Nashville State Graduates, Cat Financial Apprentices Complete Program

During a special ceremony on the college’s White Bridge campus, Nashville State graduates and current Cat Financial employees Jorge Rosario Agosto and Ramiro Valdez celebrated the completion of their apprenticeship program right where their journey began.

Early in 2023, Nashville State and Cat Financial announced a 20-month Information Technology apprenticeship program.

The program offers students paid on-the-job career experience as they work toward their associate degree.

The Tennessee Department of Labor and the Middle Tennessee Workforce Board fully support the program.

Jorge and Ramiro were the first two inaugural apprentices. They both graduated with Information Technology A.A.S. degrees in spring of 2024. Now, having completed their paid 20-month apprenticeship, they will each transition to new roles within the company while they work towards their goal of a bachelor’s degree.

“This partnership is an innovative approach to foster local IT career interest while providing Cat Financial with a talent pipeline,” said Dr. Shanna L. Jackson, Nashville State president.

Current Nashville State information technology students Justin Crowley and Stephanie Pedigo are nearly halfway through their journey at Cat Financial as the second cohort of apprentices.

Cat Financial is a subsidiary of Caterpillar, the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives. Cat Financial provides a wide range of financing solutions to customers and Cat® dealers for machines, engines, Solar® turbines, genuine Cat parts and services. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Cat Financial serves customers globally with offices and subsidiaries located throughout North and South America, Asia, Australia, Europe and Africa. Visit cat.com to learn more about Cat Financial.