Kathy’s Story

“Everyone took pride in what we made.”

Kathy Keys started working at Drexel around 1987 and stayed nearly 25 years. Much of her time was spent in the sample plant under Drexel 3 & 5, a small five-person team that played a big role. They worked side by side with designers to build the very first showroom pieces for new furniture lines—prototypes that would later be produced at scale. “We’d make the samples, then go to the plants and teach the workers how to build the new styles,” Kathy explains. That hands-on process gave her a deep understanding of furniture—something she says is becoming a lost art.

Kathy was selected for the sample plant by her manager, Will Pearson, who she remembers with deep respect. “Will was incredibly creative, but even more, he looked after his people,” she recalls. “He’d cook us breakfast or lunch and made sure everyone felt cared for.” She was chosen for the team after going several years without taking a sick day—a reflection of the strong work ethic she brought to every shift. “Will handpicked people who had a natural feel for how furniture should look.”

Though she saw the closing of the plant coming, Kathy reflects on her time at Drexel with pride and gratitude. The relationships, the craftsmanship, and the culture of care left a lasting mark.