{"id":2384,"date":"2025-10-14T15:18:43","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T19:18:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/cary-apex\/?post_type=community&#038;p=2384"},"modified":"2025-11-03T14:19:59","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T19:19:59","slug":"vernon-malone-students-learn-alongside-industry-professionals","status":"publish","type":"community","link":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/cary-apex\/community\/vernon-malone-students-learn-alongside-industry-professionals\/","title":{"rendered":"Vernon Malone Students Learn Alongside Industry Professionals"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Students at Vernon Malone College and Career Academy in Raleigh, NC gained valuable, hands-on experience this week as they worked alongside local industry professionals in a live construction and finishing demonstration. With all drywall now installed in the school\u2019s studio space, community partners CertaPro Painters\u00ae of Cary-Apex, NC and Sherwin-Williams visited campus on Wednesday to guide students through the process of taping, mudding, and painting drywall\u2014offering real-world insight into the craftsmanship behind the trades.<\/p>\n<p>This immersive learning experience gave students the opportunity to build skills that could lead to future internships and employment opportunities. Due to space limitations, participation was capped at 30 students, creating an intimate and focused learning environment.<\/p>\n<p>Leading the day\u2019s instruction were:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kristopher Kenney<\/strong>, Commercial Account Manager, CertaPro Painters\u00ae of Cary-Apex, NC and former Sherwin-Williams Manager with over 18 years of experience<\/p>\n<p><strong>Matt Gault<\/strong>, Sales Representative, Sherwin-Williams<\/p>\n<p><strong>Cameron Chaple<\/strong>, Commercial Production Manager, CertaPro Painters\u00ae of Cary-Apex, NC<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kevin Williams<\/strong>, Business Development Manager, CertaPro Painters\u00ae of Cary-Apex, NC<\/p>\n<p>Each professional shared expertise from their respective fields \u2014 spanning paint systems, logistics, and client relations \u2014 offering students a real-world glimpse into the depth of opportunity within the construction and coatings industry.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur goal is to show students the bridge between classroom learning and career potential,\u201d said Kristopher Kenney. \u201cWhen they see how these skills connect to real companies and real careers, it creates momentum and purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The event marked another successful collaboration between Vernon Malone College &amp; Career Academy and local industry leaders committed to workforce development and hands-on education.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-2384 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/certapro.com\/cary-apex\/gi6a4723\/'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/sites\/1078\/2025\/10\/GI6A4723-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/sites\/1078\/2025\/10\/GI6A4723-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/sites\/1078\/2025\/10\/GI6A4723-540x540.jpg 540w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/certapro.com\/cary-apex\/gi6a4717\/'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/sites\/1078\/2025\/10\/GI6A4717-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/sites\/1078\/2025\/10\/GI6A4717-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/sites\/1078\/2025\/10\/GI6A4717-540x540.jpg 540w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/certapro.com\/cary-apex\/gi6a4714\/'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/sites\/1078\/2025\/10\/GI6A4714-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/sites\/1078\/2025\/10\/GI6A4714-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/sites\/1078\/2025\/10\/GI6A4714-540x540.jpg 540w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/certapro.com\/cary-apex\/gi6a4710\/'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/sites\/1078\/2025\/10\/GI6A4710-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/sites\/1078\/2025\/10\/GI6A4710-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/sites\/1078\/2025\/10\/GI6A4710-540x540.jpg 540w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/certapro.com\/cary-apex\/gi6a4709\/'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/sites\/1078\/2025\/10\/GI6A4709-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/sites\/1078\/2025\/10\/GI6A4709-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/sites\/1078\/2025\/10\/GI6A4709-540x540.jpg 540w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/certapro.com\/cary-apex\/gi6a4705\/'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/sites\/1078\/2025\/10\/GI6A4705-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/sites\/1078\/2025\/10\/GI6A4705-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/pub-9fc1f065f07e441b8f35365c774f09ae.r2.dev\/uploads\/sites\/1078\/2025\/10\/GI6A4705-540x540.jpg 540w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Students at Vernon Malone College and Career Academy in Raleigh, NC gained valuable, hands-on experience this week as they worked alongside local industry professionals in a live construction and finishing demonstration. With all drywall now installed in the school\u2019s studio space, community partners CertaPro Painters\u00ae of Cary-Apex, NC and Sherwin-Williams visited campus on Wednesday to<a class=\"read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/certapro.com\/cary-apex\/community\/vernon-malone-students-learn-alongside-industry-professionals\/\">Read the full article <em class=\"fa fa-angle-double-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2384","community","type-community","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-community"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/cary-apex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/community\/2384","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/cary-apex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/community"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/cary-apex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/community"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/cary-apex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/cary-apex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2384"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/cary-apex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/community\/2384\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/cary-apex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2384"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/cary-apex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2384"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/cary-apex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2384"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}