Toyota Panel Addresses Developing Skilled Workforce of the Future

Toyota Panel Addresses Developing Skilled Workforce of the Future

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Company hosts Ivanka Trump, signs White House “Pledge to America’s Workers”

GEORGETOWN, Ky. (March 28, 2019) – At its Kentucky manufacturing facility today, Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) hosted a panel discussion to cast a spotlight on the challenges employers face in attracting, developing and hiring skilled technical workers now and in the future.

The eight-person panel, included TMNA Chief Executive Officer Jim Lentz, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky President Susan Elkington, Ivanka Trump, special assistant to President Donald Trump, and Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin. The panel focused on the importance of closing the growing skills gap faced by manufacturers across multiple industries.

“To succeed in a rapidly changing industry like ours, we need to equip students with the knowledge and skills to compete in the workforce,” said Elkington “We have been forming partnerships for several years to address these future workforce needs.  We recognize our success as a company relies on developing effective educational pathways for a sustainable future.”

Toyota, with 10 plants in the U.S., has been a leader on this front. In 2010, the company launched the first iteration of its Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT) program in partnership with local community and technical colleges. Students go to school three days and work two days, developing the skills and the training they need to transition seamlessly into full-time employment — often without student debt.

In the nine years since the program launched, elements of this model have been adopted by hundreds of other companies and schools nationwide. Toyota has also significantly expanded its program in collaboration with such organizations as Project Lead The Way, Kentucky FAME (Federation of Advanced Manufacturing Education) and The Manufacturing Institute to create a pathway that stretches from pre-kindergarten all the way to a master’s degree level.

In fact, last year, in Harrison County, Kentucky, the schools were recognized by the National Career Pathways Network for becoming the first school system to achieve a seamless STEM pathway (Pre-K through Masters).

Sara Jenkins Palmer and her sister, Marly, are two graduates of Harrison County High School and the AMT program. Both saw the benefits of a hands-on educational experience that left them with little-to- no-debt and a good job in the end. While Marly calls the pathway a “gamechanger for kids,” Sara says she’s living her dream life at age 24. “There aren’t a lot of opportunities to go to college without racking up debt. This program has allowed me a lifestyle I never thought possible.”

Trump had an opportunity to tour Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK), the company’s largest plant in the world. During her visit, Lentz signed the White House’s “Pledge to America’s Workers,” promising to invest in the advancement of the nation’s current and future workforce. Toyota pledged that over the next five years, it would create enhanced career opportunities for 200,000 individuals, through increased apprenticeships and work-based learning programs, continuing education, on-the-job training and re-skilling.

About Toyota 
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. and North America for 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous value chain as our teams have contributed to world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 36 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more than 47,000 people (nearly 37,000 in the U.S.).  Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold more than 2.7 million cars and trucks (2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2017 – and about 87 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 15 years are still on the road today.

Marjorie Schussel
[email protected]
(469) 292-2404

Rick Hesterberg
[email protected]
(502) 868-2135

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TMMK 2019 Work Skills Panel

Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) workforce development panelists meet at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, March 28, 2019.  (Left to Right): Kentucky President Susan Elkington; TMMK team member; Ivanka Trump, special assistant to President Donald Trump ; Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin; and TMNA Chief Executive Officer Jim Lentz. 

TMNA Workforce Skills Panel

Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) workforce development panelists (Left to right): Stacey Hughes, Kentucky FAME; John Blevins, TMNA Seibi Tech; TMMK President, Susan Elkington; TMNA CEO, Jim Lentz; Special Assistant to President Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump; Kentucky Governor, Matt Bevin; Simeon Karamoko, AMT student; Marly Jenkins, BCTC employee, BCTC-Bluegrass Community Technical College.

2019 TMMK Work Skills Ivanka Trump Gov Bevan Exoskeleton

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