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Source: PRESS RELEASE, 11/1/12
Gov. Bev Perdue announced the Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Workforce Development that were awarded in Greensboro today. A furniture company, tire manufacturer, trailblazing apprenticeship program, and four North Carolinians are being recognized for their outstanding accomplishments and contributions in helping North Carolina achieve its workforce development goals.
“Our hard-working and talented citizens are the cornerstone of our economic development efforts and their dedicated efforts are helping our economy grow,” said Gov. Perdue. “I congratulate these award recipients for their determination, innovation and commitment to helping make our employees the nation’s best..”
The N.C. Commission on Workforce Development recognized these outstanding individuals and businesses as part of the 2012 Workforce Development Partnership Conference in Greensboro.
Lincolnton Furniture Company, Lincolnton: Governor’s Award for Excellence in Workforce Development, Outstanding Employer. Lincolnton Furniture is part of a small but growing trend called “reshoring” or bringing jobs back to America. The company is a specialty furniture maker that has re-started operations at a once vacant plant. Bruce Cochrane, the current owner and CEO, comes from a family that manufactured furniture in North Carolina. The family business was sold and the new owners moved manufacturing to China. Bruce worked as a consultant in Asia in the furniture industry for several years and decided the time was right to start his own furniture company back in the United States, in North Carolina, in the same plant.
Lincolnton Furniture opened its doors in December 2011 with a workforce of 60 workers and expects to expand to 130 workers by the end of 2012.
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