Digitally Enhanced Future

When Mike Baldridge enrolled in the Digital Media program at North Central State College, he had never even worked with a computer. Once he did, he was hooked and he’s never looked back, “I’ve become the ‘go to’ guy in my family for anything having to do with computers.”

Mike stands in front of a screen he designed for the new Retriever systems.

Mike also recognized the value North Central State College provided, “I was able to pay my way through college by working at Wendy’s. I didn’t get financial aid. I didn’t have any scholarships. I just worked. My last quarter, my mom and dad helped me buy books. My college education cost them $96.00. It was a pretty good value for all of us.”

Soon after graduation, he started working at DRM Production in Mansfield, where his title is “Graphic Guy”. He’s partnered with a computer programmer to support the development a messaging system called The Retriever. While the programmer is writing the computer code, Mike provides much of the design work that’s shown on screen. “I really got in on the ground floor here. My education prepared me for what I do everyday. It was very close to the real world. I love it here.”

His employer, Dave Damron added, “I think the only thing Mike had to get used to was the pace we work at. He’s probably learned more in the last year than he thought was possible. But he’s really contributed a lot to the development of Retriever.”

When asked how he found the job, Mike laughed and pointed at Dave, noting, “He called me.” Dave added, “He’s right. I was at an event over at the Kehoe Center and saw some of
his work hanging on the wall. I wrote down his number and called him the next day.”

Like more than 90 percent of the employers who have hired a graduate of NC State, Dave would hire another when the
opportunity presents itself. “We’re growing, and that’s a wonderful thing to say in this economy. Every person we hire has to pull their own weight. We’re happy Mike came to work with us. He had the skills we needed to contribute the first day. He’s a great fit.”