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In October 1981, the Small Business Institute opened its doors at Durham Technical Institute. It was established to provide entrepreneurs with the information, tools, and resources needed to develop business ideas and to become viable, profitable, and successful. In 1987, the now Small Business Center moved to the historic Venable Place Business Incubator in downtown Durham to start offering workshops, business-specific course work, and one-on-one counseling. In 2003, the Center moved to the sixth floor of the NC Mutual Life Insurance Company Building, and in 2018, the Center moved to its current location in the Chesterfield Building, also downtown.
More than 100 campus community members, including local and regional elected officials, current and former Board of Trustee members, College partners, alumni, retirees, employees and students gathered for an outdoor ceremony to celebrate the dedication of the Ingram Center. The Center is the first new academic building on Main Campus in 15 years.
Former President Ingram was the College’s fourth leader and served in a variety of leadership roles at Durham Tech over four decades.
Former President Ingram was the College’s fourth leader and served in a variety of leadership roles at Durham Tech over four decades.
College classes may invoke thoughts of desks and textbooks, but the customized training department at Durham Tech works largely within companies in the Research Triangle.
Through the years, Durham Tech has developed customized courses for some of the largest corporate names in North Carolina including AW North Carolina, Burt’s Bees, Dynamit Nobel Silicon, General Electric Semiconductor, GE Aviation, Medicago, IBM, Mitsubishi Semiconductor America Inc, and Orange County firms such as Morinaga America Foods, WestRock, and AKG of America, among others.
Through the years, Durham Tech has developed customized courses for some of the largest corporate names in North Carolina including AW North Carolina, Burt’s Bees, Dynamit Nobel Silicon, General Electric Semiconductor, GE Aviation, Medicago, IBM, Mitsubishi Semiconductor America Inc, and Orange County firms such as Morinaga America Foods, WestRock, and AKG of America, among others.
Elizabeth Fenn didn’t take the usual college path.
In the mid-1980s, just before starting her doctoral dissertation at Yale University, she left the program, moved to Hillsborough, North Carolina, took automative classes at Durham Tech, and then worked in auto shops around Durham for nearly a decade. She later returned to Yale, finished her dissertation, and became a leader in her field. She became an historian, writer, and professor.
In the mid-1980s, just before starting her doctoral dissertation at Yale University, she left the program, moved to Hillsborough, North Carolina, took automative classes at Durham Tech, and then worked in auto shops around Durham for nearly a decade. She later returned to Yale, finished her dissertation, and became a leader in her field. She became an historian, writer, and professor.
In September 2022, the Newton Makerspace was unveiled on Main Campus -- made possible by a contribution from Newton Instrument Company. The need for the high-tech makerspace was identified in 2018 when college leadership recognized the increase in industrial trades and the need to attract more students into this growing field. This type of collaborative, project-based learning environment would mirror the workplace through innovation -- supporting students in engineering, skilled trades, construction, art, welding, and design.
Buxton, the son of two longtime educators and himself an advocate and champion of education policy and higher education leadership, was appointed to the College’s top position in July 2020.
Inside the Phail Wynn, Jr. Student Services Center, an impressive who’s who of elected representatives, community leaders, community college presidents, colleagues, and College leadership buzzed with excitement for the next chapter of Durham Tech’s history. Among the speakers were Thomas Stith III, President of the North Carolina Community College System, and North Carolina Poet Laureat Jaki Shelton Green.
Inside the Phail Wynn, Jr. Student Services Center, an impressive who’s who of elected representatives, community leaders, community college presidents, colleagues, and College leadership buzzed with excitement for the next chapter of Durham Tech’s history. Among the speakers were Thomas Stith III, President of the North Carolina Community College System, and North Carolina Poet Laureat Jaki Shelton Green.
The wake-up call came in January 2011.
It was Durham Tech’s 50th anniversary and former president Dr. Bill Ingram called for a “Year of Service” to celebrate – encouraging students and employees to participate in volunteer opportunities and service learning.
To kick off the year, the Durham Tech Student Senate, now Student Government Association, distributed 50 bags of food to students during the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Event.
All 50 bags were gone in 10 minutes.
It was Durham Tech’s 50th anniversary and former president Dr. Bill Ingram called for a “Year of Service” to celebrate – encouraging students and employees to participate in volunteer opportunities and service learning.
To kick off the year, the Durham Tech Student Senate, now Student Government Association, distributed 50 bags of food to students during the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Event.
All 50 bags were gone in 10 minutes.
Tiffany Skouby’s leadership journey began in a psychology class at Durham Tech’s Orange County Campus in 2010.
The instructor broke students up into test groups for a project and Skouby’s group were all members of the LGBTQ+ community. The students grew close as they discussed challenges they faced every day.
“Our group didn’t feel represented. We had a voice and we wanted to be heard,” Skouby said. “Durham Tech heard us loud and clear. From that group, an organization grew.”
The instructor broke students up into test groups for a project and Skouby’s group were all members of the LGBTQ+ community. The students grew close as they discussed challenges they faced every day.
“Our group didn’t feel represented. We had a voice and we wanted to be heard,” Skouby said. “Durham Tech heard us loud and clear. From that group, an organization grew.”
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When the City of Durham experienced a nursing shortage in the 1960’s, Durham Tech responded in short order with a thriving practical nursing program that continues today.
It’s believed to be the College’s first community partnership program created to meet a vital need for the community. In recent years, the College has partnered with major employers in the Triangle to provide diverse talent and specialized programs.
In 2020, Durham Tech developed an Electrical Line Technician program to meet the need for line workers, as identified by Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas.
Both organizations helped fund the program. James Brandon Kidd, a 2022 graduate of the program, said his experience was extremely positive and he was excited to learn something new every day. Kidd secured a job with Duke Energy before he completed the program.
"I found a career that I am extremely excited about. I feel like I have a knack for it and I think this class helped to bring out those qualities and show me what the possibilities are throughout this journey,” Kidd said.
It’s believed to be the College’s first community partnership program created to meet a vital need for the community. In recent years, the College has partnered with major employers in the Triangle to provide diverse talent and specialized programs.
In 2020, Durham Tech developed an Electrical Line Technician program to meet the need for line workers, as identified by Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas.
Both organizations helped fund the program. James Brandon Kidd, a 2022 graduate of the program, said his experience was extremely positive and he was excited to learn something new every day. Kidd secured a job with Duke Energy before he completed the program.
"I found a career that I am extremely excited about. I feel like I have a knack for it and I think this class helped to bring out those qualities and show me what the possibilities are throughout this journey,” Kidd said.