BY:JESSICA GUTMAN

The first Tennessee Talent Pipeline Academy, hosted by the Tennessee Business Roundtable and coordinated by the Knoxville Chamber, was held May 16-17 at the AT&T building in Nashville.

The two-day workshop prepared attendees to utilize the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Talent Pipeline Management initiative, a demand-driven approach to closing the skills gap. Utilizing supply chain management principles, employers play an expanded leadership role as “end customers” of education and workforce partnerships.

Tennessee partners are taking a statewide approach to have consistency and influence across the state’s educational institutions and policies.

Nancy Eisenbrandt, COO and chief workforce development officer for the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce said, “The Tennessee Talent Pipeline Academy process and tools will give the Nashville Area Chamber a new way to organize our business community around talent solutions that align post-secondary education credentials and degrees to close skills gaps and build a pipeline of talent for high-growth occupations and industries in our region.”

The next academy workshop takes place Aug. 21-22.

Tennessee Talent Pipeline Academy participants:

Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce

Greater Memphis Chamber

Knoxville Chamber

Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce

Robertson County Chamber of Commerce

Tennessee Board of Regents

Tennessee Business Roundtable

Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Tennessee Department of Education

Tennessee Higher Education Commission

The Roane Alliance & Roane County Chamber of Commerce

University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services