Cambria, an American-made producer of natural quartz surfaces, announced the graduation ceremony for its English Program. Eight employees graduated this year at a ceremony held Aug. 12 at Cambria’s slab manufacturing facility in Le Sueur, Minn.
The event featured a special celebration for the 10th anniversary of the program’s first graduating class. All program alumni and the upcoming junior class were invited to celebrate with refreshments, special recognitions and the making of a video about their stories.
“Watching employees progress from foundational concepts to professional fluency is always inspiring,” said Bridget Prehn, Cambria English Program manager and operational training manager. “We’ve designed our curriculum to challenge participants, but the sheer determination of these graduates is what turns classroom lessons into life-changing communication skills,”
A Vision Born on the Factory Floor
The program began in the spring of 2015, when Cambria CEO Marty Davis found that employees with limited English had few opportunities for advancement beyond entry-level positions and decided Cambria would help change that.
Davis called Brian Scoggin, now chief manufacturing operations officer, and Butch Brey, now vice president, facilities and security, and outlined these non-negotiable requirements: The program would be free, and students would be required to earn their certificates through rigorous testing. From this came a structured, professional and deeply human curriculum built by Cambria people for Cambria people.
“Mastering a new language is one of the most difficult personal growth challenges an individual can undertake,” said Dave Biron, senior vice president of plant operations. “This graduating class has demonstrated exceptional achievements. These individuals have gained the confidence to make a difference at work and in their communities. Their achievement is a testament to the potential within each of our employees, and we are honored to celebrate this milestone.”
Cambria provides a dedicated, custom program for learning the English language tailored to its workforce and aligned with national standards. The team includes two full-time English teachers and a full-time curriculum developer.
Classes take place twice weekly during regular work hours, ensuring employees receive full pay while attending. Instruction is delivered across all divisions, including manufacturing facilities, fabshops, mines, and sales and distribution centers.
In addition to enhanced workplace communication, more confidence, better understanding of safety regulations and greater collaboration across teams, the classes have benefits beyond work. Those who have participated in the program report their new skills have transformed their lives — improving their ability to engage with their communities, support their families and pursue opportunities.
The program is one of the most meaningful expressions of Cambria’s values. More than 500 employees have benefited from participating in the program. Currently, 51 employees are enrolled, and 81 employees have officially graduated, with 39 graduates stepping directly into higher-level, higher-paying roles within the company. As of June 2026, the program boasts a 48% internal promotion rate.
Expanding the Education Vision: A New GED Program
Building on this success, Cambria has implemented a GED program at its Le Sueur facility. After being approached by the director of the local Adult Basic Education (ABE) services to partner on the initiative, Cambria launched the individually paced program in the fall of 2025. The program is intended to scale to additional Cambria locations in the future — consistent with the company’s belief that educational opportunity should be available to every member of its workforce.
Contributing to Community Education
Through its partnership with the local Community Education office, Cambria’s employee English Program creates benefits well beyond the workplace. Using the same standardized tests as local ABE and English as a Second Language (ESL) programs allows Cambria to contribute its instructional hours to the regional Community Education consortium. This generates additional federal and state funding for more free ESL and ABE classes in the local community. Last fiscal year, Cambria’s participation resulted in a $112,621 increase in funding to the Le Sueur program, a key investment that expanded its educational programming.
This fall also marks Cambria’s third consecutive year as co-sponsor of a community literacy event at the Le Sueur Public Library, reinforcing the company’s belief that a stronger, more literate community benefits everyone.
