Our employees and the diversity they bring with them are the defining strength of our company. Their collective insights, perspectives, skills and abilities drive our growth. We have generations of employees working in our plants and offices. Th is allows us to make long-term investments in their advancement and well-being through programs and initiatives geared towards inclusivity, professional development, health, wellness and safety. Ultimately, our cultural goal is to create a place where individual initiative and ideas are valued and supported. A place where every employee feels they belong.

Our culture is shaped by our values, guiding our decision making and practices from the beginning. They consist of the following:

Alyssa Schall, Facilities Apprentice and aspiring engineer at Studio TK, is paving the way for women in manufacturing.

Alyssa Schall is 18 and the oldest of five children. Born and raised in Clayton, North Carolina, her roots run deep in the local community. She is pursuing a four-year Johnston College Apprenticeship Program (JCAP) in Applied Engineering. This program enables her to apprentice with a local manufacturing partner in the city of Clayton. Charlie Bell at Studio TK knows it’s important to mentor and equip the next generation of talent. “Facilities Management looks a lot different today than it did even five years ago and so do the employees who are responsible for it. We need people who understand the new technologies we now have in place. And importantly, how to resolve issues when these systems go down.”

This year there were 11 participants in the JCAP program and Alyssa was the only female. As a partner company, Studio TK held an open house for all the participants. Companies made their picks and pitch to students, and the candidates then decided where they would like to go. Craig Edwards, Facilities Manager at Studio TK, explains, “We immediately saw the potential Alyssa had – we knew we would be competing against other world-class organizations including Caterpillar, Grifols and Novo Nordisk for her.” Edwards adds, “She’s an interesting, very intelligent person – we saw her and thought, we need to get her, she’s the right fit for our company.” Fortunately, Alyssa also thought Studio TK was the right match. Alyssa says, “This place just felt right from the first time I visited. I knew I would be valued here.”

Jerry Young, Team Lead and Alyssa’s hands-on mentor at Studio TK, acknowledges the talent her generation brings to the table. “Not only can we teach her, but she’s bringing to us new ways of thinking and new ideas that will streamline our systems.”

Alyssa’s paid apprenticeship will result in her earning a journeyman’s license, a rarity for a woman in this industry. Alyssa adds, “I know many people my age and gender dismiss trades as a career. But we need trades, and I’m lucky, because in trades I have found job security, and fulfillment.” Reflecting on Alyssa’s time to date at Studio TK, Jerry concludes, “

Christopher Thibault has gained maturity and a long-term view for his professional and personal growth.

Thibault, Substitute Team Leader, Teknion Quebec Christopher Thibault began his training with Travail Jeunesse, an organization dedicated to the successful integration of at-risk youth into the community and workforce. Travail Jeunesse teaches its members to not only perform contract manufacturing work for local businesses, but also gain the necessary social skills to function within the community.

Forty-four individuals are enrolled in this program each year, and the organization boasts a 75% integration rate into the workforce. Teknion is a beneficiary of this success rate beyond just Travail Jeunesse’s manufacturing plant. It employs Travail Jeunesse trainees and alumni within its facilities, reaping the benefits of a skilled workforce it has custom-trained.

Christopher was placed by Travail Jeunesse as a trainee at Teknion five years ago. Since then, he has progressed to Substitute Team Lead, actively involved in updating Teknion’s warehouse inventory system. Christopher has been recognized by his team as a problem solver. He attributes the inclusive environment at Teknion as being integral to shaping his outlook on work and life. “I’m proud of the maturity I’ve acquired. Now I have a larger perspective on life. In the past I was taking my job and even my future hour by hour. Now I have a long-term view.” He chuckles, “I’ve lost 35 pounds, gained a few more tattoos but, most importantly, am blessed with a daughter and now, thanks to Teknion and Travail Jeunesse, a long-term plan to care for her and myself.”

Studio TK manufactures furniture for social spaces and is part of Teknion’s collection of brands. Francisco joined Studio TK four years ago. He was an 18-year-old high school student with a strong will to succeed. He was working 50 hours a week in a truck wash and a factory that made elliptical antennas but felt he was going nowhere. He explains that members of his community in Garner, North Carolina, all knew about Studio TK, so he felt it was a natural step to apply.

As he tells it, in his final interview he said to Kevin Williams, Vice President Operations, “Hey man I’m straight out of high school. I’d like to be in a place where I can grow and improve. A place where I have a future.” On his swift rise from assembler to Rapid Continuous Improvement Specialist, he says, “A lot of people say that I’m smart. I don’t think I’m as smart as I am persistent.” What’s next for Francisco? He marvels at how he has grown along with the company, which had just opened its doors when he started. He explains, “Every day I am challenged, and I’m often pushed outside my comfort zone. I still have tons more to do. There are a lot of places we can go.” Francisco is now completing a college course in mechanical engineering, funded by Studio TK.

This will round out his skill set and lay the groundwork for his next move in the company. Charlie Bell, President of Studio TK and ‘Chief Mentor’, articulates the company’s approach to employee engagement and advancement. “We don’t hire for today, we hire for tomorrow. Our approach is to find talent from within the community and nurture it. It’s a win-win situation. The community is strengthened and Studio TK doesn’t need to look further than its own backyard to find the right people to drive our company forward.”