Apprenticeship TN

The 2024 Apprenticeship TN Conference in East Tennessee was held November 7, 2024, at TVA's boardroom in downtown Knoxville. Panelists included Eric H. Coons, Glenn Kelly Jr., Heather Montgomery, and Charles Rains.

The 2024 Apprenticeship TN Conference in Middle Tennessee was held November 20, 2024, at the General Motors plant in Spring Hill. Panelists inclulded Kevin Byrd, Larry Dickens, Allen T. Farley, Marla Rye, and Richard Urban.

The 2024 Apprenticeship TN Conference in West Tennessee was held November 12, 2024, at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Stanton. Panelists included James T. Farmer Jr., Daniel L. Huffman, Larry Meeks, Ginger Powell, and Stewart Stanfill.

For three decades, workers at Komatsu in Chattanooga have taken on the task of building excavators. The first class of Komatsu's pre-apprenticeship program will teach a new generation about jobs in manufacturing and allow high school students to learn lessons they can't get in the classroom.

Apprentice Instructor Kevin Vaughn speaks about the opportunities apprenticeship offers and how learning his trade through apprenticeship shaped his life. "It's a problem finding skilled help, not just for our company, but other trades that's out there also." — Kevin Vaughn

Hear how an apprenticeship program is creating a better life for two men — without any student loan debt. "When I get done with this (apprenticeship) I can take it anywhere and get a job easy, because there's always going to be a need for an electrician." — Donald Heughan 

Tim Cassidy is an apprentice graduate from Northeast State Community College’s Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing program. Tim talks about how this Registered Apprenticeship program helped him achieve his career goals. “The reason I wanted to work for an apprenticeship is because ... I wanted to be the best I can be at anything I can do.” - Tim Cassidy