Chattanooga 2.0 Builds Promising Careers and Meets Workforce Needs 

©Journal Communications/Nathan Lambrecht

Jack Matherly works as a welder and, at 19 years old, just rented his own apartment for the first time. 

“I’m the last one out of the house, so I wanted to give my parents a little space for a change,” says Matherly, who is the youngest of seven siblings. 

His full-time job at Miller Industries, a Chattanooga-based tow truck manufacturer, has given Matherly more than just the means to fly the nest – it has given him a sense of pride in his work and optimism about the future. 

“You get to make something, you get to put your name on stuff that helps out the world,” he says. “You see the tow trucks we’re building out on the roads every day.” 

Opening Doors 

Putting local students on the road to fulfilling and rewarding careers is a primary goal of the Viable Pathways to Prosperity program, which is how Matherly found his way to welding. Chattanooga 2.0, an education-focused nonprofit organization, has built out several career pathways over the last two years in partnership with local employers and educators. 

Welding, electrical line working and data analysis pathways have launched, with plans to develop similar pathways for dental hygienists, cybersecurity professionals and electricians, among others. Each pathway is developed in tight partnership with area employers that have roles to fill, and training is coordinated through local resources. 

The Viable Pathways to Prosperity program targets careers with a starting wage of at least $50,000 and clear opportunities for advancement. 

“This isn’t just about general labor needs – this is very specific. When you get specific, you can really get things done,” says Keri Randolph, the executive director of Chattanooga 2.0. 

Focusing on the Future 

Matherly was a senior at East Ridge High School when the leaders of the Viable Pathways to Prosperity program visited with students and piqued his curiosity about a career in welding. The team was extremely supportive and informative, and even helped make sure his training fees were covered. And, in addition to welding training, Matherly had training in skills including time management, financial literacy, team building, conflict resolution and professional branding. These topics have been just as important as technical skills. 

“They treated us like adults, they gave us the opportunity to succeed, and if we took it, we had the best opportunity in the world,” he says. 

Though high school students are an important audience for the program, outreach and career education can begin as early as upper elementary, Randolph says. 

“We know that kids start to decide what they’re good at and what they want to be when they grow up in third, fourth, fifth grade,” she says. “We know that inspiration and exploration start early.”