NEWS articles
NEWS
September 30, 2025
Davidson and Davie Apprenticeship Consortium welcomes 11 new apprentices in official signing ceremony
LEXINGTON, N.C. (September 30, 2025) – The Davidson and Davie Apprenticeship Consortium (DDAC) welcomed 11 new apprentices recently in the organization’s annual signing ceremony.
The 11 apprentices spent the summer in a pre-apprenticeship program, but with the signing they begin their four years of on-the-job training with a DDAC member company along with classes at Davidson-Davie Community College.
“Every one of these apprentices worked hard this summer in their pre-apprentice work and showed they had the ability to advance to an apprenticeship,” said Dylan Wilmoth, head of the DDAC board. “Their hard work and commitment to their futures is a sure sign they will be a huge benefit to their companies and to the community.”
Jonathan Brown, vice president of Davidson-Davie Community College, Scott Morris, an apprentice graduate, and Chris Harrington, state director of Apprenticeship NC, were the guest speakers at the event, held at the Mary E. Rittling Center on the campus of Davidson-Davie Community College.
DDAC is an alliance of manufacturing companies in Davidson and Davie counties, including BMK Americas, CPM Wolverine Proctor, EGGER Wood Products, KURZ Transfer Products, Mohawk, Ingersoll Rand, Owens & Minor, Cascade Die Casting Group, SBA Home, and Siemens Mobility with a goal of providing bright futures for tomorrow’s talents.
This year’s group of DDAC apprentices include (with company): Joshua Bowman, EGGER Wood Products, Klaire Heller, EGGER Wood Products, Bruno Napolitano, EGGER Wood Products, Korbin Russell, EGGER Wood Products, Cole Price, EGGER Wood Products, Justin Strickland, EGGER Wood Products, Iziah King, KURZ Transfer Products, Matthew Pettit, Mohawk, Gaige Blackburn, SBA Home, and Logan Walterman, SBA Home.
The DDAC apprenticeship program is a paid, four-year program in mechanical or electrical trades, or a two-year production operator track, with a full scholarship to cover tuition, books, and other college fees. Apprentices receive competitive pay and full benefits during their training and become eligible for full-time employment upon graduation.
About Davidson and Davie Apprenticeship Consortium:
Formed in 2019, Davidson and Davie Apprenticeship Consortium (DDAC) comprises manufacturing companies in Davidson and Davie counties, including BMK, Wolverine Proctor, EGGER Wood Products, KURZ, Mohawk, Ingersoll Rand, Owens & Minor, Cascade Die Casting Group, SBA Home, and Siemens Mobility with a goal of providing bright futures for tomorrow’s talents. The DDAC apprenticeship program provides a paid, four-year curriculum in mechanical or electrical trades, or a two-year production operator track with college costs paid. Apprentices receive competitive pay during their apprenticeship, along with a full benefits package and eligibility for full-time employment upon graduation. For more information, visit ddacapprentice.org.
NEWS
September 9, 2025
Siemens Mobility joins Davidson-Davie Apprenticeship Consortium to boost membership to 10 companies
LEXINGTON, N.C. (Sept. 9, 2025) – The Davidson Davie Apprenticeship Consortium (DDAC) recently announced Siemens Mobility, Inc., as its newest partner in a growing alliance of companies committed to building a skilled and sustainable workforce in Davidson and Davie counties.
Siemens Mobility is the 10th member of DDAC, joining BMK Group, Cascade Die Casting Group, Wolverine Proctor, EGGER Wood Products, Ingersoll Rand, KURZ Transfer Products, Mohawk Industries, Owens & Minor and SBA Home N.C, as partners in the consortium.
As one of the United States’ largest passenger rolling stock manufacturer and a leader in intelligent transport solutions for more than 175 years, Siemens Mobility is opening a $220 million, state-of-the-art manufacturing and rail services facility in Lexington, NC. Building trains locally for America, this new site will create over 500 jobs by 2028 and become one of the city’s largest employers.
“Siemens Mobility is proud to partner with DDAC as we advance our mission to transform rail in America by building passenger trains right here in Lexington,” Tobias Bauer, acting CEO, Siemens Mobility North America. “We’re committed to creating an environment that fosters lifelong learning and builds individuals’ growth mindsets. This partnership represents a meaningful step forward, as we build a legacy with the local community and create lasting opportunities for workforce development.”
The DDAC members offer the opportunity to earn while learning through paid apprenticeships offering benefits. These programs combine hands-on, real-world training with classroom instruction at Davidson-Davie Community College, leading to an associate degree and nationally recognized journeyman certifications. Participants incur no college debt, with DDAC members covering tuition and other expenses.
“We are thrilled to have Siemens Mobility on board,” said Dylan Wilmoth, DDAC board chair. “Their commitment to innovation and excellence aligns perfectly with our mission to prepare the next generation of skilled professionals.”
About Davidson and Davie Apprenticeship Consortium:
Formed in 2019, Davidson and Davie Apprenticeship Consortium (DDAC) comprises manufacturing companies in Davidson and Davie counties, including BMK Group, Wolverine Proctor, EGGER Wood Products, KURZ Transfer Products, Mohawk Industries, Ingersoll Rand, Owens & Minor, Cascade Die Casting Group, SBA Home North Carolina and Siemens Mobility with a goal of providing bright futures for tomorrow’s talents. The DDAC apprenticeship program provides a paid, four-year curriculum in mechanical or electrical trades, or a two-year production operator track with college costs paid. Apprentices receive competitive pay during their apprenticeship, along with a full benefits package and eligibility for full-time employment upon graduation. For more information, visit ddacapprentice.org.
NEWS
Davidson and Davie Apprenticeship Consortium celebrates graduation of eight apprentices
LEXINGTON, N.C. (June 10, 2025) – The Davidson and Davie Apprenticeship Consortium (DDAC) recently celebrated its third graduating class with eight apprentices earning their journeyman certification.
Formed in 2019, DDAC is comprised of nine manufacturing companies including BMK, CPM Wolverine Proctor, EGGER Wood Products, KURZ Transfer Products, Mohawk Industries, Ingersoll Rand, Owens & Minor, Cascade Die Casting Group, and SBA Home North Carolina.
With the eight graduates of 2025, DDAC has totaled 43 graduates of the past three years
“In a very short period of time, DDAC has steadily provided apprentices to our partner companies and then graduated them into the workforce. Our eight graduates for 2025 are continued proof of that,” said Dylan Wilmoth, senior resource manager at Mohawk Industries and interim DDAC board chairman. “From the beginning in 2019, DDAC’s goal was to supply a flow of talented, skilled individuals to the area workforce and that mission is being accomplished.”
To successfully complete DDAC’s program an apprentice must complete roughly 1,500 hours of classroom and lab work at Davidson-Davie Community College and 6,500 hours of on-the-job training at a DDAC member company’s facility.
Following is a list of the recent DDAC graduates along with the company they work for and the apprenticeship program they studied.
EGGER WOOD PRODUCTS
• Dylan Langston, mechanical
• Benjamin Blanton, mechanical
• Richard Stewart, mechanical
• Matthew Harris, mechanical
• Kyle Snider, electrical
• Aaron Byrd, electrical
• Mallory Vaughn, electrical
BMK GROUP
• Job Cassatt, mechanical
For more information about DDAC, visit ddacapprentice.org.
About Davidson and Davie Apprenticeship Consortium:
Formed in 2019, Davidson and Davie Apprenticeship Consortium (DDAC) comprises manufacturing companies in Davidson and Davie counties, including BMK Group, Wolverine Proctor, EGGER Wood Products, KURZ Transfer Products, Mohawk Industries, Ingersoll Rand, Owens & Minor, Cascade Die Casting Group and SBA Home North Carolina with a goal of providing bright futures for tomorrow’s talents. The DDAC apprenticeship program provides a paid, four-year curriculum in mechanical or electrical trades, or a two-year production operator track with college costs paid. Apprentices receive competitive pay during their apprenticeship, along with a full benefits package and eligibility for full-time employment upon graduation. For more information, visit ddacapprentice.org, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.
NEWS
April 23, 2025
SBA Home North Carolina becomes ninth member of Davidson Davie Apprenticeship Consortium
LEXINGTON, N.C. (April 23, 2025) – Davidson Davie Apprenticeship Consortium announced today SBA Home North Carolina has joined the organization, growing the membership to nine companies.
SBA Home North Carolina, a Lithuanian furniture manufacturer, announced last October it would invest more than $70 million to establish its first North American furniture production plant in Mocksville. The plant opening will create 250 new jobs.
“The Davidson Davie Apprenticeship Consortium is happy to welcome SBA Home North Carolina,” said LaRue Cribb of KURZ Transfer Products and chairman of the DDAC board. “SBA Home manufactures furniture, and like all of the DDAC member companies, has opportunities for apprentices who want to pursue a career, develop hands-on training and skills while earning a debt-free associate degree.”
SBA Home North Carolina will begin recruitment of apprentices immediately.
SBA Home North Carolina will operate from a new, 500,000 square-foot innovative production facility to manufacture and distribute tribute furniture products to meet the demand of its customer base in the United States.
“We are excited to join the DDAC. This partnership aligns with our commitment to nurturing the future of our industry by helping grow and develop emerging talent,” said Samanta Garbenciene, human resources director for SBA Home North Carolina. “We look forward to collaborating with other industry leaders and providing valuable hands-on learning experiences to apprentices, equipping them with the skills needed to excel in the manufacturing sector.”
In addition to SBA Home North Carolina, DDAC membership includes BMK Group, Wolverine Proctor, EGGER Wood Products, KURZ Transfer Products, Mohawk Industries, Ingersoll Rand, Owens & Minor, and Cascade Die Casting Group.
For more information, visit ddacapprentice.org.
About Davidson and Davie Apprenticeship Consortium:
Formed in 2019, Davidson and Davie Apprenticeship Consortium (DDAC) comprises manufacturing companies in Davidson and Davie counties, including BMK Group, Wolverine Proctor, EGGER Wood Products, KURZ Transfer Products, Mohawk Industries, Ingersoll Rand, Owens & Minor, Cascade Die Casting Group and SBA Home North Carolina with a goal of providing bright futures for tomorrow’s talents. The DDAC apprenticeship program provides a paid, four-year curriculum in mechanical or electrical trades, or a two-year production operator track with college costs paid. Apprentices receive competitive pay during their apprenticeship, along with a full benefits package and eligibility for full-time employment upon graduation. For more information, visit ddacapprentice.org, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.
NEWS
August 29, 2024
Photo caption: The newest group of DDAC apprentices at their recent signing ceremony. Back row- left to right (Christian Rickard, Omar Perez-Rocha, Aaron Cook, Jack Dawson) Front row- left to right (Pasquale Napolitano, Cletis Hash, Sean Kirby, Kendall Wells)
Davidson and Davie Apprenticeship Consortium welcomes 8 new apprentices in signing ceremony
LEXINGTON, N.C. (August 29, 2024) – Eight new apprentices officially became members of the Davidson and Davie Apprenticeship Consortium (DDAC) recently during the organization’s annual signing ceremony.
About Davidson and Davie Apprenticeship Consortium:
Formed in 2019, Davidson and Davie Apprenticeship Consortium (DDAC) comprises manufacturing companies in Davidson and Davie counties, including BMK, Wolverine Proctor, EGGER Wood Products, KURZ, Mohawk, Ingersoll Rand, Owens & Minor and Cascade Die Casting Group with a goal of providing bright futures for tomorrow’s talents. The DDAC apprenticeship program provides a paid, four-year curriculum in mechanical or electrical trades, or a two-year production operator track with college costs paid. Apprentices receive competitive pay during their apprenticeship, along with a full benefits package and eligibility for full-time employment upon graduation. For more information, visit ddacapprentice.org, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.
NEWS
September 23, 2023