Workforce Development

Knoxville, Tenn. – October 08, 2026 -- The Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has launched the Institute for the Future of Business, a new initiative designed to align business education with industry needs as AI and other emerging technologies reshape corporate operations.

Institute emerges alongside college's inaugural AInnovation Summit

The institute was created alongside Haslam's first AInnovation Summit, a two-day collaboration event focused on the business ramifications of AI. Unlike the summit, the institute establishes an ongoing structure for collaboration between corporate leaders, researchers, educators and students, according to Haslam Dean Stephen L. Mangum.

Milford, Mass. – October 08, 2026 -- Highbar Physical Therapy opened its 57th outpatient clinic in Milford, Massachusetts, expanding a network that began as a single Pawtucket, R.I. practice in 1999.

Clinician-led chain traces roots to 1999 Rhode Island clinic

Highbar started as Performance Physical Therapy in Pawtucket before adopting the Highbar name in 2023. The organization now operates 57 locations across Rhode Island and Massachusetts under four brands: Highbar Physical Therapy, Joint Ventures Physical Therapy, Peak Physical Therapy, and Physical Therapy U.

CEO frames Milford launch as continuation of uniform clinical standard

"Milford is our 57th location, and the standard is the same in every clinic," said Michelle Collie, PT, DPT, MS, CEO of Highbar Physical Therapy. Brian Simons, PT, DPT, NCS, Clinic Director at the new Milford site, said the goal is "expert, individualized care close to home."

Eighty Four, Pa. – October 08, 2026 -- 84 Lumber has graduated more than 30 associates from its Production Manager in Training program since relaunching it roughly two years ago, with six advancing directly into plant manager roles across the company's truss manufacturing network.

Winchester facility anchors leadership pipeline for 22 truss plants

The training program is based at 84 Lumber's Winchester, Virginia, facility, one of 22 truss plant locations the company operates across 13 states. Associates spend nine to 12 months rotating through production, design, dispatch and customer service before progressing into manufacturing leadership.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. – October 08, 2026 -- I-CAR will debut three new training courses and an ADAS-equipped display vehicle at the 2026 SEMA Show, expanding its push to equip collision repair professionals for increasingly sensor-dependent vehicles.

I-CAR launches three new courses covering diagnostics, blueprinting and glue pull repair

The nonprofit education organization is adding Introduction to Diagnostics and Scan Tools, Understanding the Blueprinting Process, and Glue Pull Repair (GPR) to its 2026 SEMA lineup, held in classrooms S224 and S225. Returning courses include Requirements and Considerations for ADAS Calibration, GMA/MIG Welding Basics and GMA/MIG Welding Advanced Features. Attendees who complete both sessions in a paired bundle and pass the post-course test earn two I-CAR course credits toward annual training requirements.

San Mateo, Calif. – October 06, 2026 -- Avarra has closed a $17 million Series A round after growing annual recurring revenue more than 400% year-over-year, betting that AI should upskill sales teams rather than automate routine tasks.

Duration Ventures leads round with Zoom, Lightspeed backing

The round was led by Duration Ventures, with participation from Lightspeed Venture Partners, Draper Associates, GTMfund, Alumni Ventures, and a strategic investment from Zoom. Avarra runs natively on Zoom's platform.

Contracted enterprise ARR jumps 698% year-over-year

Contracted ARR from mid-market and enterprise customers grew 698% year-over-year, and sales teams now run more than 10,000 AI coaching and role-play sessions on the platform each week. Customers including Elastic, Masimo, Proofpoint, Netskope, and Owner.com report ramp times cut roughly in half and measurable lifts in win rate.

Richmond, Va. – October 06, 2026 -- Contractor Training Center (CTC) has launched three new exam prep programs targeting North Carolina's Limited, Intermediate, and Unlimited electrical contractor licensing exams, with course-only preparation starting at $349.

North Carolina's three contractor tiers carry distinct project-value ceilings

The state's Limited classification caps projects at $60,000, Intermediate allows up to $150,000, and Unlimited carries no ceiling. Candidates can apply directly for the classification matching their documented experience without progressing sequentially through tiers.

Hope, N.J. – October 06, 2026 -- First Hope Bank recognized 18 associates with a combined 245 years of service at a luau-themed gathering held at Perona Farms in Andover, New Jersey.

Eighteen employees mark milestones from five to 30 years at the community bank

Cecilia Metzgar was honored for 30 years of service, the longest tenure among this year's group. Jennifer Finer and Aimee Zschack reached 25-year milestones, while Thomas D'Urso, Deborah O'Brien, and Deena Smith each completed 20 years. Scott Barretta, Dawn Colombaris, Diane Lindner, and Daniel Pimentel were recognized for 15 years of service, and Timothy Smith marked a decade with the bank. Seven associates -- Angelica Chapman, Kacey Gallagher, Keri Marino, Jessica Morris, Christopher Motto, Katherine Perea, and Robert Knox -- celebrated five-year anniversaries.

Phoenix – – October 06, 2026 -- The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) has reinstated Andrew Wyant as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately, as the fitness industry grapples with a widening gap between hiring demand and job-ready talent. Wyant succeeds Warren Heffelfinger and previously led ISSA from February 2018 to April 2024, a period during which annual revenue grew from roughly $10 million to nearly $80 million.

TOCCOA – October 05, 2026 -- Connor Wallace, a senior at Stephens County High School working at ASI Southeast, has been named Georgia's 2026 Work-Based Learning Student of the Year, an award he received September 24 at the Governor's Workforce Summit in Atlanta from Governor Brian Kemp. The recognition caps a nine-year partnership between the commercial manufacturer and Stephens County Schools that now supplies roughly 10 percent of ASI's Georgia workforce.

Georgia's work-based learning pipeline enrolled 32,518 students across 24,582 employers in the latest school year

ASI Southeast, which makes commercial toilet partitions and lockers for ASI Global Partitions and ASI Storage at its Toccoa plant roughly 90 miles northeast of Atlanta, built its own program as a direct response to a tight skilled-labor market in northeast Georgia.

Chapel Hill, N.C. – – October 05, 2026 -- Michael Jordan has committed $10 million to the University of North Carolina School of Social Work, the largest single gift in the school's history, honoring his mother Deloris P. Jordan and funding scholarships, research centers and workforce development initiatives.

Gift renames global research center after Deloris P. Jordan

The commitment will rename the Global Social Development Innovations Center, established in 2017, as the Deloris P. Jordan Global Social Development Innovations Center. The center designs and evaluates evidence-based interventions for youth and family well-being in partnership with local organizations worldwide.