Mark’s Story

In the summer of 1986, Mark took an internship at Drexel 3 & 5 as part of his college degree in Trade and Industrial Education at Appalachian State University. During his internship, he gained hands-on experience in every area of furniture production. It was a comprehensive training program that showed him the full lifecycle of a product. Mark had already worked in the furniture industry during his high school summers, but this internship was different. Each week, he was introduced to something new, meeting new people and learning new skills, which deepened his passion for education.

While at Drexel, Mark received a call for an interview for a vocational teaching position at East Burke High School (now known as Career and Technical Education, or CTE). He landed the job and spent 21 years teaching at EBHS, then continued his career at Patton High School for another 9 years before retiring in 2016.

Mark is incredibly thankful for his time at Drexel, where he gained invaluable industry knowledge that later helped him inspire generations of students to explore the furniture trades. From the factory floor to the classroom, his journey speaks to the power of hands-on learning.

Now, as we develop the Innovation Campus on the old Drexel 3 & 5 site, Mark’s daughter, Sarah (TIC's Communications Director) will have the opportunity to work in the same spot where he once learned and grew. It’s a full-circle moment!