The Greeneville Sun’s
Salute To Industry 2019 Edition
A Special Section Highlighting Manufacturing in Greene County October 30, 2019 This Is A Special Section Of The Greeneville Sun And GreenevilleSun.com
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The Greeneville Sun Salute To Industry Edition
GreenevilleSun.com
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Worthington Celebrates 20 Years BY LORELEI GOFF SUN CONTRIBUTOR
W
orthington Industries will mark 20 years of production at its Greeneville facility with celebrations Oct. 25 and 26. The celebrations recognize the continuity of production since the facility was built at the Hardin Industrial Park on Baileyton Road in 1999 and occupied by Angus-Palm. Worthington Industries purchased Angus-Palm, the market leader in the design and manufacturing of high quality, custom-engineered operator cabs for mobile equipment, for $180 million in cash and proceeds from a $50 million dividend in January 2012, according to a news release at the time. The facility now operates as Worthington Industries’ Engineered Cabs business. “This is the 20th anniversary of the actual building and start-up of this facility in Greeneville,” said WorthWelders Zac Nease, left, and Doug Shaw, work on a 2-ton engineered cab frame. ington Industries Operations Manager Matt Steele. “That’s what we’re celebrating. We’re celebrating the people because they’re the ones who helped take this from where it was 20 years ago to where it is today.” Human Resource Manager Larry Collins added, “We want to celebrate where we came from and where we’re going.” The celebration begins Oct. 25 with a special anniversary meal for employees. “Several pieces of equipment will be on display so employees can see what they’ve made and the impact they have,” Collins said. On Oct. 26 Worthington will host an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the general public, featuring food, the equipment display and tours of the plant. Worthington’s Snapps Ferry Road facility, used for the assembly phase of production, will also be open to the community. Collins said the day will be a good opportunity to see finished products and equipment running, as well as meet and interact with WorthingSUN PHOTO BY LORELEI GOFF Aaron Buchanan welds components for Engineered Cabs at the Worthington Industries ton personnel. facility in Greeneville. “If they’re looking for a job in the future, hopefully they’ll find a place here,” Collins said. “Some people might be interested in seeing what the industry is about,” said Steele. “We want people to know that we’re a nice contributor to not only the community but to what we build. We’re building these cabs to keep people safe, and we’re pretty proud of it.” Worthington’s cabs are designed to withstand not only the rigors of daily industrial and agricultural work but also provide a safe work space if things go wrong, according to Steele. The walls of the Worthington Industries conference room proudly display photos of the various types of mobile machinery its finished cabs complete, including one featuring a
SUN PHOTO BY LORELEI GOFF
SUN PHOTO BY LORELEI GOFF
An engineered cab stands outside the Worthington Industries facility on Terry Leonard Road. Worthington Industries celebrated 20 years of production at the facility, the former Angus Palm building at Hardin Industrial Park on Baileyton Road, on Oct. 25 and 26.
SUN PHOTO BY LORELEI GOFF
Daneen Fillers left, and Trenna Smith, caulk seams on an engineered cab at the Worthington Industries facility on Terry Leonard Drive in Greeneville.
SEE WORTHINGTON ON PAGE 3
Advertiser Index What’s Inside Worthington Celebrates 20 Years ...............................................................................2 Family Business Leaves Its Mark On Community ......................................................4 Miller Industries Completes Expansion ......................................................................6 TCAT Training Graduates For Workforce ...................................................................8 Vegan Valley Poised For Growth ................................................................................11 Partnership Hosts 2019 Industry Appreciation Reception ...................................... 13
On the Cover Sun Photo bwy Lorelei Goff. See full story on this page. Manufacturing Engineer Manager Travis Mayes holds a commemorative, laser cut steel plate that were to be given to Worthington Industries employees during a celebration Oct. 25.
A Services Group, LLC .....................................................................................................11 American Greetings ........................................................................................................ 15 Bachman Bernard Chevrolet • Buick • GMC • Cadillac ............................................ 5 & 6 Chasan Industrial Complex ............................................................................................ 12 Consumer Credit Unior ....................................................................................................8 Eastman Credit Union 1 ....................................................................................................6 Elwood Staffing .................................................................................................................9 Endot .................................................................................................................................9 Gardner Paint Services, Inc ............................................................................................ 14 Grand Rental Station ...................................................................................................... 10 Greene County Partnership .............................................................................................. 7 Greeneville Federal Bank .................................................................................................3 Greeneville Light & Power System ................................................................................. 15 Greeneville Oil ................................................................................................................. 11 Jarden Zinc Products........................................................................................................ 7 Jeffers Funeral & Cremation Service ............................................................................... 2 Link Hills Country Club.................................................................................................. 13 Lynn Hope Towing ......................................................................................................... 14 Parkway Products .............................................................................................................6 Red Wing ........................................................................................................................ 10 Towne Square Package Store ......................................................................................... 12 US Nitrogen ......................................................................................................................6 Worthington Industries .................................................................................................. 13
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Wednesday, October 30, 2019
The Greeneville Sun Salute To Industry Edition
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WORTHINGTON CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2
massive tree trunk that fell on top of a still-intact cab and another showing an earth-moving machine used by the military that survived an explosive with its cab also still intact. “Our cabs are designed in such a way that they will protect the operators from getting hurt on the inside,” Steele said. “It’s an important role.” Manufacturing Engineer Manager Travis Mayes says building that kind of quality into their products takes some time and good people. “This industry is not very high volume because these pieces of equipment are very expensive to the end user,” Mayes said. “But there’s a very high amount of (labor that) goes into them. Some of these cabs take more than 50 hours just to weld. That’s not including fabrication, painting, caulking or assembly.” According to Mayes, Worthington provides cabs at any stage of completion, depending on the customer’s need, ranging from only the steel structure to those with seats, windows, electronics and hydraulics installed and some that are ready to bolt onto a piece of equipment and operate immediately. “We’re very proud of the product we make here and we’re proud of our workforce here in Greeneville,” Mayes said. Worthington Industries’ Greeneville location currently employs 340 people from Greene, Washington, Hawkins, Hamblen and Cocke counties, as well as several employees that commute from Virginia and North Carolina. The company expanded its engineered cabs facility in Greeneville in 2015 with a $14.25 million investment. It currently operates the 175,000-square-foot facility at Hardin Industrial Park plus a 130,000-square-foot production facility and a 60,000-square-foot warehouse on Snapps Ferry Road. The Snapps Ferry plant and warehouse are former Magnavox buildings. Worthington Industries is a leading diversified metals manufacturing company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, with a global reach that includes more than 70 facilities across seven countries. Product divisions include steel processing, pressure cylinders and engineered cabs, as well as joint ventures that provide complete ceiling grid solutions, automotive tooling and stampings and steel framing for commercial construction. Its most recent acquisitions include Amtrol, a leading manufacturer of pressure cylinders and water system tanks, in 2017 for $283 million and Heidtman Steel Products Inc. in Cleveland, Ohio, earlier this month for an undisclosed price, according to news online news releases.
SUN PHOTO BY LORELEI GOFF
This robotic welder is part of the manufacturing process for engineered cabs made by Worthington Industries in Greeneville.
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SUN PHOTO BY LORELEI GOFF
Anthony Foulks inspects an engineered cab in the production facility at Worthington Industries, located in the former Angus Palm building at Hardin Industrial Park. The company celebrated 20 years of production on the site earlier this month.
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The Greeneville Sun Salute To Industry Edition
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
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Wednesday, October 30, 2019
The Greeneville Sun Salute To Industry Edition
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MASONRY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4
PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN/SPEC MIX
Mason tender Tony Shelton, left, and mason Fred Campbell compete Feb. 3, 2016, at the Spec Mix Bricklayer 500 World Championship event in Las Vegas. Campbell owns Creative Masonry Inc. in Greeneville.
Family Business Leaves Its Mark On Community BY LORELEI GOFF SUN CONTRIBUTOR Brick by brick, a Greeneville family business, now bringing its third generation into the operation, continues to leave its mark on Greene County. “Dad started the business when he was 28,” said Creative Masonry President Fred Campbell. “It was Campbell and Sons then.” Campbell describes his father as an old fashioned, Baptist preacher who always carried his lunch box with him to job sites where he bricked houses by himself. “Depending on the size of the house, it would take him three or four weeks to brick them,” Campbell said. “Starting when I was 10-years-old, when I wasn’t in school, I’d go to work with him. “I always enjoyed it. When I first started going to the job with him, he got me a little trowel. I would spread the mortar with him. I did that for a while, and then I’d start laying a brick or two here or there.” Campbell said his father first taught him the necessity of doing quality work before giving him a valuable lesson in quantity. “When I was about 13 years old, he started paying me by the brick,” explained Campbell. “I figured out real quick the more I laid in a day, the more money I made. I worked really hard at it and got really good at it.” When Campbell’s father had to turn down a job bricking a house, he offered
his son’s services instead. At 13, Campbell got off the school bus and worked until dark then all day on Saturdays, earning $5 a day until he finished the job. At 18 he took over the company when health issues forced his dad to stop laying brick for a living. Campbell married that same year and his wife manages the office where two of their daughters are now also employed. Campbell and two of his brothers work on the job sites along with 45 employees. Campbell’s father still works for the company at 81. “He always told me, ‘If you do good work and you’re honest, you’ll always keep work,’” Campbell said. “He was right.” There’s never a lapse of work, according to Campbell, who said the company has kept working even through winters and the recession. He currently turns down eight to ten jobs a week because he doesn’t have enough people to do them. “We’ve kept work all the time,” Campbell said. “We turn down a lot of work just because we can’t find enough people to do it. If I could find quality people, right now, I could hire 25 more guys and keep them busy.” “I like teaching the trade to people,” he added. “It’s just hard to find anyone anymore.” Campbell says the lack of masons and apprentices, due in part to the fact that masonry is a highly skilled
SUN PHOTO BY LORELEI GOFF
The brick facade of the Walters State Community College Niswonger Campus in Greeneville, using 550,000 handmade bricks, is one of the largest and most favorite projects Fred Campbell of Creative Masonry has completed during his career.
SUN PHOTO BY LORELEI GOFF
This bell tower, designed and built by Fred Campbell of Creative Masonry, houses the original church bell from Greenwood United Methodist Church in Tusculum. The tower is surrounded by a prayer labyrinth.
SEE MASONRY ON PAGE 5
and labor intensive trade, is a nationwide problem and has prompted many architects to design their buildings with less masonry. “It’s a dying trade and it’s hard to do,” he said. “There’s a lot to it. It’s not something you can just pick up and do. It’s a three year apprenticeship.” The Bureau of Labor Statistics, according to its website, estimates the demand for masonry workers will continue to grow faster than the average for all occupations. Right now, that means plenty of work for Campbell and his employees. “If that phone didn’t ring again and nobody came through that door wanting anything, we’ve got enough work right now to last a year and a half,” he said. Besides quality workmanship, Campbell credits the company’s steady work load to the broad range of projects they take on, from bricking houses and laying basements to building flower beds. “We provide masonry for any commercial or residential project,” he said. “We do restoration. We do anything, big or small. If somebody hits your mailbox, we’ll come out and fix it. At this time right now, we’re working on a $65 million high school in Blountville. There’s no limit to job size or what we do.” Campbell says he has restored many old buildings downtown and is preparing to start restoration work on a building on Main Street that will house a tavern. Though the number of jobs the company has done over the past 30 years is too many for him to count, Campbell said the list of Greene County buildings they’ve worked on includes Walters State Community College, the Greeneville Federal Bank building, Asbury United Methodist Church, a bell tower at Greenwood United Methodist Church in Tusculum, the Capitol Theatre, the Niswonger Center, the Meen Center and three dormitories at Tusculum, the Greene County Court House and the Holston United Methodist Home for Children’s Christian Life Center. The company also subcontracts for a number of local building contractors. Campbell enjoys giving back to the community by donating labor when he can. Most recently, he obtained material donations for the Isaiah House and donated labor from Creative Masonry for the block and brick work. A lifetime of bricklaying experience garnered him two wins at an international competition. The Spec Mix Bricklayer 500 World Championship judges competitors on speed and quality. Campbell, who has competed in it a total of eight years, said the one-hour competition proved nerve wracking the first couple of times with 7,000 people watching live plus a live web feed broadcast worldwide. He learned to tune out the audience and focus on winning. “It’s whoever lays the most that looks the best,” he said, adding “I’ve really got
SUN PHOTO BY LORELEI GOFF
Fred Campbell of Creative Masonry used color and pattern to form a cross in the base of the Greenwood United Methodist Church bell tower.
my head set on being the only person to win it three times.” Although he’s proven his speed and accuracy, Brick and mortar is also an artist’s medium for Campbell. Whether a bell tower, outdoor fireplace or an outdoor pizza oven, he loves projects that allow him to explore the artistry of his trade. “I’ve always loved the art of it,” he said. “That’s why I call it Creative Masonry. If you call me and say, ‘Come on over to my house. I want an outside fireplace with some seating area.’ I can come up with something. I just come up with it and do it.” The Walters State Community College Niswonger Campus, one of the largest projects Campbell has done, is one of his favorites for detail and artistry. “There’s 550,000 hand made bricks out of North Carolina on that job and 45,000 are specially shaped bricks,” Campbell said. “If you look at all the detail work in that building, it is mind blowing. It was really fun doing it.” It took six to eight people 11 months to complete the bricking in what Campbell called a rare opportunity. “You don’t get a chance to do anything like that because it costs so much,” he explained. “Just the brick work on that building was $3.2 million. Most public buildings, they’re not going to put that much money into a brick facade. They’ll do it as cheap as they can; but the architect, John Fisher, said that building there is something that he could leave to the Greeneville community.” For Campbell, it was another reminder that masonry means more than a paycheck to him. “It’s the satisfaction of doing something with your own two hands,” Campbell said. “You take a pile of brick and a pile of mortar and you build something extraordinary out of it.”
SUN PHOTO BY LORELEI GOFF
Specially shaped bricks help create the curved pathway of the prayer labyrinth surrounding the Greenwood United Methodist Church bell tower in Tusculum.
SUN PHOTO BY LORELEI GOFF
The clock tower of the Walters State Community College Niswonger Campus in Greeneville shows the artistic detail designed into its brick facade.
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The Greeneville Sun Salute To Industry Edition
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
GreenevilleSun.com
SUN PHOTO BY LORELEI GOFF
Workmen install equipment for vehicle recovery products on a rig at Miller Industries in Greeneville.
Miller Industries Completes Expansion BY LORELEI GOFF SUN CONTRIBUTOR
M
iller Industries, the world’s largest manufacturer of vehicle recovery equipment, recently completed an expansion of its Greeneville facility. The expansion, which began a couple of years ago, according to Miller Industries General Manager Jake Bowers, includes an 18,000-square-foot addition to the production plant located at 711 Campbell Drive and the purchase of a second plant located at 515 Bohannon Avenue. The expansion to the Campbell Drive plant increases the facility’s assembly area. The company had been renting the Bohannon Avenue plant, formerly known as the Kaydon building. “It happened over the last couple of years, but we just finalized it here recently,” Bowers said. Bowers said the main impact of the expansion is that the additional floor space
increases the Greeneville facilities’ ability to adapt to manufacturing needs. “It gives us more flexibility,” Bowers explained. “Greeneville is considered the flex plant for Miller Industries. Over the years, we’ve built several different product lines, depending on what’s needed in the industry. That makes us more valuable to the company and to the product lines. If one of our other facilities has lots of orders, we can shift gears and help one of our other facilities. Having more floor space helps with that flexibility.” Bowers said another key component to that flexibility is that the plant layout is not dedicated to any one single product, allowing an area to be quickly adapted to different products as needed. He added that the workforce at the Greeneville plants makes it all possible. “The workforce is flexible, not only leadership, but our guys down on the shop floor — welders, fabricators, painters,” Bowers said. “They feel that they can build anything, and I know that they can. It’s
SUN PHOTO BY LORELEI GOFF
Two of Miller Industries’ vehicle recovery products can be seen on the roads of Greene County. Lynn Hope towing won the bluetowing rig in a raffle in April. The towing company had previously purchased the white rig for its 14-truck fleet.
been proven.” According to Bowers, Miller Industries’ skilled employees, whom he described as “artists and craftsmen in their field,” are better able to adapt to the company’s often quickly changing production needs than robotic assemblers that are used at the other two Miller Industries sites, located in Ooltewah, Tennessee. and Hermitage, Pennsylvania. “Fabrication, welding, painting, assembly — if you’re around them long enough you’ll see the amount of workmanship they put into everything,” he said. “It’s pretty impressive. These guys can build whatever we put in front of them. “Robotics are excellent at building something quicker, which helps control cost,”
he explained. “They do that well, and they build quality products. When you become a flexible facility and with the types of things that we build, it’s easier to program humans to change really quick and build something else than it is to program and reconfigure robots to do the same thing. There are other things that robotics can do that they’re perfect for. But when you get into more of the skilled labor, when you’re taking a flatbed and putting it on a truck chassis, you can’t get a robot to turn the wrenches and do the things that’s needed to get that put together. There’s still a need for skilled labor.” Miller Industries manufactures several SEE EXPANSION ON PAGE 7
US Nitrogen is a proud member of the Greene County business community.
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EXPANSION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6
different product lines, ranging from a small tow truck on an F450 chassis all the way up to the world’s largest wrecker, a more than 100-ton rotator called the M100. “We’ve built everything from a rollback product, which is kind of a common term for a car carrier, to wreckers up to 35-ton capacity, and we’re now branching into stake beds with cranes on them,” Bowers said. “We also build a 53-foot-long trailer for hauling heavy trucks. I could tell you all the different stuff that we build, but it could change at any time. The constant here is change.” Other products currently manufactured in Greeneville include an adjustable yard ramp, used for loading and unloading trucks; a detachable towing unit, known as a DTU, that turns a road tractor or semi-tractor into a tow truck that can haul big rigs; a crane boom stake bed; and the Titan C Series roll-off system. The Greeneville plant also made a special NASCAR car carrier for the Hendricks Race Team. Locally owned and operated Lynn Hope Towing of Greeneville won a raffle in April of this year for a rollback made in Greeneville. He has one other previously purchased Miller Industries car carrier in his fleet. Miller Industries, which also has facilities in France and Germany, established its Greeneville plant in 1997. Although the company ships product all over the world, most sales from products made in Greeneville go to the domestic market. The company employs roughly 170 people at its Greenville plants.
SUN PHOTO BY LORELEI GOFF
Two detachable towing units, or DTUs, manufactured by Miller Industries in Greeneville, turn road tractor rigs into tow trucks capable of hauling tractor-trailers.
SUN PHOTO BY LORELEI GOFF
Two of Miller Industries’ vehicle recovery products can be seen on the roads of Greene County. Lynn Hope towing won a blue towing rig in a raffle in April. The towing company had previously purchased the white rig for its 14-truck fleet.
SUN PHOTO BY LORELEI GOFF
This 53-foot towing trailer is among the products manufactured at Miller Industries’ Greeneville plants.
Chamber of Commerce • Economic Development Tourism • Education & Workforce Development Keep Greene Beautiful We salute our local industries for their outstanding contributions, exceptional performance and continued dedicated commitment to Greeneville and Greene County.
115 Academy Street Greeneville, TN 37745 423-638-4111 — Fax 423-638-5345 www.GreeneCountyPartnership.com
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The Greeneville Sun Salute To Industry Edition
GreenevilleSun.com
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
TCAT Training Graduates For Workforce BY CICELY BABB STAFF WRITER
W
ith a range of program offerings from cosmetology to welding, Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) aims to provide students with the training and skills needed to go straight from the classroom to the workforce. The TCAT system has more than 25 campuses statewide. A range of programs all geared toward preparing graduates for gainful employment are available. Locally, TCAT Morristown is the main campus, and there are campuses in Hawkins County and Tazewell, as well as Greeneville and Greene County. Classes are taught in Greene County at the Greene Technology Center on Hal Henard Road. TCAT also offers a practical nursing program at Greeneville Community Hospital East. TCAT is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, and federal financial aid is available to students who qualify. To be accepted by TCAT, students must have decided on an occupational goal. “As long as you have a job objective, you can come to TCAT,” said Sandy Fine, counselor and coordinator for TCAT Morristown.
GREENE TECHNOLOGY CENTER TCAT shares facilities with the Greene Technology Center, operating classes there after 3:30 p.m. Dual enrollment is available for high school students from all Greeneville and Greene County high schools, making it possible for students to graduate high school with up to a third of the credits needed to finish their TCAT program. Students can finish their TCAT program with a certification or a diploma, depending on how many hours they complete. Programs currently offered at the Greene Technology Center include automotive technology, collision repair technology, computer information technology, cosmetology, industrial electricity, machine tool technology, and welding. Some programs, such as cosmetology and automotive technology, offer their services to the public. This helps to build students’ experience and confidence in the skills they have learned.
SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
Computer information technology student Brendan Shipley practices building a computer.
SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
Welding student Campbell Shelton holds a stainless steel pipe.
PLANS FOR EXPANSION TCAT plans to expand its offerings in Greene County. SEE TCAT ON PAGE 10
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SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
Collision repair technology students Koby Hume and Bryson Griffey, both South Greene High School graduates who participated in TCAT’s dual enrollment program while in high school, work on sanding a truck bed.
Page 9
SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
Industrial electricity student Spencer Kesterson practices working with motor controls.
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Automotive technology student Nicholar Roberts removes wheel lug nuts.
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Welding student Brett Booth shows off his aluminum welding skills.
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Page 10
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Wednesday, October 30, 2019
SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
Machine tool technology student Jacob Rutherford runs a computer numerical control program to check for errors.
SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
Computer information technology student Daniel Edgell demonstrates a test print after installing a printer.
TCAT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
The Thomas Howard McNeese Education Center, located next door to the Greene Technology Center, will provide the space for these added programs. Plans for expansion include adding diesel repair and HVAC programs. The industrial electricity program may move to to the T.H. McNeese building as well. The Greene County Board of Education voted to close Glenwood and West Pines elementary schools, which will allow programs currently offered at the T.H. McNeese building – these include an alternative school, ROTC, the Early Learning Program and Behavior Emotional Support Transition – to move to the Glenwood Elementary School building. Fine said TCAT hopes to begin offering these new programs by the end of next year.
QUALIFIED GRADUATES TCAT’s mission is to supply Tennessee’s workforce development by providing practical education and training in its students’ chosen trades. Fine said TCAT works to “supply the workforce with skilled workers who are familiar with the tools of their trade.” Fine also said TCAT’s training is 90% hands on. “Instructors know what the industry needs,” Fine said. There is also a particular emphasis on attendance and work ethic at TCAT. “Even though we are a school, we treat it like a workplace,” Fine said. TCAT has a 76% completion rate, a 97% job placement rate, and a 99% licensure rate for programs requiring licensure. Programs include: • Automotive technology, which aims to give students the most comprehensive and up to date instruction in methods of diagnosis, service, and repair of modern automobiles. The program is Automobile Service Excellence (ASE) certified, and graduates receive the training necessary to become ASE certified themselves. Students have access to up to date equipment to perform service jobs such as oil changes, lube jobs, brake repair, overhaul of engines and transmissions, and diagnosis of electrical and computer systems. • Collision repair, which is self paced and designed to train students in repairing damaged vehicles. This program is also ASE certified and prepares graduates for individual certification. Students can focus on general body and paint work and gain a range of skills or they can focus on particular areas, if they choose. Skills covered by TCAT include metal work, spray painting, welding, auto glass, and electrical systems. “The demand is out there,” instructor Jason
Whitson said. Job opportunities include performing custom car work or becoming an estimator, salesperson, shop manager or business owner. With only four students currently enrolled in the Collision Repair Technology in Greeneville, there are many immediate openings available for new students. • Computer information technology, in which students receive training in practical aspects of troubleshooting computers as well as computer operations techniques involving hardware and software. They learn to build computers, set up networks and servers, and configure network devices as well as a wide range of other IT skills. • Cosmetology, in which students learn theory as well as clinical knowledge. Upon graduation, students are well prepared to pass the State Board of Cosmetology Licensing Exam, which is required for anyone who wants to work in Tennessee as a cosmetologist. Students graduating with a cosmetologist diploma already have the 1,500 hours of training required by the state. Students learn how to perform a variety of beauty treatments such as hair tinting and bleaching and facials through a mix of classroom instruction and hands-on experience. • Industrial electricity, which trains students in the basic theories, principles, and practices needed to solve the range of problems involved in electrical maintenance, installation, repair, and operation of electrical equipment. Students receive the most practical training in troubleshooting electrical problems as well as an understanding of electrical safety, theory and application. • Machine tool technology, which prepares students for entry level employment as machine operators, machinists, industrial maintenance persons, and a variety of other occupations requiring skills in machining metals. Students receive experience with computer-aided design and manufacturing software as well as instruction in setup and operation of computer numerical control machines like lathes and mills. • Welding, which is an important skill in many professional fields. TCAT’s Welding program gives students instruction and experience with different metal types and welding processes. Students begin with basic welding techniques and processes and learn more advanced skills as they progress through the program. Depending on students’ interests or goals, they can gain up to a combination welder diploma or focus only on particular areas for a production job or to build on existing skills. Welding is a particularly popular program, with more than 100 prospective students already on a waiting list. For more information, visit tcatmorristown.edu, call 423-586-5771 for the Main Campus in Morristown, or 787-0232 for the Greeneville Instructional Service Center.
SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
Industrial electricity student Ramiro Meija practices installing a light socket.
SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
Part of cosmetology students’ work involves practicing makeup and hairstyles on dummies.
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Cosmetology student Angel Porter perfects her manicuring skills.
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GreenevilleSun.com
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
The Greeneville Sun Salute To Industry Edition
Page 11
SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
Samma Highland explains her job as a food scientist. She is currently working on some new Vegan Valley products such as a vegan sour cream and cream “cheeze.”
Vegan Valley Poised For Growth BY CICELY BABB STAFF WRITER
C
lean food is the goal for Mosheim based Vegan Valley, and the small, local food manufacturer has just been awarded a state grant to continue pursuing that goal in a larger facility. Vegan Valley owners Gregg and Samma Highland have been producing dairy alternative “cheeze” sauces since 2013. Currently, Vegan Valley offers 4 flavors – Mild Original, Nacho Queso, Jalapeno Queso, and Alfredo – all made from organic cashews. All sauces are kosher certified and vegan, come in 16-ounce lead-free glass jars, and have a refrigerated shelf life of one year. Married since 1983, Gregg and Samma moved to Mosheim from Atlanta, Georgia, in 2012. Gregg is from the midwest, but Samma’s roots in Greene County go back generations, and the pair were eager to return to Samma’s family’s farm in Mosheim. After raising a daughter who has severe food allergies, the Highlands became deeply invested in helping people who deal with allergies and health problems to mitigate their symptoms through a healthy, natural diet. “So many things we have in nature can do wonders,” Samma said. Gregg and Samma bring different but complementary strengths to their business. Samma is a University of Tennessee graduate with a degree in food science and nutrition.
She worked as a dietician in Atlanta and now uses her knowledge and experience as Vegan Valley’s food scientist to develop its products. Gregg has a strong background in the restaurant business, and he now focuses his attention on marketing and promoting Vegan Valley. Samma and Gregg have six employees.
GROWING IN PLACE In July, Vegan Valley was granted $50,000 from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture as part of the Agriculture Enterprise Fund created to support growth in Tennessee agribusiness. Gregg Highland said they will use the funds to expand their manufacturing facility from 1,400 to 5,000 square feet. They also plan to purchase automated equipment and more walk-in coolers. One machine they plan to buy will cut their production time to less than a quarter of what it is currently. All that improvement won’t change Vegan Valley’s profile in the community, however. The company, located on Old Kentucky Road West in Mosheim, does not look like a food manufacturing facility, and the Highlands want to keep it that way. “We want to keep it low key,” Gregg said. Even when their building more than triples in size, it will look like it’s just a barn on the outside – nothing out of the ordinary. Gregg said they like that they like to “keep it rural and hide in
plain sight.”
AN EVOLVING BUSINESS
SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
Vegan Valley’s cashew-based “cheeze” products come in a variety of flavors.
After relocating from Atlanta and up until 2017, the Highlands also operated a food preparation and delivery service. The service was highly personalized and tailored to each client’s individual needs. Samma made individual menus for each client based on what they like and are able to eat. Many of their clients were forced to eliminate dairy from their diets for a variety of reasons. Cheese, in particular, can be one of the most difficult foods to give up. “When people go vegan, they miss chocolate and they miss cheese,” Gregg said. So, the Highlands began working on vegan “cheeze” sauces so that people who could no longer eat cheese didn’t have to miss it too much. Gregg noted that they use the spelling “cheeze” to avoid unintentional confusion with dairy cheese. Delivering food to their
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The Greeneville Sun Salute To Industry Edition
GROWTH CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11
clients multiple times a week meant that they got to know each of them very well and considered them friends. After one client they were particularly close with passed away from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), “I just couldn’t do it anymore,” Gregg said. So, the Highlands decided to focus exclusively on producing a clean, plantbased alternative to so many people’s favorite food – cheese.
WHY CASHEWS? Although the Highlands have experimented with other materials, such as beans, for their “cheeze” sauces, they focused on cashews for a few reasons. The blended cashews’ consistency is one reason. It’s smooth like Velveeta, both the Highlands agree. This is due to the cashew’s “good natural fat content, which makes it creamy,” Samma said. For this reason, it’s also unnecessary to add oils.
GreenevilleSun.com
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Samma said that getting the texture and “mouthfeel” right is imperative when it comes to creating a dairyfree product that will work as a substitute for dairy. “The challenge for a food scientist and nutritionist is to make good-tasting things without the bad stuff. It can be a challenge to imitate,” Samma said. The cashew is also very nutritious. “It has everything,” Samma said. From Samma’s professional perspective, the ratios between protein, carbs, and fat in the cashew make it one of the best substitutes for a variety of foods. “If you don’t do dairy, soy, or gluten, or you want to do the paleo diet, it’s a good substitute,” Gregg said. To achieve a taste similar to cheese made from dairy, they do add other ingredients such as pimentos or tomatoes. As for preservatives, Vegan Valley does not use any chemicals. “Not all preservatives are bad. There are natural preservatives,” Samma said. SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
SEE GROWTH ON PAGE 13 Gregg Highland explains the “hot pour” process used to prevent contamination when making “cheeze” products from ca-
shews.
SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
Vegan Valley owners Gregg and Samma Highland stand in their walk-in freezer for a photo with their next shipments.
SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
Gregg Highland shows how Vegan Valley ingredients are stored.
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GreenevilleSun.com
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
The Greeneville Sun Salute To Industry Edition
SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
Bridget Bailey and Tammy Albright represent Ballad Health at the Greene County Partnership’s Industry Appreciation reception.
Page 13
SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
Matt Garland, President and CEO of the Greene County Partnership, thanks reception attendees.
Partnership Hosts 2019 Industry Appreciation Reception BY CICELY BABB SUN CONTRIBUTOR
T
he Greene County Partnership hosted its annual Industry Appreciation Reception in celebration of Tennessee’s Industrial Appreciation Month on Oct. 22. Each year, for over 20 years, the Partnership has hosted Greene County industry leaders at this event to express gratitude for the economic development and jobs brought to the region. This year’s reception was at Link Hills Country Club in conjunction with the Partnership’s annual Golf Shoot-Out, one of the organization’s largest
GROWTH CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12
Natural preservatives, such as rosemary extract, kill mold, fungi, and viruses just as well as chemicals without compromising a product’s status as organic and natural. “Our biggest thing is we want food to be as clean as possible,” Samma said.
THE FUTURE FOR VEGAN VALLEY In addition to physically expanding the Vegan Valley facility with their recently
fundraisers. This year’s event also coincided with an announcement from the State of Tennessee’s Department of Economic and Community Development of four new Select Tennessee Certified Sites, including one in Greeneville at Hardin Industrial Complex. To become Select Tennessee Certified, a site must have a minimum of 20 developable acres, utilities on site or a formal extension plan in place, a boundary survey and topographic maps completed, documented environmental conditions and geotechnical analysis, and minimized risk factors for development, and
must be certified by Austin Consulting. According to TNECD’s website, the Select Tennessee Certified Sites Program markets the sites to a targeted group of site selection consultants and business leaders in Tennessee’s key industry clusters.” Hardin Industrial Complex has 150 acres in total and has completed all other criteria to receive certification. Angus-Palm is currently the only tenant at the site. Lynn Tully, regional director of TNECD said “at ECD we are glad to support our existing industries across the state and particularly in Greene County. We’re excited they have
brought new sites for the Select Tennessee Program. New sites means new jobs.” Greene County Partnership President and Chief Executive Officer Matt Garland said the invitation to the reception is extended to all industries. Garland thanked all present industry representatives for doing business and stimulating growth in Greene County. “There’s not a favorite out of the bunch. We appreciate everybody,” Garland said in his opening remarks at the reception. “We’re a traditional manufacturing town, we’re pretty diverse, and we like
awarded grant money and purchasing new equipment, Samma has also been working on some new products. She said she has been developing a vegan sour cream and cream cheese. Samma is also interested in experimenting more with beans as a base for more products. These products are still in the testing stages, however, and the Highlands are unsure of when exactly they will be ready to start selling them. “We’re never happy until we’ve tested it 1,001 times,” Gregg said. Vegan Valley products
are non-GMO and organic, and the Highlands are working towards those official certifications. United Natural Foods
Inc. delivers Vegan Valley sauces to Whole Foods and a variety of health food stores throughout the southeast. They have
SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
Adams Publishing Group Executive Vice President Gregg Jones, City Administrator Todd Smith, and Mayor W.T. Daniels socialize at the Industry Appreciation Reception.
SEE RECEPTION ON PAGE 15
recently also been added to Ingles’ shelves and sell their products online. With the expansion on the horizon the Highlands look forward
to growing their market. For more information on Vegan Valley, or to place an order, visit www.veganvalley.net.
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Page 14
The Greeneville Sun Salute To Industry Edition
GreenevilleSun.com
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
Alderman Buddy Hawk, left, and Daryl Brady, field representative for U.S. Rep. Phil Roe’s office
SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
Lynn Tully, regional director of TNECD, and Donald Hurst, business development consultant also at TNECD, enjoy the reception.
SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
Representatives of various businesses and agencies gathered for the reception. Back row, from left: City Administrator Todd Smith and Ballad Health representative Bridget Bailey. Front row, from left: David Glasscock of Parker Hannifan, Tracy Green of Ballad Health, Mayor W.T. Daniels, and Patti Roberts and Marsha Montemarano of Ballad Health
SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
Greeneville Sun General Manager and Tennessee Representative David Hawk
SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
Greene County Partnership Business Development Specialist Dana Wilds is pictured with Artie Wehenkel and Brian Cutshall, both of the Greeneville Sun.
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GreenevilleSun.com
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
The Greeneville Sun Salute To Industry Edition
Page 15
SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
From left, Mike Collins of American Greetings socializes with Jerry Fortner, Fred Blake and Conrad Friede of C & C Millwright.
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SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
From left, Matt and Katie Collins, representing Greeneville Iron & Metals, and Kimberly and Jeff Collins also representing Transport Technologies attend the Greene County Partnership’s annual Industry Appreciation Reception.
RECEPTION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13
to see that grow and continue to grow,” Garland said in an interview ahead of the reception. Since 2016, Greene County has seen an increase of around 1,000 new full-time jobs and over $2 million in capital investment, Garland said. Eighty-five percent of that growth has come from existing industries. Garland said Greeneville is set for even more growth in the coming years. Attendees at the reception included representatives from a variety of industries as well as local and state politicians, including Greeneville Mayor W.T. Daniels and State Rep. David Hawk. Garland said he and the Partnership are thankful for participation
and investment of local industries. “We’re looking forward to serving them for a long time,” Garland said. “We are so appreciative of all our industry, business, and community who continue to support us in our endeavors,” Joni Parker said, also on behalf of the Partnership. “We always enjoy these events,” Greeneville Alderman Buddy Hawk said at the reception. “We’re always interested in talking to industry folks. Speaking for the town of Greeneville, we’re here for anybody who needs help,” Hawk said. Daryl Brady was present as representation from the office of U.S. Rep. Phil Roe. “The Partnership does an outstanding job,” Brady said. “Industry is a key component of our community. We appreciate all they do and we’re here to support them,” said Tammy Albright, chief
executive officer of Greeneville Community Hospital. Patti Roberts, also of Ballad Health, said this event “shows how our industries and businesses can be united for an evening of fellowship and find ways to make our community grow to be the best we can be.” Sponsors for this year’s event included 1 Team Clinic, A Services Group, Accuforce Staffing, Andrew Johnson Bank, APEX Bank, Atmos Energy, Baker Donelson, Ballad Health, C & C Millwright and Maintenance, Consumer Credit Union, Delfasco, Endless Revenue Marketing, East Tennessee Iron and Metals, First Tennessee, Grand Rental Station, Greeneville Iron & Metals, Greeneville Light and Power System, John Deere Power Products, Marsh Propane, Summers Taylor, The Greeneville Sun, and Transport Technologies.
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SUN PHOTO BY CICELY BABB
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The Greeneville Sun Salute To Industry Edition
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
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