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This article was originally published on February 24, 2016
Jimmy Kee of McKenzie has joined the faculty at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology to meet the growing job training demand from students, including Tennessee Promise and Tennessee Reconnect applicants.
Kee, welding instructor at TCAT McKenzie, will teach welding at the former TCAT Elizabethton location, 1500 Arney Street in Elizabethton. The new class, which has a maximum 17 students already admitted, began Feb. 29.
Funds for the program were made possible by a $650,000 grant presented to TCAT Elizabethton by Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, in June of 2015. Funds were to be used to add a new machine tool program at the main campus and to start an additional welding program.
“My first experience with the welding trade was 47 years ago in high school. After high school I completed my combination welding diploma at the state area vocational technical school (currently TCAT McKenzie). I have been blessed over the years to have had the opportunity to share my knowledge of welding techniques and skills with prospective student welders to meet the changing needs in today’s workforce,” Kee said.
From 1979 to 1997, Kee was employed as a journeyman boilermaker at the TVA Power Plant at New Johnsonville, Tennessee prior to joining TCAT McKenzie in 1997. He holds various certifications, including robot programming, SkillsUSA lead advisor, ASME welding qualifications, AWS Section 106 member and vice chair, blood borne pathogens, CPR, HazMat Safety, U.S. Dept. of Labor Apprenticeship Boilermaker and Title VI training.
Since 2003, Kee has received numerous awards from the American Welding Society, as well as the District Director Certificate Award, Section Educator Award, Section Meritorious Certificate Award, District Educator Award, and Howard E. Adkins Memorial Instructor of the Year award from AWS – National. Kee and his wife, Judy, have three children and four grandchildren.
Dale Hicks, lead welding instructor at TCAT Elizabethton, said Kee brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the position. Kee had a 90 to 95 percent placement rate of welding graduates while at TCAT McKenzie.
The TCAT welding program teaches the techniques of welding processes commonly used in industry, such as Shielded Metal Arc (STICK), Gas Tungsten Arc (TIG) and Gas Metal Arc (MIG).
“Instruction in the operation of flame cutting, plasma cutting, grinding, metal preparation and use of tools and equipment, related math, physical properties of metal, effects of heath thickness allowances, shrinkage, basic joint design, layout and fabrication are provided,” Hicks said.
TCAT Elizabethton also offers a day welding class and part-time program in the evening at the Main Campus.
