The apprenticeship offerings continue to grow at Northeast State Community College through the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing (RCAM).
Among the newest apprenticeship candidates are four new signees: Alan Kerns, Michael Beverley, Robert Nobles, and Cameron Tolbert of the J.A. Street and Associates construction firm. The four signed their apprenticeship agreements at Tennessee High School (THS) carpentry lab earlier this year.
“This is a new path for me,” said Nobles on becoming an apprenticeship candidate. “You get the best of both worlds in book-learning in the classroom and actually learning the skills physically.”
The four new apprentices enter the carpentry apprenticeship pathway. Carpentry apprentices earn 8,000 total on-the-job training hours over four years. They also complete 605 total classroom training hours. The newest group of apprentices continues a strong partnership between Northeast State and J.A. Street.
A THS graduate, Kerns said he followed the path into the construction industry. He said acquiring the apprenticeship certification will equip a carpenter with the knowledge to travel anywhere to work. He referenced his father’s skill as a master carpenter play a big role in his career choices.
“It comes natural to me, I’ve been around it my entire life,” said new apprentice Alan Kerns. “My dad is a skilled carpenter, and I just took after him and all of his steps.”
Kerns recounted his own experience of visiting construction job sites and networking with construction professionals for advice. He urged potential apprentices to take a pragmatic approach if they loved seeing their work take shape.
“At the end of the day you can step back and see progress,” said Kerns. “You can see the fruits of your labor.”
Northeast State worked with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Apprenticeship to create the Registered Apprenticeship program established in 2017. The apprenticeship program unites Northeast State’s technical education with regional economic development.
Beverley worked in construction building homes for years before moving into the restaurant industry. He also referenced the broad skill sets his father possessed operating a hardwood flooring business.
“Dad could always fix everything, I wanted to be handy like that,” said Beverly. “You can build your own house one day, repair a house that needs it because these are skill you will use for the rest of your life.”
Career and Technical Education instructor at THS, Brad Goodman, teaches high school students and adults general carpentry classes required by the NCCER. Those classes add to the education courses completed to earn the apprenticeship’s required class hours. Courses taught in the areas of welding, heating/ventilation/air conditioning, masonry, and carpentry are certified by NCCER guidelines.
“The partnership between Tennessee High School, Northeast State Community College and JA Street is groundbreaking,” said Cindy Necessary, Industry Training & Credentialing Coordinator.
Tolbert planned to earn his carpentry certification through the apprenticeship program. He expressed a desire to ultimately become a project manager. He also made a matter-of-fact point about the growing gap of master carpenters available in the regional and national workforce.
“We are running out of people to do this type of work,” said Tolbert. “It is a good thing to have an apprenticeship program for people who are interested in doing it to go forward. You can take your apprenticeship certification anywhere you want you can use it.”
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reported a record number of their members were reporting labor shortages. According to the October 2021 survey for the NAHB/Well Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), more than 55 percent of single-family builders reported a shortage of labor across 16 home-building trades, with the greatest shortage noted among carpentry trades.
“For every five carpenters that are retiring, only three are taking their place, and that number is falling,” said Goodman.
An experienced carpenter and construction professional with more than 30 years of experience, Goodman teaches classes in carpentry for Tennessee High School students and adults from participating companies enrolled in the RCAM apprenticeship program.
Goodman also manages dual enrollment opportunities for students at Tennessee High who are enrolled at Northeast State. He returned to THS as an instructor approximately nine years ago to fulfill a lifelong goal of his own.
“Ironically in high school, I wanted to be a teacher and coach,” said Goodman. “I’m enjoying getting young people involved in construction, plus I love teaching.”
As a DOL registered apprenticeship sponsor, RCAM provides the structure and processes for employers of all sizes. At the end of the program, the workers receive a DOL certificate of completion.
“They can travel the country, work anywhere in the country if they seek to do so,” said Goodman. “They are already coming out of high school with a step up on the adults.”
The apprenticeship offerings continue to grow at Northeast State Community College through the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing (RCAM).
Among the newest apprenticeship candidates are four new signees: Alan Kerns, Michael Beverley, Robert Nobles, and Cameron Tolbert of the J.A. Street and Associates construction firm. The four signed their apprenticeship agreements at Tennessee High School (THS) carpentry lab earlier this year.
“This is a new path for me,” said Nobles on becoming an apprenticeship candidate. “You get the best of both worlds in book-learning in the classroom and actually learning the skills physically.”
The four new apprentices enter the carpentry apprenticeship pathway. Carpentry apprentices earn 8,000 total on-the-job training hours over four years. They also complete 605 total classroom training hours. The newest group of apprentices continues a strong partnership between Northeast State and J.A. Street.
A THS graduate, Kerns said he followed the path into the construction industry. He said acquiring the apprenticeship certification will equip a carpenter with the knowledge to travel anywhere to work. He referenced his father’s skill as a master carpenter play a big role in his career choices.
“It comes natural to me, I’ve been around it my entire life,” said new apprentice Alan Kerns. “My dad is a skilled carpenter, and I just took after him and all of his steps.”
Kerns recounted his own experience of visiting construction job sites and networking with construction professionals for advice. He urged potential apprentices to take a pragmatic approach if they loved seeing their work take shape.
“At the end of the day you can step back and see progress,” said Kerns. “You can see the fruits of your labor.”
Northeast State worked with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Apprenticeship to create the Registered Apprenticeship program established in 2017. The apprenticeship program unites Northeast State’s technical education with regional economic development.
Beverley worked in construction building homes for years before moving into the restaurant industry. He also referenced the broad skill sets his father possessed operating a hardwood flooring business.
“Dad could always fix everything, I wanted to be handy like that,” said Beverly. “You can build your own house one day, repair a house that needs it because these are skill you will use for the rest of your life.”
Career and Technical Education instructor at THS, Brad Goodman, teaches high school students and adults general carpentry classes required by the NCCER. Those classes add to the education courses completed to earn the apprenticeship’s required class hours. Courses taught in the areas of welding, heating/ventilation/air conditioning, masonry, and carpentry are certified by NCCER guidelines.
“The partnership between Tennessee High School, Northeast State Community College and JA Street is groundbreaking,” said Cindy Necessary, Industry Training & Credentialing Coordinator.
Tolbert planned to earn his carpentry certification through the apprenticeship program. He expressed a desire to ultimately become a project manager. He also made a matter-of-fact point about the growing gap of master carpenters available in the regional and national workforce.
“We are running out of people to do this type of work,” said Tolbert. “It is a good thing to have an apprenticeship program for people who are interested in doing it to go forward. You can take your apprenticeship certification anywhere you want you can use it.”
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reported a record number of their members were reporting labor shortages. According to the October 2021 survey for the NAHB/Well Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), more than 55 percent of single-family builders reported a shortage of labor across 16 home-building trades, with the greatest shortage noted among carpentry trades.
“For every five carpenters that are retiring, only three are taking their place, and that number is falling,” said Goodman.
An experienced carpenter and construction professional with more than 30 years of experience, Goodman teaches classes in carpentry for Tennessee High School students and adults from participating companies enrolled in the RCAM apprenticeship program.
Goodman also manages dual enrollment opportunities for students at Tennessee High who are enrolled at Northeast State. He returned to THS as an instructor approximately nine years ago to fulfill a lifelong goal of his own.
“Ironically in high school, I wanted to be a teacher and coach,” said Goodman. “I’m enjoying getting young people involved in construction, plus I love teaching.”
As a DOL registered apprenticeship sponsor, RCAM provides the structure and processes for employers of all sizes. At the end of the program, the workers receive a DOL certificate of completion.
“They can travel the country, work anywhere in the country if they seek to do so,” said Goodman. “They are already coming out of high school with a step up on the adults.”
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