Mark Hess credits North Central for providing a great education that he continues to use every day. “NC State has helped shape my career and I continue to pull on things that I learned while attending the college,” Hess says.Hess enrolled in evening classes while working as a tool and die apprentice fulltime during the day. “I enjoyed working with my hands and learning how to use each of those machines to make useful things,” Hess explains. “The skills I learned were invaluable for my future plans. My goal was to own a tool and die business one day.”When he turned 30-years-old, his dream came true. “My wife and I sold everything that we owned and put it into the dream of working a business,” he says proudly. Today, Hess Industries employs 14 people. They started with just basic tool room equipment and a few customers. By investing heavily in technology, the company went from basic equipment to state-of-the-art machinery. “Twenty-two years later, we have a world-class tooling center selling value-added tooling to other companies all over the world,” Hess says. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Hess and his team created a hands-free door handle attachment using their industrial-grade 3-D printer. “It’s during tough times that the true battles are won and your character is chiseled.”Hess and wife Pam feel strongly about giving back to the community. They not only support the North Central State College Foundation, but also the Shelby YMCA, Shelby Foundation, The Shelter, Harmony House, Richland Pregnancy Services, Shelby Help Line, Plymouth-Shiloh Food Pantry, Core Community Church, Shelby Community & Senior Center, and the Richland County Foundation. “We have been very blessed through the years and have been able to help others and give back in many ways.”