Outstanding Employer
The Timken Company – Lincolnton Bearing Plant
Iron Station, NC
Centralina Workforce Development Board
For 47 years, The Timken Company - Lincolnton Bearing Plant has been more than a manufacturing facility. It has been a cornerstone of economic opportunity, gainful employment, and community partnership in Lincoln County. With more than 620 employees, the plant maintains a workplace culture grounded in growth, accessibility, and long-term career development. Through partnerships with NCWorks, the Lincoln Economic Development Association, YMCA, Hesed House of Hope, Gaston College, and the Division of Employment & Independence for People with Disabilities (EIPD), Timken continues expanding employment access and strengthening the region’s talent pipeline.
A defining feature of Timken’s culture is its employee-led approach to maintaining a workplace where everyone feels valued. Six Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) help foster belonging, including Celebrating Abilities Network (CAN) and Veterans at Timken (VET). CAN, cofounded by the Human Resources Manager, leads disability accessibility initiatives, supervisor training focused on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and awareness campaigns that strengthen accessibility across the plant. VET supports veterans through mentorship, recognition events, and community partnerships that honor military service and support successful workforce transition.
Timken invests heavily in employee growth and retention. All employees recently received an average 3.2% wage increase, and new hires progress through structured wage schedules during their first two years. Tuition reimbursement remains one of the most generous in the region, with up to $27,000 for undergraduate degrees and $35,000 for graduate programs. In the past year, Timken promoted 49 employees, expanded internships and rotational development programs, and partnered with Gaston College to deliver customized technical training in robotics, automation, and advanced manufacturing systems. The company also invested $20,000 to build a new onsite training lab.
Employee well-being is supported through competitive benefits, including day-one health coverage, Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions, disability insurance, 401(k) matching up to 9%, paid parental leave, frontloaded vacation, and flexible scheduling options. These practices help employees balance work and family responsibilities while building long-term careers.
Timken’s commitment to valuing all employees is reflected in its hiring outcomes: of the 76 new hires during the nomination period, nearly half represented a variety of backgrounds, including veterans, women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities. Partnerships with vocational rehabilitation, veteran outreach programs, and workforce agencies strengthened these efforts. Employee Resource Groups further enhanced belonging, engagement, and retention.
The company’s community impact is equally significant. In 2025-26, Timken contributed more than $560,000 to local schools, nonprofits, law enforcement, and community development initiatives. Employees volunteered during United Way’s Day of Caring, supported record-breaking food and school supply drives, and raised more than $260,000 through employee giving and company matching. Timken also invested over $10,000 in youth sports and leadership programs and supported veteran initiatives such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Golf Tournament.
Timken’s partnership with the NCWorks Career Center – Lincoln County remained strong throughout 2025–2026. The company participated in major hiring events, including the Opportunity Job Fair, YMCA Job Fair, and Veterans Fair. In addition, Timken hosted more than 10 onsite workforce events, including facility tours, job shadowing, Manufacturing Day activities, and a three-day hiring event that resulted in more than 40 on-the-spot job offers. Seven local students completed internships across engineering, HR, quality, and operations through the Lincoln Economic Development Association program.
These efforts demonstrate Timken’s belief that strong businesses and strong communities grow together. As the company enters its 47th year in Lincoln County, Timken continues to set the gold standard for workforce development, employment where all are valued, and community investment - proving that manufacturing excellence is built on people, purpose, and partnership.
Outstanding Economic Impact
Gaston County Association Of Manufacturers (GCAM)
- Gaston County Economic Development Commission, Gastonia, NC
- Gaston Workforce Development Board, Gastonia, NC
The Gaston County Association of Manufacturers (GCAM), established in 2016 and led by the Gaston County Economic Development Commission, is an employer-driven, sector-based partnership that unites manufacturers with workforce, education, and economic development partners. Its mission is to strengthen and sustain the county’s manufacturing sector by aligning workforce development, education pathways, and economic development resources to meet both current and future industry needs. GCAM’s goals center on supporting business retention and expansion, attracting new manufacturing investment, and ensuring a skilled, responsive talent pipeline.
What makes GCAM exceptional is its employer-led structure and real-time responsiveness. Rather than operating as a traditional top-down initiative, manufacturers guide monthly convenings, identify workforce challenges, and codesign solutions with public partners. Workforce Development Board staff, the NCWorks Career Center, Gaston College, and Gaston County Schools play integrated support roles - providing recruitment assistance, On-the-Job Training (OJT), Incumbent Worker Training (IWT), work-based learning, and credential-aligned education pathways.
The Economic Development Commission uses GCAM as a direct industry engagement strategy for business retention, expansion, and attraction. Through this platform, manufacturers receive timely information on incentives, infrastructure, and regional economic trends, while maintaining a direct line of communication with local leadership. This coordinated approach ensures that business needs are quickly identified and addressed through aligned workforce and economic strategies.
GCAM’s strength lies in its cross-sector collaboration. The partnership spans the entire manufacturing sector and includes economic development entities, workforce partners, K–12 and higher education, and regional stakeholders. Its innovation is demonstrated through peer-led employer dialogue, rapid feedback loops between industry and workforce systems, and coordinated initiatives such as Manufacturing Week, a multiday effort featuring job fairs, facility tours, industry roundtables, and recognition events like Women Who Rock, which celebrates women excelling in traditionally male-dominated roles.
Since rebuilding after COVID-19, GCAM has expanded employer participation, increased engagement across manufacturing subsectors, and strengthened trust between industry and public partners. Its employer-ownership model makes it both sustainable and highly replicable as a best practice regional workforce strategy.
Workforce services are embedded throughout GCAM’s model. NCWorks provides direct recruitment support and connects employers to training funded by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), while Gaston College and Gaston County Schools ensure curriculum alignment with industry needs. This integration creates a seamless talent pipeline from K–12 Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs into postsecondary training and manufacturing careers.
GCAM has demonstrated measurable impact. Its employer network now includes more than 70 representatives, with monthly meetings often requiring expanded space due to high participation. Manufacturers have gained increased access to OJT and IWT funding, improving hiring outcomes and upskilling current employees. Manufacturing Week continues to elevate industry visibility through the #MadeInGaston initiative, targeted hiring events, and facility tours that connect students, educators, and job seekers to local opportunities.
By aligning publicly funded workforce programs, education systems, and economic development strategies into a single employer-centered model, GCAM maximizes resources, reduces duplication, and delivers high-impact, responsive services. Its continued success demonstrates how strong partnerships, consistent communication, and employer leadership can strengthen a region’s manufacturing economy and create a sustainable, future-ready talent pipeline.
Outstanding Private Sector Workforce Development Board Member - The Bill Ragland Award
Josh McKinney
Hickory, NC
Western Piedmont Workforce Development Board
For 15 years, Josh McKinney has been an exceptional and influential leader on the Western Piedmont Workforce Development Board. His service reflects not only longevity, but deep commitment, strategic insight, and a hands-on leadership style that has strengthened the board, the workforce system, and the communities it serves. After four years as Vice Chair, Josh became Board Chair in 2020, serving five years before transitioning back into the Vice Chair role - an uncommon demonstration of dedication, humility, and continued investment in the board’s mission.
Josh is a highly engaged leader who works closely with board staff to address challenges, strengthen partnerships, and improve workforce programs that support employers, job seekers, and regional economic growth. He balances long-term strategy with practical, actionable problem-solving, often stepping in alongside staff to work through complex issues. His willingness to engage deeply in the work has made him a trusted partner during both opportunities and challenges.
A champion for strong governance, Josh actively recruits and mentors new board members, helping build a board that represents the community, is knowledgeable, and is aligned with the needs of the private sector. He understands the importance of the employer voice in workforce development and has played a key role in strengthening business engagement across the region.
Josh’s leadership has also shaped employer outreach and partnership strategies. His insight has guided business roundtables, employer listening sessions, and discussions that help workforce leadership better understand hiring needs, industry trends, and workforce challenges. His private sector perspective has informed regional strategies related to training priorities, economic development, and talent pipeline development.
Beyond formal leadership roles, Josh is a steady mentor and advisor to workforce staff and board leadership. His guidance, encouragement, and thoughtful feedback have supported organizational growth and helped cultivate a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Through his years of service, advocacy, and hands-on leadership, Josh McKinney has made a lasting impact on the Western Piedmont Workforce Development Board. His commitment to strengthening partnerships, elevating employer engagement, and supporting workforce innovation has helped build a stronger, more responsive workforce system that continues to benefit businesses, job seekers, and the entire region.
Outstanding Innovative Partnership
South Piedmont Workforce Apprenticeship Partnership
- South Piedmont Community College, Monroe, NC
- Union County Economic Development, Monroe, NC
- Union County Schools, Monroe, NC
- Wingate University, Wingate, NC
Centralina Workforce Development Board
The South Piedmont Workforce Apprenticeship Partnership is exceptional because it creates a fully aligned, employer-driven talent pipeline that connects K–12 education, higher education, workforce development, and industry through registered apprenticeships. By removing traditional barriers and simplifying the apprenticeship process, South Piedmont Community College (SPCC) ensures employers can build skilled talent while learners access clear, affordable, and attainable pathways into high-demand careers.
The mission of the partnership is to expand registered apprenticeship opportunities that meet regional workforce needs, while supporting both employers and learners. Its purpose is to streamline apprenticeship participation, strengthen recruitment and retention, and ensure apprentices receive high-quality instruction, advocacy, and career progression.
The core goals of the partnership are to expand employer participation by reducing administrative burden, create structured pathways from high school to post-secondary education and employment, support apprentices through instruction, advocacy, and career development, and address workforce shortages in technology, healthcare, education, and skilled trades.
SPCC serves as both the educational provider and the apprenticeship sponsor. Employers may sponsor their own programs with SPCC’s support or participate directly in SPCC-sponsored apprenticeships. By handling program registration, compliance, coordination, and related instruction, SPCC removes administrative barriers so employers can focus on training, mentorship, and business outcomes.
A defining feature of this model is the integration of education systems. High school pre-apprenticeship programs align directly with registered apprenticeships, ensuring a smooth transition from secondary education into employment. Post-secondary partners allow apprentices to continue their education while earning wages, which strengthens long-term career mobility.
The partnership network includes SPCC as lead partner and apprenticeship sponsor, Union County Public Schools with high school pre-apprenticeship pathways, Wingate University with post-secondary instruction and teacher licensure pathways, and Union County Economic Development & Chamber of Commerce to provide employer engagement and regional alignment. The network also includes over 30 employers across manufacturing, healthcare, education, transportation, automotive, and skilled trades.
The partnership was formed to address workforce shortages throughout the region and provide a more efficient way to develop skilled talent. Employers sought support navigating apprenticeship requirements, while students needed clear, supported pathways into high-demand careers. SPCC stepped in as a central convener and aligned education, employers, and workforce systems to build sustainable talent pipelines that support economic mobility and regional growth.
The partnership has served over 60 registered apprentices across high-demand sectors such as manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and education. It has helped supply highly trained manufacturing technicians and directly supported efforts to address teacher shortages in the local school system.
Shared instruction models allow SPCC to schedule classes that serve multiple employers efficiently, reducing duplication and lowering barriers to participation. Employers benefit from standardized, high-quality instruction while maintaining flexibility in on-the-job training.
Recruitment and expansion strategies include high school pre-apprenticeship pathways, parent information sessions with the school system, employer information sessions with Economic Development, executive roundtables hosted by the Chamber, and targeted recruitment through NCWorks Career Centers. Wingate University’s Road2Wingate program strengthens the education pipeline by enabling teacher aide apprentices to complete bachelor’s degrees affordably, improving retention and advancement in the education sector.
This partnership demonstrates a scalable approach that can be replicated statewide. ApprenticeshipNC can support any school system in building pre-apprenticeship programs, and NCWorks can assist with recruitment and workforce alignment. The infrastructure already exists - success depends on intentional collaboration, shared vision, and strong partnerships.
Outstanding Teen
Sara Gomez
Spruce Pine, NC
High Country Workforce Development Board
Sara Gomez enrolled in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) In-School Youth Program on September 9, 2025, after being referred by Mountain Heritage High School to participate in a special Dogwood Health Trust grant through the NCWorks Career Center. That summer, she completed a work-based learning internship with Hospice of the Blue Ridge, gaining hands-on experience in palliative care and confirming her long-term goal of becoming a nurse. Her professionalism, compassion, and maturity during the internship led the career center to continue supporting her through WIOA, where she remains an active and engaged participant.
Sara’s journey is defined by extraordinary resilience. Despite losing her mother, having her biological father incarcerated, navigating family instability, helping care for her younger sister, and experiencing the impact of Hurricane Helene, she remained focused on graduating high school and pursuing a career in healthcare. Her ability to balance personal hardship, academic achievement, leadership roles, and work-based learning makes her an exceptional example of youth success in workforce development.
Academically, Sara has excelled. While still a fulltime high school student, she completed her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training through Mayland Community College on December 12, 2025. She passed her state boards and earned her certification the next month. She used this credential to gain employment as a CNA, building professionalism, confidence, and real-world healthcare experience. When her employer could not adjust her schedule to accommodate her senior year commitments, she made the responsible decision to step away and prioritize graduation and her long-term goals.
Sara graduated from Mountain Heritage High School on May 22, 2026, and continued her education through a co-enrollment pathway with Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (AB Tech) and Western Carolina University (WCU). She is the first high school student accepted into the AB Tech/WCU second-year cohort, demonstrating strong self-advocacy and persistence in ensuring her previously earned college credits were honored. She is on track to complete both her Associate Degree in Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing within two years.
Beyond academics, Sara is a leader in her school and community. She organized one of the largest blood drives at Mitchell High School and serves as a L.E.A.D. Mentor through Appalachian State University’s GEAR UP program, where she encourages and supports other students. At home, she is a role model and caregiver for her younger sister, balancing responsibility with determination to achieve her own goals.
Sara consistently demonstrates responsibility, compassion, perseverance, and professionalism. She has fully utilized WIOA resources to advance her education and career, and her commitment to serving others - shaped by her own lived experiences - makes her a remarkable future nurse. Though her parents are no longer with her, her achievements reflect a strength and purpose she knows they would be deeply proud of.
Outstanding Young Adult
Madeline Sink
Sylva, NC
Southwestern Workforce Development Board
Madeline Sink has been an active participant in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Adult Program since August 2025 while pursuing her Associate Degree in Nursing at Southwestern Community College. She graduated in May 2026, and consistently demonstrated resilience, determination, and a deep commitment to becoming a compassionate and skilled nurse.
Madeline’s path into healthcare is rooted in profound personal experiences. After the unexpected loss of her father and later supporting her mother through an aggressive cancer diagnosis, she developed a firsthand understanding of the emotional, physical, and practical needs of patients and families during crisis. Instead of allowing these hardships to derail her, she transformed them into motivation to serve others through nursing.
Throughout her training, Madeline has shown remarkable academic and personal growth. Although she struggled during her first semester, she took intentional steps to improve — revising her study habits, strengthening her time management skills, and rebuilding her confidence. This turning point reflects her perseverance and her ability to adapt in the face of challenge.
In both classroom and clinical environments, Madeline stands out for her emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and professionalism. She approaches difficult situations thoughtfully, taking time to process information and understand multiple perspectives. She shows respect for experienced healthcare professionals while confidently asking questions and seeking opportunities to learn. These qualities have helped her build strong relationships with instructors, peers, and clinical staff.
Madeline has gained experience across diverse clinical settings, where she has demonstrated calmness under pressure, adaptability, and a patient-centered approach to care. Her communication skills are especially strong when working with patients and families in high-stress situations, where she offers empathy, clarity, and reassurance.
Her passion for mental health care further distinguishes her. Madeline remained committed to her calling and secured employment at Haywood Medical Center as a Registered Nurse in Behavioral Health, a position aligned with her long-term goals. In this role, she supports patient care, assists with daily activities, and contributes to a therapeutic environment for individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges.
Madeline’s strengths - emotional resilience, compassion, adaptability, and perseverance - have shaped her into a promising nurse. She has learned to manage workplace stress in healthy ways, maintain boundaries, and remain grounded during emotionally charged situations. Her journey reflects not only personal growth, but a deep commitment to serving others, making her an exceptional representative of WIOA program success and a valuable asset to the healthcare workforce.
Outstanding Adult
Blayne Hemphill
Morganton, NC
Western Piedmont Workforce Development Board
Blayne Hemphill has been an active participant in the NCWorks WIOA Scholarship program since August 2022. During this time, she completed the Interpreter Education Program at Western Piedmont Community College, earning her Associate Degree with a 4.0 GPA and Honors distinction.
Blayne’s accomplishments are especially powerful when viewed through the lens of her early challenges. She navigated justice involvement, single parenthood, food insecurity, lack of transportation, and unstable income — and she approached every obstacle with determination and resilience. Entering the program with no prior knowledge of American Sign Language (ASL), she committed herself fully to learning the language, the culture, and the profession. She excelled academically while balancing full time coursework, employment, motherhood, guardianship of her brother with autism and epilepsy, and extensive community service.
Her dedication to the Deaf and DeafBlind communities extends far beyond the classroom. Blayne earned certification in Braille and became a certified Support Service Provider (SSP) for individuals who are DeafBlind. She has contributed more than 400 volunteer hours with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services in Morganton, providing essential communication access, environmental information, and support that allows DeafBlind individuals to engage more fully with their surroundings. Her work reflects not only skill, but compassion, cultural humility, and deep respect for the communities she serves.
One of Blayne’s most advanced competencies is her proficiency in Protactile communication — a tactile language used within the DeafBlind community to convey emotional, environmental, and conversational information through touch. This highly specialized skill requires patience, trust, and cultural understanding, all of which Blayne demonstrates consistently.
Blayne has transformed her passion into purpose-driven entrepreneurship through her business, B.L.A.Y.N.E., LLC (Bridging Living Accessibility with You Navigating Empowerment). Her company provides culturally responsive navigation and support services for individuals who are DeafBlind, assisting with medical appointments, daily living tasks, travel, and community engagement. More importantly, she empowers clients with tools, knowledge, and confidence to navigate life with greater independence and dignity.
Throughout her journey, Blayne has strengthened her leadership, communication, financial literacy, and advocacy skills. She has grown personally and professionally while uplifting others — turning her own barriers into a foundation for service, accessibility, and empowerment.
Outstanding Customer Service in Workforce Development - The Wayne Daves Award
Veatrice Johnson
North Wilkesboro, NC
High Country Workforce Development Board
Veatrice Johnson serves as an NCWorks Career Advisor for Adult and Dislocated Workers, where she supports individuals seeking economic mobility through career planning, goal setting, and access to training and employment opportunities. Her work extends far beyond advising. She is a relationship builder, a community partner, and a vital member of the NCWorks Career Center team.
Veatrice began her NCWorks journey in 2022 as a Youth Career Advisor in Wilkes County. Her impact was immediate: by the 2023 NCWorks Partnership Conference, one of her students was recognized as the state’s Outstanding Young Adult for earning his GED, completing a work-based learning experience, and securing employment despite significant barriers. He was one of many young people whose lives were transformed through her guidance. When staffing needs required her transition, she seamlessly shifted roles and quickly began helping adult participants achieve similar success.
Her adaptability and resilience were especially evident in 2024, when Western North Carolina was heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene. With the arrival of National Dislocated Worker Grant funds, Veatrice led outreach and enrollment efforts, helping place participants into disaster recovery roles, including the first placements at Anchor Ridge, a key community resource hub. Her leadership contributed significantly to High Country Workforce Development Board’s success with the grant.
Veatrice has also been instrumental in expanding work-based learning and apprenticeship opportunities. Recognizing the focus of the Governor’s Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships, she became an early adopter by partnering with ApprenticeshipNC, business services staff, and leadership to build new pathways. This year alone, she helped develop two apprenticeships, supporting five childcare students and one pharmacy apprentice.
Her contributions were further recognized in August 2025, when High Country WDB celebrated its career center recertification. Veatrice was invited as a special guest in appreciation of her role in preparing for the visit and her ongoing commitment to improving center services. Her creativity, insight, and positive energy help shape the culture of the NCWorks Career Center - Wilkes County and inspire new ideas for outreach and engagement.
Veatrice is known as a “connector” - someone who builds bridges between people, programs, and opportunities. She engages employers at job fairs, forms new partnerships at community events, and consistently returns with contacts that lead to meaningful referrals for participants. Her creative approach to career advising has led to unique successes, such as supporting a student through a tattooing work experience that resulted in employment, and helping five students complete a new Commercial Driver License program — each one graduating and securing a job. She always considers the whole person, even arranging a work experience opportunity within biking distance for a participant without other transportation.
Her commitment to service extends beyond the career center. She volunteers at community events, assists Access to Achievement students with résumés and mock interviews, and represents NCWorks at conferences and roundtables. She recently co-presented at the Smart Start Conference on a collaborative Childcare Academy and pre-apprenticeship initiative that is already producing graduates and building a sustainable talent pipeline.
Veatrice is also a powerful ambassador for NCWorks. Employers, partners, and participants consistently praise her ability to explain programs in a relatable, inspiring way. One apprenticeship sponsor recently shared that her apprentice “has come alive,” a testament to the life-changing impact of Veatrice’s work.
And, true to her spirit, Veatrice is always present at graduations, celebrating every milestone and cheering her participants forward. Her dedication, compassion, and unwavering belief in people make her an invaluable asset to the workforce system and a model representative of NCWorks.