2022 Apprenticeship TN Conference

Carolyn Ferrell
East conference speaker

Carolyn Ferrell

Vice President of Human Resources & Community Relations
The Robinette Company

Carolyn Ferrell is Vice President of Human Resources & Community Relations at The Robinette Company in Bristol, Tenn. Carolyn received her BBA and MBA from King University in Bristol. She is a certified Six Sigma Green Belt, as well as a Certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), and Senior HR Professional SHRM-SCP.

Carolyn is currently a Board Member and Past President of The United Way of Bristol TN/VA and served as Campaign Chairman in 2017. She serves on various other Boards and Committees, to include Chairman for The University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services (UTCIS) Advisory Council; a member of Sullivan County's ACT Work Ready Community Committee; a volunteer for Bristol School System's Reading Buddies Program; Meals on Wheels Volunteer; and Lay Leader at Addilynn UMC.

Carolyn was Past Chairman and Board Member of NETWORKS Sullivan Partnership for Economic Development; Past Chair for The Northeast Tennessee Workforce Development Board; Past Chairman of The Bristol Chamber of Commerce; and Past Council Chairman and Chairman for the Staff Parish Relations Committee for Addilynn Memorial UMC. In addition, she is a member of the NETN Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Carolyn and her husband, Les, reside in Bristol, Tenn.

Pam Gitta
East conference speaker

Pam Gitta

Apprenticeship Manager
Chattanooga State Community College

Pam Gitta started managing registered apprenticeships in 2017, first at Harper College in Palatine, Illinois, and at Chattanooga State Community College since 2019. Her expertise is writing programs tailored to the needs of her employers, whether they’re small businesses or multinational corporations.

She holds an MA in English from California State University at Long Beach.  

Deidre Pendley
East conference speaker

Deidre Pendley

Director of Career & Technical Education and Assistant Principal
Bristol Tennessee City Schools

Deidre Pendley is in her fourth year as the Director of Career and Technical Education for Bristol Tennessee City Schools and has been an Assistant Principal at Tennessee High School since 2011. She was recently recognized as the CTE Pioneer Award State Designee, and BTCS was awarded the Innovative High Schools Grant through which they are currently implementing the Viking Academy at the new Friendship Career Center in Bristol, Tenn. Prior to administration, Deidre spent 14 years teaching Math and ACT Prep at Tennessee High School as well as coaching tennis and soccer.

Before moving to Bristol, she  taught math and coached Varsity Volleyball and Basketball at Science Hill High School for six years.

Deidre earned a BS in Mathematics Education from the University of Nebraska, MA in Education from Tusculum University, Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) from Lincoln Memorial University, and another Ed. S. from the University of Tennessee where she was part of the UT Leadership Academy. 

“Our goal is to provide high quality CTE programs in a variety of high wage, in-demand, and/or growing careers available in our Bristol area," Deidre said. "We have over 23 CTE Programs of Study that provide a seamless pathway to a career. This pathway consists of career exploration in elementary and middle school to determine possible career paths; then we provide relevant high school curriculum and hands-on experiences, industry certifications, early post-secondary opportunities (dual enrollment/credit/AP/CLEP), work-based learning (in school and in local business/industry), and pre-apprenticeship programs.” 

Mike Franklin
Middle conference speaker

Mike Franklin

Managing Partner and CFO
Live Loxx, LLC dba Loxx Salon and Spa

Mike Franklin is owner and CFO of Loxx Salon and Spa in Cookeville, Tenn., recognized by Salon Today magazine in 2021 as one of the top 200 salons in North America.

Mike is passionate about education in the beauty industry and teaches business classes at cosmetology and beauty schools across the Upper Cumberland. Prior to establishing Loxx, Mike was Associate Dean at the Cookeville Campus of Nashville State Community College, responsible for supervising all aspects of Student Services and recruitment.

A. Jacky Gomez Farfan
Middle conference speaker

A. Jacky Gomez Farfan

Leadership & Development Programs Manager
Asurion

Jacky is a Leadership & Development Programs Manager at Asurion, where she is responsible for creating internal talent development programs to establish diverse talent pipelines. Since 2020, Jacky has supported the creation and launch of state-certified programs, including the Software Engineer Apprenticeship and Product Design.

She currently serves as a board member for the Tennessee Latin American Chamber of Commerce, PENCIL, and Metro Nashville’s Beautification Commission representing District 30, and is actively involved in Asurion’s Employee Resource Groups. Jacky is a past graduate of MyCity Academy and of Nashville Young Leaders Council. She also has supported the work of the Mayor’s New American Advisory Council and the Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee.

When she's not out working or volunteering, you can find her with her two fur babies, Rosco and Zeus, or spending time with friends and family trying new foods, watching good movies, or traveling.

Amy McGinnis
Middle conference speaker

Amy McGinnis

Director of Administration
SERVPRO of Belle Meade/West Nashville

A native Nashvillian, Amy received a BA from Belmont University in 1995 and shortly after graduation, started working in the Alumni Relations office as assistant director. In 1998, she transitioned to the Department of Athletics where she was responsible for budgeting and assisting the Athletic Director with the transition from NAIA to NCAA-DI program. Later in her tenure at Belmont, she was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Business and Finance. In this role she oversaw the business operations for the department as well as led the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

In February 2020, Amy transitioned from college athletics to her current position at SERVPRO of Belle Meade as Director of Administration. As a member of the senior leadership team, Amy manages the office team and oversees HR and accounting functions for the franchise. Currently she serves on the HR subcommittee for SERVPRO corporate’s OSIB (Operating Systems Improvement Board) as well as a pilot committee that is a part of the “Franchise Staffing Enablement” Transformation project.

During her down time, Amy enjoys running, hiking, or any outdoor activity. She is married to Jeff and has two grown daughters, Sydney and Leah.

Steve Van De Voorde
Middle conference speaker

Steve Van De Voorde

Owner
Van De Voorde Services, LLC

Steve Van De Voorde is the owner of Van De Voorde Services, LLC in Cookeville, Tenn.

Steve moved from Ohio to Tennessee as a young adult, a third-generation electrician, and started an electrical contracting business. In his 33 years of business, he has added communications, prefab, and plumbing divisions as well as a fully accredited apprenticeship training program. In line with his goals of teaching and mentoring the next generation of skilled trades, he serves on the Go Build TN board of directors.

Bill Bradshaw
West conference speaker

Bill Bradshaw

Executive Director
Mid-South Independent Electrical Contractors, Inc.

Bill is the sponsor for the Mid-South IEC trade association's apprenticeship program. A Board of Directors governs the association, with Bill answering to the Board. Standing committees oversee specific operational components of the association – the Apprenticeship & Training Committee has direct oversight of the apprenticeship school’s operation. 

Mid-South is a 501-c-6 (not for profit) registered with Tennessee’s Secretary of State. The board-approved bylaws govern the association, while the US DOL Standards of Apprenticeship outline operational guidelines for the program’s operation.

Bill is a member of the Partners in Education group that is currently working with the Collierville Municipal School System to develop a pre-apprenticeship program that provides high school seniors the exposure to the electrical industry and better equips them to make a career selection.

The motto is “Earn While You Learn.” The group's members, who are licensed electrical contractors, hire a person and work the person at the 40 hour a week job (that they are paid for) and send the person to school each week for one night weekly, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., for 39 weeks each year. It's 144 hours of classroom and lab instruction each year. A four-year total requirement of passing the 576 hours and performing 8,000 On The Job Training (OJT) hours earns the title of journeyman electrician.

Angela Massey
West conference speaker

Angela Massey

Director of Human Resources - Plant Operations
Atlantic Track

Angela Massey is the Director of Human Resources - Plant Operations for Atlantic Track with five manufacturing facilities under her direction nationwide. For the past six years she has worked tirelessly to create and foster a culture of learning in the workplace for Atlantic Track. Angela believes in the power of partnerships and together with Memphis Shelby County Schools and the State of Tennessee has launched the first apprenticeship program for high school students in the district. A second registered apprenticeship was launched in the spring of 2022 along with a State of Tennessee pre-apprenticeship in advanced manufacturing and CNC programming/operation.

As a result of their commitment to apprenticeship, Atlantic Track was recently appointed to represent apprenticeship on a national platform as an Apprenticeship Ambassador for the US Department of Labor.

Angela is a graduate of Mira Costa College and an active member of SHRM, League of Railway Women, and AREMA. 

Heath McMillian
West conference speaker

Heath McMillian

Interim President of TCAT Jackson
Executive Vice President of the Blue Oval City TCAT

Heath McMillian is currently serving as the interim President of TCAT Jackson and EVP of the Blue Oval City TCAT. Heath also works with TBR, Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and Ford to develop curriculum and programming and identify funding for training at the Blue Oval City TCAT campus.

Heath most recently led the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing at Northeast State staff in facility operations, including apprenticeship delivery and development and customized industrial training and credentialing. He also sat on the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Advisory Committee that ensures RCAM meets industry training needs in northeast Tennessee.

Heath has over 16 years of manufacturing experience, including production and maintenance team management. He holds an AAS in Instrumentation and Automatic Control Systems from Northeast State Community College, a BBA from Montreat College, and an MBA from East Tennessee State University. Heath is a Department of Labor apprentice program graduate specializing in welding, pipefitting, and millwright principles.

Heath also has been trained in LEAN manufacturing principles with certifications from the University of Tennessee's Haslam's College of Business and McKinsey and Company. With these certifications, he has implemented 5S and LEAN into the pipe fabrication shops for Eastman Chemical's largest manufacturing site.