Since 2001, Forefront Designs, LLC in Westfield has supported engineering students at Union County Vocational-Technical Schools (UCVTS). The company has provided students with mentorship as well as access to specialized tools, technologies and learning materials, helping to ensure this next generation’s readiness for the career world. UCVTS appreciates the ongoing involvement of Forefront Designs in engineering students’ learning and has named the company its 2024 Business Partner of the Year.
Forefront Designs supports the UCVTS internship program by providing valuable architectural and interior design experience to interested students. In addition to valuable career insight, a mentor assists students with their portfolio development as they prepare to apply to post-secondary institutions.
David Bailey, architect and owner of Forefront Designs, has also served on the UCVTS Advisory Board for 24 years. One portion of the role as an advisory board member includes the evaluation of the end of program assessments. He tests the engineering design presentations from seniors, too.
“Being the Business Partner of the Year is quite an honor, and I am very proud to have contributed to a fine school program,” said Bailey. “UCVTS offers an amazing program, and the students we have met and welcomed as interns have shown so much interest in learning and are very intelligent and hardworking. We have kept in touch with many of the students over the years, and some continue to seek my advice.”
UCVTS Supervisor of Career and Technical Education Dr. McNamara said Forefront Designs has positively impacted engineering students in many ways over the past 24 years of partnership.
“David Bailey has been a vital member of the UCVTS community and an exemplary partner in guiding administrators, instructors and students with practical and relevant industry trends in architectural design,” said McNamara. “Forefront Designs has provided our participating interns with experiences such as taking trips to design expositions, revising product presentations, and shadowing the entire design process, and has done so with the utmost professionalism. We are incredibly grateful to Forefront Designs and David Bailey – our Union County Vocational-Technical Schools’ 2024 Business Partner of the Year.”
