BEST Center's Leader Talks About What's Taking Shape In Wilson

By Nancy Lamontagne, NCBiotech

Eastern North Carolina's life sciences sector is expanding rapidly, and workforce development is racing to keep pace. Stephanie Winstead, executive director of Wilson Community College's BEST Center, discusses how the facility is translating a $30 million state investment and a $13 million Golden LEAF equipment grant into hands-on training capacity, with construction, hiring and equipment procurement all underway ahead of a 2027 opening. Winstead, a Wilson native with a background spanning QC analysis at Eon Labs to training management at Pfizer, explains how the center's three training pathways, including degree programs, open-enrollment courses and employer-customized instruction, will prepare workers for roles ranging from entry-level technicians to specialized manufacturing and quality positions. She also outlines how an upcoming drug product expansion will let learners train across the complete manufacturing process under one roof.

Delve into the conversation with Winstead to see how the region's training pipeline is taking shape.