldfield, cars, until that I got to high school.” Then with few specialists. “Because RPM Foundation. This allowed her to of Technology in Williamsport she Before that, however, she’ll be exposed to a fullerThis range of materials, butTechnology I knew I had go there.” that she so few specialists. “Because RPM allowed her toTo help field of in to Williamsport forwith upholstery and her current focus in Amesbury, Massachusetts. she started attending car concentrate shows Foundation. and upholstery work is such a specific skill,” on the experience, which set She her sights on a career. “I walked looking for work a sets position ataand aspecific specialized including imitation leather and for upholstery got heronfirst taste of“Iupholstery is skill,” concentrate on experience, set her sights a career. walked on business hersuch apart will withthe living expenses, shewhich applied learning about classics, but it wasn’t leather, she says, “I might eventually end up included working with an advanced through the Automotive Restoration upholstery shop or at a restorer with benefit her long term — especially in a and received a $2,500 grant from the various felts. Her biggest takeaway until she toured Pennsylvania College and fabric work when the 1970 she says, “I might eventually end up an included working with an advanced through the Automotive Restoration mysoown shop, under and I think the cutting machine paired withThis CAD to her to running lab and had no idea something like field with few specialists. “Because RPM Foundation. allowed of Technology in Williamsport that she established upholster whom she from the two months spent at LeBaron Chevelle being restored by her classmy own shop, and I think the cutting machine pairedon with CAD to which running lab and had no idea something like upholstery work is such a specific skill,” concentrate the experience, set her sights on a career. “I walked business degree will help.” create complex patterns. She was also that was offered as a degree program, canshe apprentice. Either way,end it’supa far cry Bonney? “Youincluded can never know enough. mates required covers. After business degree help.” create complex patterns. She also that was offerednew as a seat degree says, “I mightwill eventually working withwas an advanced through program, the Automotive Restoration Before that, however, she’ll be exposed to a cutting fuller range of materials, but I knew I had to go there.” from the medical field, which where There’s always something to learn, althat, she practiced with vinyl by stitchrunning my own shop, and I think the machine paired with CAD to lab and had no idea something like Before that, however, she’llis be exposed to a fuller range of materials, but I knew I had to go there.” looking for a position at a specialized including leather, imitation leather and She got her first taste of upholstery degree will help.”end up. createor complex patterns. She was also her business that was offered as a degree program, family hoped she’d ways a tip or trick new skill to learn.” ingShe seats for friends’ projects. looking for a position at a specialized including leather, imitation leather and got her first taste of upholstery Beforeshop that, however, be with an exposed to a fuller range of materials, upholstery but I1970 knew I had to go there.” or at ashe’ll restorer various felts. Her biggest takeaway and fabric work when the or atataa restorer various felts. Her biggest takeaway and fabric work when theShe 1970 looking forshop a position specializedwith an leather andupholstery got her first taste of upholstery established upholster under whom she from the two including monthsleather, spentimitation at LeBaron Chevelle being restored by her classknows every upholstery upholster shop orVanessa at a restorer with an she felts. Her biggest takeaway andby fabric when thefrom 1970 the two various established under whom months spent at LeBaron Chevelle being restored herwork classcan apprentice. Either way, it’s a far cry Bonney? canthenever knowspent enough. mates required new seat covers. After stitch in the seats upholster under whom two months at LeBaroncanestablished Chevelle being restored by her class-“You apprentice. Either way, it’s ashe farofcry Bonney? “Youfrom can never know enough. mates required new seat covers. After her 1970 apprentice. way, it’sChevrolet a far “You can know new seat There’s covers. After medicalEither field, which iscry where alwaysBonney? something tonever learn, al-enough.fromcanthe that, she practiced withmates vinylrequired by stitchfrom thethemedical field, which is where There’s alwaysThere’s something to learn,toalthat, she practiced withthat, vinyl by stitchmedical field, which is where learn, al- her from she practiced with vinyl by a stitchChevelle class family hoped she’d end up.project. ways tip or trick oralways new something skill to learn.” ing seats for friends’ projects. family she’d end ways a tip or trick skill to learn.” ing seats for friends’ projects. familyhoped hoped she’d end up. up. ways aor tipnew or trick or new skill to learn.”her her ing seats for friends’ projects.
PATHWAY TO CAREERS
In STITCHES
Vanessa knows every Vanessa knows Vanessa knows everyevery Vanessa knows every stitch in in the seatsseats of stitch in the the seats of stitch of stitch inChevrolet the seats of her her1970 1970 Chevrolet her 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle classChevrolet project. her 1970
PHOTO: STEVE LEGATO
PHOTO: STEVE LEGATO PHOTO: STEVE LEGATO PHOTO: STEVE LEGATO
Chevelle class class project. project. Chevelle Chevelle class project.
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The RPM Foundation accelerates the The RPM Foundagrowth of the next tion accelerates the generation of autogrowth of the next motive restoration generation of automotive restoration and RPM preservation The FoundaThe RPM Foundaand preservation craftsmen through tion accelerates craftsmen through the tion accelerates the scholarships, growth of formal theformal next scholarships, growth of the next training training andand mentorgeneration ofmentorautogeneration of ship. Learn more atautoship. Learn more at motive restoration rpm.foundation. motive restoration rpm.foundation. and preservation and preservation craftsmen through craftsmen through scholarships, formal scholarships, formal training and mentortraining and mentorship. Learn more at ship. Learn more at rpm.foundation. rpm.foundation.
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RPM Vanessa Mathurin reprint_fff.indd 2
10/18/16 12:50 PM