Northeast State Community College welcomed three new associates from Cardinal Glass FG into the apprenticeship program this month.
New apprentices Chase Tate, Tyler McCurry, and Donald McPeek signed their apprenticeship agreements on March 4 at the Cardinal Glass FG Greenland facility in Hawkins County. Representatives Christy Parks and Cindy Necessary from Northeast State’s Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing (RCAM) met with the new apprentices to get them started in the program.
“I’ve always been good working with my hands,” said Tate, of Church Hill. “This was something I had always wanted to do.”
Northeast State partnered with Cardinal Glass FG through the apprenticeship program in fall of 2022. Eight Cardinal associates signed to become apprentice candidates. Companies become Authorized Training Agent (ATA) under the U.S. Department of Labor apprenticeship guidelines. Companies earning the ATA designation qualify to provide relevant on-the-job training for employees selected to enter the apprenticeship program.
“We are delighted to welcome these new apprentice candidates to Northeast State,” said Parks. “Cardinal has been a terrific partner to work with in developing their workforce at Northeast State.”
As part of the facility’s maintenance department, the apprentice candidates keep the operational processes running and updated. The facility operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week producing tons of raw glass used in a variety of applications.
“Our products go into mostly residential glass,” said Zack Peck, maintenance superintendent for the Greenland facility. “We need our maintenance technicians to have the knowledge base to keep our operations running fluidly.”
McCurry earned his associate of applied science degree in electromechanical technology at Northeast State. He sought the apprenticeship program as the next step to advance his knowledge and career.
“I knew I was going to get my degree, so I got good exposure to the electrical side and mechanical side of learning,” said McCurry, of Church Hill.
All three new apprentices are pursuing the Mechanical Maintenance Technician pathway. The mechanical maintenance technician track gives the apprentice skills to become better at their discipline. The mechanical maintenance technician apprenticeship pathway requires completion of 8,000 on-the-job (OJT) training hours and 1000 instructional hours.
“There is always going to be industrial operations and companies that need their equipment to be worked on or repaired,” said McCurry. “Job opportunities are there for people in industrial settings because those operations need to keep running.”
McPeek took an interest in trade crafts from an early age. His father and grandfather owned a plumbing company where he worked for several years. His mother was a tool and die maker. Those experiences gave him an insight on how such technical proficiency applied to a variety of things.
“You use these skills daily in life,” said McPeek, of Surgoinsville. “You can be more self-sufficient; it is very much the critical-thinking, problem-solving aspect to analyze what will work and won’t work.”
Cardinal operates the two-million-square-foot Greenland facility in Church Hill. The site’s designation as a Cardinal FG facility refers as one of eight facilities involved in “float glass” and coated glass manufacturing. The Greenland plant employs more than 500 associates. Float glass serves as the foundation for raw glass applications manufactured by Cardinal.
As the apprenticeship sponsor, RCAM provides the academic structure and training processes for employers to take advantage of this workforce development model. Other registered apprenticeship occupational tracks available through RCAM include industrial manufacturing technician; CNC machinist; carpentry; metal buildings; mechatronics technician; and project management.
The new apprentices cited their fellow Cardinal FG apprentice candidates as the sources that made them aware of the program.
“I wanted to pursue this opportunity,” said McPeek. “I love a challenge.”
Northeast State Community College welcomed three new associates from Cardinal Glass FG into the apprenticeship program this month.
New apprentices Chase Tate, Tyler McCurry, and Donald McPeek signed their apprenticeship agreements on March 4 at the Cardinal Glass FG Greenland facility in Hawkins County. Representatives Christy Parks and Cindy Necessary from Northeast State’s Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing (RCAM) met with the new apprentices to get them started in the program.
“I’ve always been good working with my hands,” said Tate, of Church Hill. “This was something I had always wanted to do.”
Northeast State partnered with Cardinal Glass FG through the apprenticeship program in fall of 2022. Eight Cardinal associates signed to become apprentice candidates. Companies become Authorized Training Agent (ATA) under the U.S. Department of Labor apprenticeship guidelines. Companies earning the ATA designation qualify to provide relevant on-the-job training for employees selected to enter the apprenticeship program.
“We are delighted to welcome these new apprentice candidates to Northeast State,” said Parks. “Cardinal has been a terrific partner to work with in developing their workforce at Northeast State.”
As part of the facility’s maintenance department, the apprentice candidates keep the operational processes running and updated. The facility operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week producing tons of raw glass used in a variety of applications.
“Our products go into mostly residential glass,” said Zack Peck, maintenance superintendent for the Greenland facility. “We need our maintenance technicians to have the knowledge base to keep our operations running fluidly.”
McCurry earned his associate of applied science degree in electromechanical technology at Northeast State. He sought the apprenticeship program as the next step to advance his knowledge and career.
“I knew I was going to get my degree, so I got good exposure to the electrical side and mechanical side of learning,” said McCurry, of Church Hill.
All three new apprentices are pursuing the Mechanical Maintenance Technician pathway. The mechanical maintenance technician track gives the apprentice skills to become better at their discipline. The mechanical maintenance technician apprenticeship pathway requires completion of 8,000 on-the-job (OJT) training hours and 1000 instructional hours.
“There is always going to be industrial operations and companies that need their equipment to be worked on or repaired,” said McCurry. “Job opportunities are there for people in industrial settings because those operations need to keep running.”
McPeek took an interest in trade crafts from an early age. His father and grandfather owned a plumbing company where he worked for several years. His mother was a tool and die maker. Those experiences gave him an insight on how such technical proficiency applied to a variety of things.
“You use these skills daily in life,” said McPeek, of Surgoinsville. “You can be more self-sufficient; it is very much the critical-thinking, problem-solving aspect to analyze what will work and won’t work.”
Cardinal operates the two-million-square-foot Greenland facility in Church Hill. The site’s designation as a Cardinal FG facility refers as one of eight facilities involved in “float glass” and coated glass manufacturing. The Greenland plant employs more than 500 associates. Float glass serves as the foundation for raw glass applications manufactured by Cardinal.
As the apprenticeship sponsor, RCAM provides the academic structure and training processes for employers to take advantage of this workforce development model. Other registered apprenticeship occupational tracks available through RCAM include industrial manufacturing technician; CNC machinist; carpentry; metal buildings; mechatronics technician; and project management.
The new apprentices cited their fellow Cardinal FG apprentice candidates as the sources that made them aware of the program.
“I wanted to pursue this opportunity,” said McPeek. “I love a challenge.”
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