Apprenticeships arrive in Macon County
Oct 20 2022

Today, Volunteer Sintered Products signed their first apprentice from Macon County High School!

Volunteer Sinterest is a Tier 3 automotive supplier in Lafayette, TN who has seen positive results working with teenagers over the past two years, and they are now a formal participant in Tennessee's registered apprenticeship program.

Tennessee Central Economic Authority serves Macon County by working to bring additional job opportunities to the community, and their project manager, Dan Tidcomb, developed a workforce retention and expansion program three years ago. Through their Work Ethic Distinction program, Career and Technical Educators, and Tri-County TCAT campus, he identified high school students as an untapped talent pool in the community.

"Workforce retention is a national issue that the communities we serve are also dealing with, " he stated, "and apprenticeship is a statistically proven program to increase retention rates at the workplace. I applaud Rosa and Scott at Volunteer Sintered for their assertiveness and innovative thinking for being the first company in the community to take advantage of it," he concluded.

Dan also credits the Career and Technical director, Kathy Cothron, and Career Counselor, Marla Davis, for their passion and ambition to provide additional opportunities for their students. Without their enthusiasm, hard work, and dedication, this new door would not have been opened.