The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company donated two replacement tag axle tires to the Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC®) program for the GO TEC Mobile Lab. GO TEC is a workforce development project administered by the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in partnership with various collaborators and supporters.
“As a long-time supporter of education in the Danville area, Goodyear recognizes the importance of offering opportunities for local students that will allow them to experience STEM firsthand in a unique and engaging way. We’re proud to be able to provide tires for the GO TEC Mobile Lab and contribute to the success of students and educators in our region.” – Dave Cumbo, Manufacturing Director, Goodyear
(From left to right) Laura Singleton, Communications Manager; Brookes Spong, Production Manager; Jacob Taylor, GO TEC Technical and Training Manager; Dave Cumbo, Manufacturing Director; Sean Milhoan, Finance Business Partner; Anthony Pass, Materials Manager; Jennifer Vernon, Human Resources Manager; and Wes Strader, Procurement Leader, pose with a laser-cut and -engraved custom plaque recognizing Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company for their ongoing support of the Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers program, administered by the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research. The plaque was made using the laser cutter that is on board the GO TEC Mobile Lab (pictured in the background).
As the GO TEC program expands across Virginia, the bus has traveled from Bristol to Hampton Roads, providing engaging and interactive STEM career experiences for students and training and demonstration experiences for teachers and school administrators.
“We appreciate the donation of these tires for the GO TEC Mobile Lab, which is important for introducing students, teachers, administrators and others across the Commonwealth to the GO TEC program and to STEM careers.” – Angela Rigney, GO TEC Director
The GO TEC Mobile Lab is a 46-foot-long freightliner bus equipped with its own Wi-Fi and power. With slides that open to expand the interior, the bus can bring in more than 20 students at a time to participate in career-inspiring activities in sectors like robotics, IT and cybersecurity, metrology and more. The GO TEC team utilizes the mobile lab for teacher training, as a recruitment tool for incoming middle school students, and as a demonstration for teachers and school division administration who are interested in the GO TEC curriculum. The GO TEC Mobile Lab is deployed exclusively in partnership with participating and prospective GO TEC localities.
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company employees Anthony Pass, Materials Manager (striped shirt), and Trucker Robert Hand (black shirt) help Jacob Taylor, GO TEC Technical and Training Manager, load a donation of tires into the GO TEC Mobile Lab. The mobile lab is a hands-on demonstration opportunity for participants and prospects of the workforce development program, expected to serve more than 9,000 students and 50 middle schools by 2025 across the state.
About GO TEC®
Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC®) uses a hub-and-spoke model to progressively generate the desired robust talent pipeline across the Commonwealth of Virginia for strategic sectors like precision machining, welding, IT coding and networking, automation and robotics, and others. Middle schoolers are introduced early to the occupations and base skill training in GO TEC Career Connections Labs. They are then connected in high school to expanded career and technical courses, industry certification programs and dual-enrollment training opportunities. Finally, they may progress to advanced level training at a hub educational provider. GO TEC is administered by the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research.
About IALR
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves Virginia as a regional catalyst for economic transformation with applied research, advanced learning, advanced manufacturing, conference center services and economic development efforts. IALR’s major footprint focuses within Southern Virginia, including the counties of Patrick, Henry, Franklin, Pittsylvania, Halifax, and Mecklenburg, as well as the cities of Martinsville and Danville.
