From a press release:
A-B Tech employee decorates governor’s residence
Brinda Caldwell-Ramsey, Director of the Community Enrichment Programs at A-B Tech Community College, was selected as the Artistic Designer for the Governor’s Western Residence annual Christmas Open House.
Members of the non-profit Governor’s Western Residence Association had witnessed Caldwell-Ramsey’s decorating talents at the college’s historic Fernihurst Mansion during the holiday season and asked her to coordinate the efforts for the home on Town Mountain.
“As part of the design process First Lady Ann McCrory requested natural pine garlands for the fireplace mantels,” said Caldwell-Ramsey. “Rhododendron leaves from the property were added to the garlands and incorporated into other naturals arrangements scattered throughout the house. Garlands were added to the entrance as well as the terrace to complete the design concept.”
Caldwell-Ramsey, who has been at A-B Tech since 1983, attended a beginning floral design class offered through Continuing Education shortly after she began her job. She was hooked and continued with the intermediate, advanced and several holiday design classes.
To continue building her skills, she traveled wherever a class, workshop, or seminar was available learning from nationally and internationally-known designers. She coordinates the largest Community Enrichment Program out of the 58 N.C. Community Colleges, scheduling more than 350 classes each year.
She became an entrepreneur in 1993 and opened successful marketplace spaces in Hendersonville, Lenoir, and Biltmore Village until 2004. She is a certified color consultant and interior decorator and teaches interior decorating, floral design, and holiday design through Continuing Education.
Though the Governor’s Western Residence Open House is over for 2014, Caldwell-Ramsey’s holiday decorations may be viewed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday in the historic Fernihurst and Sunnicrest buildings on the A-B Tech Asheville Campus.
Cutlines – Brinda Caldwell-Ramsey, Director of the Community Enrichment Programs at A-B Tech, stands next to the Christmas tree she decorated for the Governor’s Western Residence in Asheville.
About A-B Tech
One of 58 colleges in the North Carolina Community College System, A-B Tech offers associate degrees, diplomas and certificates in more 50 curriculum programs through its five academic divisions: Allied Health and Public Service Education, Arts and Sciences, Business and Hospitality Education, Emergency Services and Engineering and Applied Technology. The Division of Economic and Workforce Development/Continuing Education offers opportunities for workforce partnerships, specific job training and retraining, as well as personal enrichment classes. A-B Tech enrolls more than 25,000 curriculum and continuing education students in programs at its Asheville, Enka, Madison, South, Woodfin and Goodwill locations.
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