Opportunity provides students with on-the-job training while earning their degree
Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation (Cat Financial) and Nashville State Community College announced the launch of a new apprenticeship program with support from the State of Tennessee and Middle Tennessee Workforce Board. The program provides Cat Financial with an innovative way to connect with local IT talent, while providing Nashville State an effective strategy to partner with a major employer.
Two Nashville State students were hired by Cat Financial in January 2023 to participate in the inaugural class of the apprenticeship program. Students will complete 2,000 hours of on-the-job training while earning their Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Information Technology.
“Nashville State is focused on building relationships with industry partners who are seeking innovative ways to address workforce needs,” said Dr. Shanna L. Jackson, Nashville State president. “We are excited to be starting what will be a great relationship with Cat Financial and are appreciative of their eagerness to move forward.”
“At Cat Financial, we are committed to building stronger communities by offering opportunities and career paths for Middle Tennessee residents,” said Dave Walton, Cat Financial president and CEO. “We are excited to partner with Nashville State Community College to offer students the opportunity to work in their field of interest while working toward their associate degree.”
“We are already seeing the positive impact this program can have on our company as our apprentices apply what they are learning at Nashville State to their jobs at Cat Financial,” said Tyson Norman, Cat Financial vice president and chief information officer. “We are invested in their long-term success and look forward to helping them build their experiences in the Information Technology industry.”
About Cat Financial
Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation (Cat Financial) is a subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc., the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For more than 40 years, Cat Financial has provided a wide range of financing solutions to customers and Cat® dealers for machines, engines, Solar® gas turbines, genuine Cat parts and services. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Cat Financial serves customers globally with offices and subsidiaries located throughout North and South America, Asia, Australia, Europe and Africa. Visit www.cat.com/financing to learn more about Cat Financial.
About Nashville State Community College
Nashville State Community College provides comprehensive educational programs and partnerships, exemplary services, an accessible, progressive learning environment, and responsible leadership to improve the quality of life for the community it serves. With seven campuses and virtual and online options, the College serves a broad geographic area comprising Davidson, Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Humphreys, Montgomery, and Stewart counties. Nashville State offers more than 80 associate degree and certificate programs of study, some of which can be completed in one year, that prepare students to enter the workforce or transfer to a university upon graduation.
Submitted by Rob Tudor