Laborup

My East TN Mfg friends, are you thinking about how to link to your workforce and skills of the future? Don't try to make that transition on your own; be wise, and accelerate your learning from the experiences of others at this event at Pellissippi State Community College, sponsore by Laborup!

🚨 Calling all manufacturing leaders in East Tennessee! Laborup is excited to be sponsoring an exclusive event for manufacturing leaders with Pellissippi State on April 16th — and you’re invited. All manufacturing leaders are invited! If you're in HR, Engineering, Operations, Quality, all across the board. From Tradition to Transformation: A Roadmap for Manufacturers of All Sizes Join fellow execs and operations leaders for a candid discussion on: ✅ Leveraging AI & advanced manufacturing ✅ Building a multi-generational workforce ✅ Real-world lessons from top East TN manufacturers 🗓️ Date: Tuesday, April 16th 🕚 Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (lunch provided) 📍 Location: Pellissippi State – Blount County Campus 🔗 Link in the comments 📎 Flyer attached We’ll be joined by manufacturing leaders that have led/lead manufacturing orgs of all sizes from SMBs to large manufacturers. Aerospace to automotive. 🔑 Keynote Speaker Ashleigh Walters – Former President of Onex, Author of Leading with Grit and Grace 💬 Panel 🚀 Jonaaron Jones – President & GM, Beehive Industries Specialty: Aerospace/Defense, 3D printing, workforce partnerships ⚙️ Tracy Queen – CFO & GM, ICC International Specialty: Custom manufacturing, knowledge transfer, talent pipeline 🏭 Ashleigh Seay – Engineering Leader, JTEKT North America Corporation ✈️ Marc Bradley – Engineering Director, StandardAero. Link in the comments ⬇️ Pellissippi State Community College Blount Partnership Knoxville Chamber (Knoxville, Tennessee) teknovation.biz TMEP - Tennessee Manufacturing Extension Partnership Patty Weaver Susan Webb-Curtis Paul Boyles, SPHR, SHRM-SCP Anthony Wise

🇺🇸🚀 “When the head of the space station came to us and asked how quickly we could start assembling it… we said: GIVE US 45 DAYS.” That’s grit. That’s speed. That’s the American spirit. When the mission’s in front of us—we get it done. Nothing fires us up more at Laborup ⚙️ Empowering the U.S. industrial base isn’t just a tagline—it’s the mission. Excited to highlight a project we did with our partners at Oak Ridge Tool-Engineering, Inc. What do F-14s, Apache helicopters, Ohio-class subs, Pershing missiles, the Space Station, and uranium enrichment all have in common? ➡️ A legendary machine shop in Oak Ridge, TN, started after WWII ➡️ 3 generations of the Mullins family, building with precision for the most critical industries in America The DoD’s industrial supply chain runs through shops like this. Quietly doing the work. Getting it done. This is what reindustrialization looks like. We’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers companies like this. Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council East Tennessee Economic Council (ETEC) teknovation.biz

We (Laborup) are grateful for our partnership with the folks at IACMI – The Composites Institute, METAL for America and America's Cutting Edge (ACE). The U.S. industrial base depends on a strong pipeline of skilled workers—and these organizations are doing incredible work to make that happen. Proud to see the United States Department of Defense supporting efforts like these that strengthen our workforce and our manufacturing future. 🇺🇸

⚙️ "Machinists are a unique breed. They’re not on LinkedIn, not on Indeed, and most aren’t posting résumés in the usual places recruiters search. Laborup helped us find these highly skilled candidates efficiently." — Erika Addington, Magnum Venus Products 🥇 Talent is the backbone of any business, but for manufacturers, it’s everything. Revitalizing American manufacturing starts with solving this talent gap. 🏭 Nothing is more fulfilling for us at Laborup than connecting manufacturers with the skilled workers they need to keep the industrial supply chain running. We’re not just filling jobs—we’re changing lives. A huge thank you to Erika Addington, Brady House, and the Magnum Venus Products team for trusting us to help build your workforce!

⚡Last week, we had the privilege of meeting with Congressman Chuck Fleischmann—Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Co-Chair of the Advanced Nuclear Caucus & Nuclear Cleanup Caucus. 🇺🇸🔬 He has been a driving force in advancing nuclear energy, ensuring the U.S. remains a leader in innovation, investment, and workforce development. One thing is clear: the future of nuclear energy depends on its workforce and this is our mandate Laborup. Tennessee has emerged as a hub for nuclear innovation—home to Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee Valley Authority’s nuclear plants, and the next generation of small modular reactors (SMRs). This momentum has drawn major investments: 🏗️ TerraPower and X-energy are advancing next-gen reactor projects. ⚙️ BWXT and Kairos Power have expanded operations, reinforcing the state’s leadership in nuclear manufacturing. 🔬 TVA is developing SMRs at Clinch River, a project poised to reshape U.S. energy. But as investment accelerates, workforce shortages threaten to slow progress. Nuclear infrastructure demands a highly skilled workforce—welders, machinists, electricians, and technicians—ready to meet the scale of these projects. This isn’t just about filling jobs—it’s about building a sustainable talent pipeline that ensures these critical projects succeed. This challenge is one we understand deeply. Nuclear and industrial workforce development isn’t just a problem to solve—it’s a mission to build. We’re committed to ensuring that as nuclear energy expands, the workforce expands with it. Congressman Fleischmann’s Recent Work in Nuclear ✅ $9B push for advanced nuclear reactors & SMRs (Aug 2024) ✅ Backing Tennessee’s Clinch River SMR project (Feb 2025) ✅ Driving TVA’s $800M effort to fast-track SMRs (Ongoing) ✅ Championing nuclear as the key to energy independence & AI-driven industries Tennessee is leading the charge in America’s nuclear future. The next step is making sure the workforce is ready to power it. Grateful to Rep. Fleischmann for his leadership—exciting times ahead. Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council East Tennessee Economic Council (ETEC) Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development teknovation.biz

Happy International Women's Day to all the amazing women who keep the world running. I wouldn’t be who I am today without the sacrifice, strength, and resilience of so many women who have played—and continue to play—key roles in my life. Starting with my amazing wife and mother! In manufacturing, women have long been at the forefront of progress, from the trailblazers of the past to the skilled machinists, engineers, innovators and leaders driving the industry today. Yet, despite their impact, women still represent less than 30% of the manufacturing workforce. This is more than a statistic, it’s a call to action. At Laborup, we’re committed to changing that by empowering women with access to high-quality job opportunities, career advancement, and the recognition they deserve. A stronger, more diverse workforce isn’t just good for business—it’s essential for the future of the industry. Today, we celebrate the women shaping the future of manufacturing—their contributions, leadership, and the barriers they continue to break. Let’s honor their impact and ensure that the next generation of women in manufacturing finds even greater opportunities to thrive.

Women have played a vital role in American manufacturing for generations—from the factory floors of WWII to today’s leaders driving innovation, engineering, operations, and industry transformation. This Women’s History Month, I want to highlight Ashleigh Walters, a powerhouse in manufacturing leadership who’s making a lasting impact and has been an amazing champion for Laborup. Let me brag on her for a bit: 🏭 Manufacturing & Engineering Leader – Former President at Onex, where she led operations at an industrial furnace service company, overseeing finance, HR, sales, marketing, procurement, and production. Previously, she was an Engineering Leader at Southern Company, bringing technical expertise to the energy sector. 📈 Past Chair, NWIRC (2017-2023) – Led the Northwest Industrial Resource Center (NWIRC), an MEP center helping small and mid-sized manufacturers improve productivity, workforce strategies, and operational excellence. 🔬 Vice President, Board of Trustees – Forging Industry Research & Education Foundation – Advanced technology development and education to support the forging industry. 🤝 Founder, Manufacturing Support Group (East TN) – Built a peer network for manufacturing leaders through UT Center for Industrial Services to share best practices and tackle industry challenges. 📖 Author of Leading with Grit and Grace – A must-read on manufacturing leadership, culture, and transformation. 🎤 Industry Advocate & Speaker – Committed to workforce development and empowering future manufacturing leaders. Ashleigh’s leadership is a testament to the impact of women in manufacturing. America manufacturing needs more Ashleighs! Phot courtesy of teknovation.biz

It’s time we put the men and women that make the everyday products that we rely on first. Laborup exists because we believe these workers deserve better. For far too long, their skills have gone under-appreciated, underutilized, and under-networked. The path to a better job, higher pay, or a new opportunity has been riddled with inefficiencies. Our mission is to fix that. We believe the future of American manufacturing isn’t in faraway factories or distant supply chains. It’s right here— in Tennessee, and across the country. From the shop floors to the large scale facilities, the workers inspire us to continue building a platform that champions their skills and aspirations. Our goal is simple: make invisible talent visible.