Employee-Owned Firm Invests $15M, Adds 150 Jobs in NC

Chatsworth Products just cut the ribbon on a 100,000-square-foot expansion in New Bern, and the celebration brought hundreds of workers together to mark a new chapter for their community.

The company manufactures the backbone of the internet: server racks, cable systems, and power solutions that keep data centers humming worldwide. After 20 years in Craven County, they're investing $15 million in a second building that will transform raw sheet metal into the infrastructure powering our digital lives.

"New jobs, it's a good opportunity with this expansion. I think it's good for this community," said Ginny Bellamy, an assembly packer who helped celebrate the milestone. She's not just an employee watching from the sidelines. Like every worker at Chatsworth, she's an owner with a stake in the company's success.

CEO Ted Behrens announced plans to add 120 to 150 positions over five years, with about 40 new hires starting this year. For Craven County Chairman Denny Bucher, the math is simple: "It's a big win for Craven County."

The Ripple Effect

The expansion creates more than paychecks. It strengthens the employee ownership model that gives workers real financial security and voting power in company decisions.

Assembly packer Raquel Cox captures the excitement: "The more business we get, the more money we make, and the more our stocks go up. I get really excited for that." Her colleagues echo the family atmosphere, describing a diverse team where everyone pulls together.

The company is even investing in the next generation. They've published a children's book called "The Day the Internet Died" to help young readers understand the invisible infrastructure connecting our world and spark interest in manufacturing careers.

When communities support homegrown companies and those companies reinvest locally, everyone wins.