Motlow Embraces the Future of Technology
December 13, 2023
Motlow-Smyrna recently hosted a think tank event for the new Tennessee Educator Acceleration Model (TEAM)-TN initiative. The project aims to bring more than 100 people from the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR), educational institutions, transportation mobility industries, state and federal government entities, and community organizations from across the state together as organizations embrace the future of transportation.
Pictured: Barbara Scales, Motlow’s Executive Director of Organizational Culture & Enrichment, and Dr. Joy Rich, Nissan’s Manager of Workforce Development.
As technology develops, the modes of transportation available are undergoing significant developments and changes. Motlow recently announced its plan to offer an Electric Vehicle Technology program that will train students to be at the forefront of those changes and to play a vital role in the future of mobility. Motlow’s next step in embracing these changes is partaking in the TEAM-TN program. Barbara Scales, Motlow’s Executive Director of Organizational Culture & Enrichment, serves as the Chair of TEAM-TN’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access Committee. Motlow President Dr. Michael Torrence serves as a collaborator on both the Workforce Development and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility groups within TEAM-TN.
The group of educational and business professionals hopes to help Tennessee have a diverse economy and attract new thriving businesses. Tennessee is already a hub for automotive industries, with over 900 manufacturing companies housed in the state, making it the fourth largest producer of vehicles. Motlow’s work to prepare its service area for the Electric Vehicle Technology field will help the state maintain its status as a vital player in the automotive industry as well as prepare the workforce for in-demand job opportunities. TEAM-TN gives state educators the training, material, and information they need to train the next generation of automotive professionals for the workforce of tomorrow.
Motlow’s Think Tank event answered important questions about what schools are doing to inform the public of transportation careers, what schools still need to do, and what barriers need to be removed. TEAM-TN aims to help build a better tomorrow for both the state of Tennessee and the environment.
To learn about more about TEAM-TN, visit team-tn.org.