TNTrained Graduates Ready To Assist In Job Recruitment Efforts

74 educators and economic and workforce professionals now have the tools to work with industries considering Tennessee for new locations and expansions.

The group has received certificates as the first graduates of TNTrained…a new Tennessee Board of Regents mission to create a unified approach in recruiting and retaining businesses and jobs.

Jessica Buchanan is Vol State’s special assistant for strategic initiatives. Buchanan said the program gave her a tool box of resources to use when working to recruit business.

“TBR worked so hard to make sure that we had a unified brand that we could present to employers. They provided actual print out of materials and slide decks that we can use and present to employers and community partners, ” Buchanan said. “They really gave us a way to be in unison, which I think was extremely important and I think was the whole point of this program.”

The program will make it easier for the state agencies in charge of recruiting new business and industry to pull in the resources of the state’s community and technical colleges earlier in the recruitment process.

Buchanan said the TN Trained program also gave her an opportunity to expand her network and to know who to reach out to at different institutions and organizations.

“I learned what we as a state are able to do for employers,” Buchanan said. From East, Middle, and West Tennessee we had a wide range of opportunities that people had across the board. From the type of land that they have and the growth a community might be going through.”

“It really shined a light on what we as Tennessee have to offer and not just our own area or region,” Buchanan said. “The greatest thing we walked away with was a toolbox.”

The graduates included 64 administrators, instructors and staff from the community and technical colleges, including 10 college presidents. Each graduate went through two days of training every month for four months.

“The people who put Tennessee Trained together were very thoughtful about everything that they did,” Buchanan said. “I’m really excited to see how this will impact us now and in the future.”

Buchanan said she’s already utilizing what she learned. A presentation she put together for part of the course has already been sent to a potential employer.