The Story Behind the Wayne Community College NC3–Festo Partnership 

In workforce education, transformational partnerships rarely begin with contracts or press releases. More often, they start with conversations between people who understand both the urgency of industry needs and the realities of the classroom. 

That was the case in 2016, when Bill Burgess of Carolina Training Associates and Dr. Ernie White of Wayne Community College became the catalysts who brought NC3 (National Coalition of Certification Centers) and Festo Didactic together, launching a partnership that has since reshaped how advanced manufacturing and automation skills are taught and validated across the United States. 

The Right People at the Right Moment 

Carolina Training Associates (CTA) has long been a trusted partner to technical and community colleges throughout the Carolinas, known for hands-on support and deep understanding of industrial training environments. Bill Burgess, who joined CTA’s sales team in 2004, built enduring relationships with instructors and administrators by helping them implement technology in ways that were practical, scalable, and student-centered. 

At Wayne Community College (WCC) in Goldsboro, North Carolina, Dr. Ernie White, Dean of Applied Technologies, was equally focused on a critical challenge: ensuring students graduated not only with technical knowledge, but with verifiable, industry-recognized credentials that carried value well beyond the classroom. 

By the mid-2010s, both men recognized the same gap—rapidly advancing industrial technologies were outpacing traditional academic validation models. 

2016: The Catalyst year 

In 2016, through their shared leadership and collaboration, Bill Burgess and Dr. Ernie White introduced and aligned NC3 and Festo Didactic, recognizing that together they could offer something far more powerful than either organization could alone. 

Festo brought world-class automation equipment, curriculum, and an Industry 4.0 vision. NC3 brought a national credentialing framework that validated hands-on competencies through third-party, portable certifications. Bill Burgess and Dr. Ernie White served as the bridge—connecting mission, execution, and trust. 

That introduction marked the beginning of what would become the NC3–Festo program, now one of the most impactful credentialing partnerships in technical education.

From Early Collaboration to National Impact 

Wayne Community College quickly became an early example of how the NC3–Festo model could be implemented effectively—integrating Festo curriculum and equipment with NC3 certifications to support modern manufacturing pathways. 

Over time, the partnership expanded rapidly. Today, the NC3–Festo program has issued more than 40,000 industry-recognized certifications, validating student skills in mechatronics, electricity, fluid power, robotics, automation, and Industry 4.0 technologies. Those certifications represent tens of thousands of learners entering the workforce with documented, employer-relevant competencies. 

By 2021 and beyond, Wayne Community College publicly highlighted its role in the collaboration through presentations and professional development sessions focused on the Festo Didactic: NC3 Industry 4.0 Certification Program, reflecting years of groundwork that began with the 2016 introduction. 

Honoring a Lasting Contribution 

That foundational role was formally recognized on October 20, 2025, during the NC3 Instructor Professional Development hosted at Wayne Community College. At a ceremony held during the training, Dr. Ernie White recognized Bill Burgess for his global contribution to technical education, acknowledging the leadership, vision, and relationship-building that helped launch—and sustain—the NC3–Festo partnership. 

The recognition served not only as a personal honor, but as a reflection of the broader impact Bill Burgess has had on students, instructors, and institutions worldwide through his work with Carolina Training Associates and industry partners.

A Partnership Built on People 

While the NC3–Festo partnership now spans hundreds of institutions and thousands of classrooms, its origin story reinforces a simple truth: systems change begins with individuals. 

• Bill Burgess brought decades of trusted relationships, regional insight, and practical implementation expertise. 

• Dr. Ernie White brought academic leadership, institutional vision, and an unwavering commitment to student success. 

Together, they were the catalyst, connecting NC3 and Festo at exactly the right moment and helping create a program that continues to shape the future of workforce education. 

A Legacy That Continues 

The success of the NC3–Festo partnership is measured not just in certifications issued, but in instructors empowered, programs modernized, and students prepared for high-skill, high-demand careers. 

That legacy traces back to 2016—and to two leaders who understood that progress happens when the right people bring the right partners together.