tnAchieves takes a human approach to
building Tennessee’s future workforce.
Students First
tnAchieves programs are rooted in the idea that all students deserve a supported pathway to a meaningful career. Using data as our guide, tnAchieves pilots, analyzes then scales programs to serve students statewide.
Workforce Focused
tnAchieves builds career connections by pairing students with mentors and job shadowing experiences that bring careers to life. By scaling these opportunities statewide, we ensure every student can explore their interests and build relationships that guide them toward a successful future.
Community Centered
Students thrive when their community is behind them. tnAchieves actively works to bridge the gap between education and business/industry. By joining Team tnAchieves, organizations and employers commit to supporting positive student outcomes.
At Scale: The tnAchieves Podcast
Listen & Subscribe
Welcome to At Scale: The tnAchieves Podcast, where we tap into the wisdom, insights, and bold ideas of our partners to fuel the mission of tnAchieves—expanding college access and success for Tennessee students. Hosted by Krissy DeAlejandro, President & CEO of tnAchieves, this podcast spotlights the thought leaders, practitioners and industry trailblazers who challenge us to learn, grow and innovate as we work to transform lives through high-quality post-secondary pathways. Since 2008, tnAchieves has leaned on collaboration to break barriers and scale impact for students often seen as underdogs, and our partners are at the heart of that journey.
Each episode brings candid conversations with state and national influencers—K-12 and college leaders, business visionaries, and student success advocates—who shape our strategies and push us forward. We’ll explore how these dialogues inspire us to refine our programs, rethink possibilities and build a stronger Tennessee workforce.
Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen, and join us as we harness these voices to innovate and grow—because at tnAchieves, our partners don’t just support us, they transform us. Let’s dive in!
Is a college degree still worth the cost — and what actually counts as a "good job" in Tennessee's economy today?
Dr. Jeff Strohl, Director of Research at Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce, joins the At Scale podcast to unpack two decades of national data on post-secondary earnings, underemployment, and career mobility. He and hosts Ben Sterling and Tyler Ford talk through what the research really says about the value of a credential, and how Tennessee can better connect college access to long-term career opportunity.
What does it take to build Northeast Tennessee’s workforce from the ground up?
On this episode of At Scale, Dr. Brian Noland, President of East Tennessee State University, joins tnAchieves to discuss how ETSU is expanding access, strengthening student success and creating clearer pathways from high school to college to career.
Herbert Brown, Community and Citizen Director at Turner Construction, joined the tnAchieves podcast to talk about how one of Nashville's most prominent construction firms is investing in the people behind the projects. From the Titans Construction Training Camp — a paid, five-week workforce credentialing program now in its eleventh cohort — to K–12 art competitions and job shadow experiences for students, Turner is building community partnerships alongside world-class facilities. As the new Nissan Stadium nears completion and the Bridgestone Arena renovation gets underway, Herbert's message to students is clear: connect early, build your soft skills, and know that the opportunities around you are real.
tnAchieves welcomes Alfred Degrafinreid II, President and CEO of Leadership Tennessee, to discuss leadership, education, public service and the importance of connecting leaders across Tennessee. Alfred shares his journey from Memphis to statewide leadership and reflects on how education, perseverance and service can expand opportunity for students and communities.
tnAchieves welcomes Scott Williams, President and CEO of Discovery Park of America, to discuss experiential learning, career exposure and the power of helping students “see beyond.” Located in Union City, Discovery Park connects education, tourism and community impact through hands-on exhibits and experiences that inspire students and families across Tennessee.
In this episode of the At Scale Podcast, Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp shares why he has made postsecondary access and career pathways a central focus of his leadership, and how expanding options beyond a traditional four-year degree is critical to building Tennessee’s future workforce.
In this episode of At Scale, the podcast hosted by tnAchieves, Krissy DeAlejandro and Ben Sterling sit down with Dr. Tracy Hall, president of Southwest Tennessee Community College, and Dr. Michael Torrence, president of Motlow State Community College.
Together, they explore leadership, innovation and partnership in support of student success across Tennessee’s community colleges.
Celebrate one year of At Scale with Governor Bill Haslam as he reflects on leadership, the creation of Tennessee Promise, and the power of a shared vision to drive statewide impact.
On March 23, tnAchieves released Tennessee’s Future Workforce Framework, a data-driven strategy informed by nearly 6,000 students across 81 counties that outlines how Tennessee can better connect education to workforce outcomes. The framework highlights key challenges students face—including financial barriers, limited career exposure and gaps in workforce connections—while reinforcing the impact of coaching, mentorship and targeted supports. It also establishes five core commitments to strengthen pathways to credentials of value, high-impact careers and long-term economic mobility, serving as a call to action for education, business and policymakers to align around a shared strategy to build Tennessee’s future workforce.
In this episode of At Scale, Tara Scarlett discusses expanding postsecondary access and securing stronger workforce pathways for Middle Tennessee students. The conversation explores scholarships, systems-level change, statewide education goals, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in learning. Tune in for a forward-looking discussion on leadership, collaboration, and building Tennessee’s future talent pipeline.
In Episode 23 of At Scale, Chancellor Donde Plowman of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville shares how UT is improving student outcomes through leadership, culture, and innovation. The conversation explores what it takes to create alignment in a complex institution while keeping students at the center. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.
In An Idea on a Whiteboard Part 2, former Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale returns to reflect on the bold beginnings of Knox Achieves and the statewide impact that followed through Tennessee Promise. He shares why mentorship, community service, and clear workforce pathways to credentials of value remain essential for Tennessee students today. This episode is a powerful reminder that student success is not about statistics — it is about individuals, families, and opportunity across the Volunteer State.
Tennessee’s economy is thriving, but long-term success depends on building a strong, prepared workforce. In our latest At Scale episode, Josh Brown and Stephanie Coleman share how education, talent development, and economic opportunity are coming together across the state. Listen now to hear how partnerships and career pathways are helping students access high-wage, high-demand futures.
Former Massachusetts education commissioner Jeff Riley, now leading Day of AI, joins At Scale hosts Ben Sterling and Graham Thomas to discuss how schools, teachers, and students can responsibly integrate artificial intelligence. A must-listen for K–12 administrators, educators, and postsecondary leaders, this episode explores how AI can reduce administrative burdens, personalize learning, and prepare students for the future of work—all while keeping ethics and equity at the forefront.
In this episode of tnAchieves At Scale, we sit down with Dr. Glenn Daehn and Dr. Samantha Trzinski from The Ohio State University to discuss HAMMER – Hybrid Autonomous Manufacturing, Moving from Evolution to Revolution. They share how HAMMER is advancing cutting-edge manufacturing technologies and creating new pathways for careers in automated and hybrid manufacturing. Tune in to hear how innovation, education, and workforce development are coming together to shape the future of high-tech manufacturing.
Dr. Keith Gray and Craig Pickett from UT Medical Center join the tnAchieves At Scale Podcast to discuss workforce needs in East Tennessee, preparing for allied health careers, and how UT Medical and tnAchieves partner to provide students with job shadowing and career exploration opportunities inside the hospital.
On this episode of the At Scale podcast, Tennessee Achieves President and CEO Krissy DeAlejandro and Senior Vice President Graham Thomas sit down with Senator Bo Watson, longtime representative of Hamilton County and Chair of the Senate Finance Committee. Guided by his belief that his role is to “improve quality of life for all Tennesseans,” Senator Watson discusses his path to public service, his approach to the state budget, and his vision for Tennessee’s education and workforce future.
The TN Promise scholarship offers every high school senior in the state of Tennessee the chance to go to community college or technical school tuition and mandatory fee free. As a partnering organization to the TN Promise scholarship, tnAchieves could not do the work we do without the partnership and support of the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR). In this episode of the At Scale podcast, we sit down with TBR’s Chancellor, Dr. Flora Tydings. Tune in to hear how TBR is creating a bridge between students, higher education, the community and businesses across the state.
At tnAchieves, we believe that Building Tennessee’s Future Workforce begins with ensuring that every community—especially our rural ones—as a seat at the table. That means making a commitment to making sure students are skilled, educated and prepared to meet the needs of businesses once they graduate and enter the workforce. In this episode of the At Scale podcast, we sit down with the CEO of Obion County’s Joint Economic Development Corporation (JEDC), Lindsay Theobald, and UT Martin’s Chancellor, Dr. Yancy Freeman. They talk about their deep love for living and working in rural West Tennessee and ensuring this part of our state is thriving.
Building Tennessee’s Future Workforce means having strong relationships with the chambers of commerce across the state. We often sit down with their leaders who wake up each day thinking about the best ways to drive a thriving economy, hire a diverse and talented workforce and attract the best businesses to their area. In this episode of the At Scale podcast, we sit down with Greater Memphis Chamber President & CEO, Ted Townsend to discuss how to make sure students are ready for the workforce and jobs of tomorrow.
At tnAchieves, we like to put a big tent around the word college. College is not just four-year universities. It also includes community colleges and Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs). While many may think of TCATs as being separate, they DO belong under the college umbrella; the word college is right there in the name! In this episode of the At Scale podcast, we sit down with TCAT McMinnville President Melody Edmonds and TCAT Upper Cumberland President Cliff Wightman. They talk about their journeys to leading a TCAT and the privilege of training Tennessee’s workforce. They’re also sharing the advantages of enrolling at a TCAT and also clearing up some misconceptions about the future careers available to their students; it’s not just for welding!
Building Tennessee’s Future Workforce isn’t something that tnAchieves does alone. It takes support and partnership from a variety of partners. That includes our state’s government.
In this episode of the At Scale podcast, we sit down with Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s Policy Director Michael Hendrix. He talks about the governor’s priorities while in office, which include a strong workforce, economic development and quality education. Hendrix explains why these were chosen to be focused on and how tnAchieves is uniquely suited to help push our state forward in these areas.
Ever wondered how tnAchieves began? We started in 2008 as knoxAchieves. It began as a conversation…and an idea on a whiteboard. That brainstorming idea grew into a workforce development initiative in Knox County. From there it continued to grow and scale (hence our podcast name) before becoming the statewide and nationally recognized organization it is today. In this episode of the At Scale Podcast, we take a trip down memory lane with Randy Boyd. It’s a reminder of how we began, the lessons we’ve learned along the way and where we’re headed.
Austin 2030 describes itself as a network of school, higher education, non-profit, business, civic and community leaders who are committed to improving education outcomes for children and youth in Austin, Texas. Their current focus: establish a college promise for Austin’s youth. In this episode of the At Scale Podcast, tnAchieves sits down with Stacey Oliver and Geronimo Rodriguez to talk about the work it takes to make this pathway to an Austin Promise and why it will take a community-wide effort.
At Scale
2025 Annual Report
The 2025 tnAchieves Annual Report offers a powerful look at what is possible when students are supported at scale with a human approach.
This year’s report highlights historic momentum—not only in the number of students graduating but in the way our programs are reshaping what success looks like after high school. Here are three big takeaways:
Our three-year graduation rate saw a 5 percentage point jump - representing record-setting increase in college completion supported by COMPLETE and Knox Promise.
Knox Promise’s 49.3% three-year graduation rate would place the program THIRD in the country when compared to national graduation rates.
Not only are we excited to share that we have now supported 53,168 college graduates, but we also discovered that 84.7% of our graduates are living and working in Tennessee.
The data and results confirm what we’ve always believed: supports matter.
Download the 2025 Annual Report to see how we are creating a stronger, more prepared Tennessee—one student at a time.
At Scale Newsletter
Stay up to date as we build Tennessee’s future workforce by subscribing to the At Scale Newsletter. This monthly update will include where tnAchieves has visited, new podcast episodes and updates from our workforce partners.
This month's At Scale newsletter recaps Summer Institute's conclusion at Southwest Tennessee Community College, where students wrapped six weeks of coursework with nine college credits each. It also covers the official Memphis launch of MemACCESS, a new partnership with Memphis-Shelby County Schools built on coaching, clear next steps and community investment. Finally, it highlights July's statewide Job Shadow Days, where students explored careers across more than 20 partner organizations, including a look behind the scenes with the latest At Scale episode featuring Hilton.
The June edition of the At Scale Newsletter highlights how tnAchieves continues to Build Tennessee’s Future Workforce through student success, community partnerships and workforce initiatives. This month features Summer Bridge, student-led Community Service Days and a Turner Construction site visit focused on opportunity and impact.
The May 2026 At Scale Newsletter highlights how tnAchieves is supporting students through graduation, college enrollment, workforce exploration and continued career preparation. From celebrating the Class of 2026 to gathering feedback from more than 30 school partners, tnAchieves remains focused on strengthening student support across Tennessee. This work continues through opportunities like Job Shadow Days, which connect students with employers and help Build Tennessee’s Future Workforce.
The April 2026 tnAchieves “At Scale” newsletter highlights programs advancing its mission to build Tennessee’s future workforce, emphasizing the impact of coaching and financial support on student success. A recent SCORE report found that students receiving COMPLETE Coaching and Grants were significantly more likely to persist in college, with especially strong gains among students of color. The expansion of MemCOMPLETE and MemACCESS into Shelby County is already showing promising results, including higher graduation rates among economically disadvantaged students through coaching, financial aid, and school-based support. Additionally, tnAchieves has opened registration for its Summer Bridge and Summer Institute programs, which help incoming students strengthen academic readiness and, in the case of Summer Institute, earn college credits before starting their first semester.
A University of Tennessee Boyd Center report finds that tnAchieves students who complete a post-secondary credential generate between $40.6 billion and $45.9 billion in total lifetime earnings. This demonstrates that tnAchieves drives both individual success and statewide economic growth by increasing workforce participation and earnings. Since 2009, tnAchieves has served students in 91 counties, supported 57,767 credential earners, and maintains strong partnerships with high schools and colleges across Tennessee. With 84.7 percent of graduates remaining in-state, tnAchieves strengthens local communities through a more skilled workforce and sustained economic reinvestment.
tnAchieves March 2026 newsletter highlights Tennessee’s Future Workforce Framework, shaped by feedback from nearly 6,000 TN Promise students, alongside urgent FAFSA deadline support events and statewide outreach. It also features workforce-focused training with Nissan, emphasizing career readiness, coaching, and cross-sector partnerships.
On March 23, tnAchieves released Tennessee’s Future Workforce Framework, a data-driven strategy informed by nearly 6,000 students across 81 counties that outlines how Tennessee can better connect education to workforce outcomes. The framework highlights key challenges students face—including financial barriers, limited career exposure and gaps in workforce connections—while reinforcing the impact of coaching, mentorship and targeted supports. It also establishes five core commitments to strengthen pathways to credentials of value, high-impact careers and long-term economic mobility, serving as a call to action for education, business and policymakers to align around a shared strategy to build Tennessee’s future workforce.
From supporting early graduates in Knox County to empowering students at the State Capitol and expanding career-focused mentorship statewide, tnAchieves continues to Build Tennessee’s Future Workforce. This month, we highlight how intentional hand-offs, legislative engagement and workforce mentorship are strengthening student success from high school through career entry. With data-backed results and growing statewide impact, these initiatives are helping students graduate at higher rates and step confidently into Tennessee’s workforce. Read more in our February At Scale Newsletter.
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Hilton has been a tnAchieves partner since 2011, opening its doors to students through job shadow days, internships, and its early-talent Launch program. On this episode of At Scale, Hope Thomas, Senior Manager of HR Consulting at Hilton, joins hosts Ben Sterling and Tyler Ford to talk about what that partnership looks like in practice and why it matters. They cover career exposure, professional skill-building, workplace culture, and what students should know as they think about post-secondary opportunity and career pathways in Tennessee.