Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee is best known for its stores, but the stores are only the start. On this episode of At Scale, Chief Mission Officer Cindy Varner joins hosts Ben Sterling and Graham Thomas to talk about how retail revenue funds education, training and employment services across 48 counties. She walks through Goodwill’s new Opportunity Center in Nashville, short-term training in construction, welding, IT and healthcare built with employers and the tools Goodwill uses to reach rural communities. Cindy also shares plans for an Excel Center adult high school in Nashville and what employers say people need to succeed on the job.

Tractor Supply Company is headquartered in Tennessee, operates roughly 97 stores across the state and hires the customers it serves. On this episode of At Scale, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Melissa Kersey joins hosts Ben Sterling and Graham Thomas to talk about the careers behind the storefront, from merchandising and cybersecurity to supply chain, veterinary services and a paid internship program that brings in about 100 students a year. Melissa also shares what she tells every new store manager, why Tractor Supply expanded tuition assistance for part-time and full-time team members and which skills matter most for students entering the workforce.

Sylvamo is headquartered in Memphis, and its investment in the city goes well beyond an address on a building. On this episode of At Scale, Neki Catron, Global Community Engagement Manager at Sylvamo, joins hosts Krissy DeAlejandro and Tyler Ford to talk about volunteerism, mentorship and why her team treats education as a strategic investment rather than charity. The conversation covers her path from Memphis native to dream job, what Sylvamo looks for in a future workforce and how MemACCESS and MemComplete connect students to postsecondary credentials and careers.