Clocking In Podcast
Voices of NC Manufacturing, your host Phil Mintz, Director of the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP). We will be interviewing some of the manufacturers who have made North Carolina manufacturing the powerhouse it is today.
Episode 71
Ordway Glass Company
Production Team
Talent/Host: Phil Mintz
Executive Producer: Phil Mintz
Producer: Loree Blue
Sound/Audio Engineer and Editor: Rich Sigfrit
Graphic Designer: Rich Sigfrit
From Garage to “Coolest Thing Made in NC”: The Art, Family, and Grit Behind OGC Stained Glass
Bogdan Ionescu
Bogdan Ionescu shares how he and his wife Nicole, turned an ancient art form into a modern, in-demand North Carolina manufacturing success—without losing their creative soul.
In this episode, Dr. Phil Mintz, Director of NC State University Industry Extension Services, talks with Bogdan Ionescu, co-owner of OGC Stained Glass (Ordway Glass Company), a husband-and-wife–run stained glass studio based in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. Bogdan walks us through how he and his wife Nicole built a thriving, award-winning business out of their garage—balancing art, family life, and purpose along the way.
OGC Stained Glass was named the 2025 winner of the North Carolina Chamber’s “Coolest Thing Made in North Carolina,” a remarkable achievement for a two-person operation focused entirely on hand-cut, one-of-a-kind stained glass art.
This episode offers an honest and inspiring look at what it takes to build something meaningful—one piece of glass at a time.
LINKS
NCMEP | IES | Ordway Glass Company
About the Guest
Bogdan Ionescu is the co-owner of OGC Stained Glass, located in Fuquay-Varina, NC, alongside his wife Nicole—the primary artist behind the glass. Together, they create contemporary and traditional stained glass works that preserve heritage while pushing the craft forward.
🏅 2025 NC Chamber “Coolest Thing Made in North Carolina” Winner
About the Host
Dr. Phil Mintz is the Director of NC State University Industry Extension Services (IES). Through his leadership, IES supports manufacturers across the state with resources in innovation, process improvement, workforce development, and business growth.
The North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP)
NCMEP is the official state representative of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a program of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The MEP National Network is a unique public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive solutions to manufacturers, fueling growth and advancing U.S. manufacturing. NCMEP is administered by NC State University Industry Extension Services and partners with the Economic Development Partnership of NC, the Polymers Center of Excellence, Manufacturing Solutions Center, Hangar6, University of North Carolina at Charlotte Industrial Solutions Lab, and NC State University Wilson College of Textiles to help manufacturing companies develop and maintain efficient operations that are well-positioned to grow profitably.
About NC State University Industry Extension Services
NC State University Industry Extension Services (IES), established in 1955 as the outreach team for the NC State University College of Engineering, provides resources, tools, and customized training programs to help businesses survive, thrive, and grow.
IES delivers comprehensive training and development programs tailored for a diverse range of sectors, including manufacturing, educational and research institutions, healthcare, pharmaceutical and medical device companies, defense contractors, aerospace, automotive, energy, and government agencies.
Your IES dedicated Regional Manager is available to assist in identifying and implementing customized solutions, tools, and resources designed to optimize your organization’s productivity, efficiency, quality, and profitability. ncstateies.com/RM
