Page 8 - July-Aug 2019 Vol37 No2

KNOXVILLE By Nicholas Bradshaw
Apprentice Program Aids Students
and Fleet Services Department

In an effort to help
local novices get a foot
in the door, the City of
Knoxville’s Fleet Services
Department is partnering
with Mid-Cumberland
Human Resource
Agency (MCHRA) and
the Tennessee College
of Applied Technology
(TCAT) to create an
apprentice program for
hopeful automotive and
diesel technicians.

Roadblocks to
Conventional Apprentice
Programs
Various barriers to Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero with Andrew Crowder, the first TCAT student to participate in the City’s apprenticeship program
(left) and Nicholas Bailey, another program alum, who is now working in the Heavy Equipment Maintenance and Repair facility.
entry make it difficult
for job candidates who come from a administered by MCHRA. The WIOA vehicles and pieces of equipment. If a
disadvantaged background to succeed was enacted in 2014 to revitalize the vacant position is not readily available,
in skilled trade professions, such public workforce with on-the-job training participants still can earn a job reference
as automotive or diesel mechanic. for people who typically face barriers to and a recommendation from the City of
Significant hurdles include limited access employment. Knoxville.
to adequate training and difficulty in In addition to funding the program,
obtaining the expensive tools required MCHRA also serves as the clearinghouse Ambitious Students Excel: Andrew
for success. These barriers contribute to for the City’s apprentice candidates. Crowder and Nicholas Bailey
the well-documented crisis in many cities MCHRA helps to ensure that the
regarding recruiting for positions in the apprentice meets the various requirements In 2018, Andrew Crowder was the first
skilled trades. related to the WIOA, such as the TCAT student to participate in the City’s
stipulation that candidates must be current four-month apprenticeship program. He
Often, aspiring mechanics face or recently graduated post-secondary worked 32 hours weekly at the City’s light
roadblocks as they begin their careers. It students between the ages of 18-24. vehicle maintenance and repair facility
can take years of education and training Success Measured in Increased Outcomes while also attending classes in TCAT’s
to acquire a level of proficiency and obtain Automotive Technology program. Shortly
an appropriate degree or certifications. The Apprentice Mechanic program after completing the apprenticeship
New mechanics also must start off with a already has produced a variety of program, Andrew completed his degree
personal tool inventory, typically an outlay successful outcomes for the City of and was hired to fill a vacancy as a full
in the tens of thousands of dollars. Knoxville: it adds maintenance and repair time, permanent City employee. It was
exciting to see an ambitious hard worker
Apprentice Program Bridges the Gap capacity to the City’s Fleet; it enhances the like Andrew jump in and make the most
With this apprenticeship, students resumes and job skills of disadvantaged of this opportunity with our fleet. It is
earn money as they learn their trade. The Knoxville students; it enriches the City’s even more exciting to see the program
apprentice is supervised by a “Mentor relationship with the community, and grow and build on Andrew’s success.
Mechanic,” one of the City’s experienced it strengthens the highly productive Another program alum, Nicholas Bailey,
Fleet Services employees, who can share partnership with TCAT – a key recruiting was hired in March 2019, filling a vacancy
a wealth of knowledge from years in the source and a community leader in job in the City’s heavy equipment maintenance
field. skills training. and repair facility after completing his
The Fleet Services Apprentice Mechanic Additionally, after completing the apprenticeship and his degree in diesel
program is currently funded through apprenticeship, participants will be powered equipment technology from
the Federal Workforce Innovation considered for a position in Fleet Services, TCAT. To date, the City has hosted a total
and Opportunity Act (WIOA) grant helping to maintain the City’s 1,500 of four apprentice mechanics.

8 TPW July/August 2019