Forrester moves to head of class at Technology Center
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The Technology Center, which provides training in a variety of technical programs, welcomed its new director last week.
“The potential for the center is so enormous,” said Forrester. “My first job will be to reacquaint myself with the area. I want to get to know everyone in the community. As I assume the job, I plan to meet and talk with the students, administrators and Tennessee Board of Regents over what areas and issues we need to address.”
Workforce development is “terribly important,” according to Forrester, because as corporations make the decision to leave the area, new companies not only scout locations, but the potential workforce, before making a decision to relocate their business. According to Forrester the Technology Center can “customize training to meet business and industry needs.”
“We’d like to see more students come to us directly from high school,” said Forrester. “The lifeblood of our enrollment has been, and continues to be, from the segment of the working world that’s looking to improve its situation.”
Forrester believes many high school students see the short-term benefits of employment right out of high school but do not look at the long-term gain of furthering their education in terms of real career opportunities. He adds that a year at the Technology Center is not that long when it comes to making a difference in one’s future and that many companies want to hire someone who has “bettered their education.”
TTC McMinnville surpassed 200 students enrolled in full-time programs during the current fall quarter. All students are encouraged to apply for, and most received, some form of financial aid.
Born and raised in Tullahoma, Forrester comes to McMinnville following seven years as assistant director of the Tennessee Technology Center at Chattanooga. There, he primarily worked in student services with responsibilities for providing leadership in establishing and achieving goals for technology programs.
Forrester received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Tennessee-Martin and his master’s degree in instructional leadership from Tennessee Tech. He has worked in the Tennessee Board of Regents system for 19 years with Motlow State and Chattanooga State Technical Community College.
Chattanooga State is the only community college in the state that has a technology center as an academic division. “Although we had the same type of programs, this will be a learning experience for me,” he said. “Chattanooga is on a semester academic calendar, whereas technology centers are on quarters. Otherwise our mission remains the same: workforce development.”
Forrester succeeds Dr. Abraham Pallas, who served as director for five years before becoming chairman of the Allied Health Division of Lake City Community College in Florida in June. Assistant director Marvin Lusk served as interim director until Forrester arrived.
“I’ve inherited a solid teaching and support staff,” said Forrester. “They are already making my job easier by bringing me up to speed on things I should know. They’re knowledgeable in their areas and good people. I hope each of them will be around for years to come.”