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Chattanooga Launches Nation’s First Quantum Pre-Apprenticeship Program
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (May 6, 2026)Federally aligned workforce program offers paid, applied learning opportunity to help professionals and organizations prepare for emerging quantum technologies
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (May 6, 2026)
The Chattanooga Quantum Collaborative (CQC) and BuildWithin today launched the nation’s first quantum pre-apprenticeship: a paid, 12-week program built on the U.S. Department of Labor’s apprenticeship framework and designed to prepare early-and mid-career professionals to lead quantum adoption inside their companies as the technology moves from research labs into commercial use.The program runs from June 29 through September 18, 2026, and will include 10 participants in the inaugural cohort, each of whom will receive a $2,500 stipend upon completion. BuildWithin, a U.S. Department of Labor National Apprenticeship Program Sponsor, will deliver the pre-apprenticeship curriculum through its workforce technology platform. The program is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation, awarded to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Research Institute, which is leading this work and supporting this program in partnership with CQC.
“This is an important step in translating quantum from something people hear about into something professionals can engage with directly,” said Charlie Brock, CEO of the Chattanooga Quantum Collaborative. “Innovation often starts with people already inside organizations who are curious about what’s next. We’re activating those intrapreneurs and giving them a structured pathway to bring quantum back to their teams.”
The launch arrives at an inflection point for the U.S. quantum economy. As investments accelerate and commercial systems come online, regions across the country are racing to build the workforce required to capture economic value from the technology, and to do so without the multi-year delay that slowed cloud adoption. Gartner estimated insufficient cloud skills pushed enterprise migration back by two years or more, and the same pattern is now constraining AI.
“Quantum has the potential to define Chattanooga’s economic future and partnerships are key to its success,” said Tim Kelly, Mayor of Chattanooga. “A pre-apprenticeship that’s accessible to working Chattanoogans across a variety of technical fields is another step in preparing our workforce for what’s coming.”
”At the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, we translate research into opportunity for our students, our industry partners, and our community,” said Chancellor Lori Mann Bruce. “Through the UT Chattanooga Quantum Center, we are advancing quantum research and have the national and international partnerships that align our students with the career opportunities of the quantum future. Programs like this pre-apprenticeship expand access, strengthen our workforce, and position Chattanooga to shape what comes next.”
A different kind of quantum workforce
Unlike many post-secondary quantum programs aimed at physicists and Ph.D. researchers, the pre-apprenticeship is designed for working professionals with a technical baseline: IT specialists, analysts, and operations leaders across various sectors such as logistics, healthcare, energy, and technology. The program does not require advanced degrees in physics or mathematics and emphasizes practical application within participants’ existing roles.
“Helping local professionals prepare for future economic opportunity as Chattanooga positions itself as a hub for the emerging quantum technology industry is part of EPB’s mission to serve our community,” said EPB President and CEO-elect Janet Rehberg. “Quantum technology is no longer theoretical. Companies are already using quantum to create growth opportunities. We’re working to help people in our area benefit as quantum advances and creates new jobs.”
Delivered primarily online through the BuildWithin platform, the curriculum combines asynchronous coursework with live support, industry speakers, and a capstone project. Participants will progress from foundational quantum concepts to hands-on exposure with tools and content informed by IonQ, IBM, D-Wave, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and other open-source resources.
A group of Quantum Learning Guides will host rotating office hours, and each participant will be paired with a mentor to help connect coursework to real-world organizational challenges. As a capstone, participants will develop a proposed quantum use case for their current employer.
A replicable national model
The program is intentionally structured on the U.S. Department of Labor’s apprenticeship framework, the same federal system that has trained American workers across more than 1,000 occupations for nearly a century. By anchoring quantum workforce development in that infrastructure, the partnership creates a pathway other states and regions can adopt without standing up new programs from scratch.
“Every wave of transformative technology scales through workers who solve problems where they sit. Cloud did. AI is. Quantum will too,” said Philip Minardi, Co-Founder of BuildWithin. “We built this program with CQC so Chattanooga’s mid-career professionals can become their company’s quantum expert through a structured, proven pre-apprenticeship pathway.”
Chattanooga has emerged as an early hub for quantum activity, with assets including a commercially available quantum network, an on-site quantum computer coming online this month, partnerships with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and growing university and industry collaboration. The pre-apprenticeship adds an additional workforce layer to that ecosystem.
“This pre-apprenticeship opportunity continues our community’s connected efforts to build jobs and trainings into those jobs at the same time,” said Andrew Hudson, Director of Workforce Development Strategy at the City of Chattanooga. “Quantum will provide next generation technology, and through programs like this, continued access to economic mobility for Chattanoogans.”
Applications for the inaugural Quantum Ready Cohort are now open, with participant selection in June. Apply HERE through the One Chattanooga Works platform. CQC also welcomes inquiries from those interested in serving as Quantum Learning Guides or mentors.
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About the Chattanooga Quantum Collaborative (CQC)
The Chattanooga Quantum Collaborative is a nonprofit organization aligning education, industry, and research around the region’s emerging quantum sector. By advancing partnerships and building talent pathways, CQC supports workforce readiness and long-term economic growth in the Chattanooga/Hamilton County region. Learn more at www.ChattanoogaQuantum.com.
About BuildWithin
BuildWithin is a workforce technology company building the intelligence layer for how American talent is developed, matched, and mobilized. As a U.S. Department of Labor National Apprenticeship Program Sponsor, BuildWithin operates apprenticeship programs across more than 50 DOL-approved occupations and provides AI-driven systems for skills matching and workforce mobility for employers, intermediaries, and public workforce systems nationwide. Learn more at www.BuildWithin.com.
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Guardian Fire Services Completes Acquisition of Houston Fire & Security
Nashville, TN Guardian Fire Services, a national leader in fire and life safety services, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Houston Fire & Security, a provider of commercial fire protection and security systems and services to Houston and the surrounding area. Founded in 2000, Houston Fire & Security has forged a reputation as […]
Nashville, TN
Guardian Fire Services, a national leader in fire and life safety services, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Houston Fire & Security, a provider of commercial fire protection and security systems and services to Houston and the surrounding area.
Founded in 2000, Houston Fire & Security has forged a reputation as a trusted provider of life safety services to local customers, founded in reliability and local expertise.
The investment marks Guardian’s expansion into Texas and strengthens its position as a leading comprehensive fire protection and life safety services nationally. The investment will complement Guardian’s existing services, by incorporating Houston Fire & Security’s suite of fire alarm, sprinkler, extinguisher, and kitchen hood services into its offering.
Ray Misfeldt, CEO of Guardian Fire Services, said:
“At Guardian, we believe the best way to serve our customers is by partnering with exceptional local companies that share our commitment to quality, safety, and service. The acquisitions of Houston Fire & Security and Midwest Protection Services expand our presence in two important markets and strengthen our ability to deliver world-class fire and life safety solutions. By combining trusted local relationships with Guardian’s investment in people, technology, and operational excellence, we are building a national platform that sets a new standard for our industry. We look forward to continuing this growth with the support of Investcorp.”
Guardian’s investment in Houston Fire & Security is its third add-on investment since Investcorp’s North America Private Equity acquisition of the business in December 2025.
Vincent Bonoan, Founder of Houston Fire & Security, also added:
“After 26 years of building this company, choosing the right partner for its next chapter was deeply important to me. Guardian Fire Services stood out through their leadership, integrity, and genuine respect for our people. I’m confident our employees, customers, and legacy are in trusted hands, and I’m excited about what the future holds as part of the Guardian Fire Services family.”
Notably, earlier in July of this year, Guardian also acquired Midwest Protection Services guardianfireholdings.com , a leading Omaha, Nebraska-based provider of fire and life safety solutions for commercial customers. That acquisition also strengthened Guardian’s presence in the Midwest and expanded its ability to deliver comprehensive fire and life safety coverage to customers throughout the greater Omaha region.
Tim Rozmajzl, Co-Founder, Midwest Protection Services also stated:
“Guardian Fire Services is the right partner for Midwest Protection Services. Their commitment to quality, customer service, employees, and long-term relationships aligns closely with the values that have guided our business for more than 20 years. Together, we can build on the trusted local service our customers expect while leveraging Guardian’s resources to support continued growth and an even stronger future.”
About Guardian Fire Services
Guardian Fire Services provides nationwide fire and life safety solutions, including system installation, inspections, testing, monitoring, maintenance, and emergency support. Guided by its philosophy of National Fire and Life Safety. Local Expertise, Guardian Fire Services operates through a growing network of local partner companies, each maintaining deep community relationships and technical proficiency while benefiting from the scale and support of a national platform. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Guardian Fire Services serves commercial, industrial, healthcare, and educational customers across the United States, 24/7.
For more information, visit guardianfireholdings.com
Media Contact Details
William Lockhart
Corporate Marketing Manager
Email: Send Email
Phone: +16159813006
Website: guardianfireholdings.com
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Puppy Playground Named “Versatile Product of the Year” in the 2026 Pet Innovation Awards
Alexandria, VirginiaThe Alexandria company’s modular dog play system earns recognition for adaptable, commercial-grade design trusted in more than 12,000 facilities worldwide
The Alexandria company's modular dog play system earns recognition for adaptable, commercial-grade design trusted in more than 12,000 facilities worldwide
Alexandria, Virginia
Puppy Playground, the maker of modular dog playground equipment used in more than 12,000 facilities worldwide, has been named Versatile Product of the Year in the 2026 Pet Innovation Awards.
The award, presented by the Independent Innovation Awards, recognizes products across the pet care industry for creativity, usability, safety, and real-world impact. Puppy Playground took its category for one idea it has refined since 1994. Play equipment should bend to fit the dog and the space, not the other way around.
Every piece connects through the company’s Bone Connector system. Staff set each ramp, stair, tabletop, or platform onto hidden plastic connectors that lock them together. The pieces release in seconds. A full layout can come apart, get cleaned, and go back together as something new in minutes, which is exactly what a busy daycare floor needs when turnover and sanitation never let up.
The equipment is molded from commercial-grade polyethylene, with rounded edges, non-slip surfaces, and non-porous finishes that resist bacteria and withstand years of weather and daily use. The system is made to order in the USA and scales from the Mini Series for puppies and small dogs to the PRO Series for large breeds.
Because the Mini and PRO lines share the same connectors, a facility can start with a few pieces and expand to dozens without replacing what it already owns.
The company’s story goes back to 1988, when the Bessette family bought a run-down boarding kennel in Ormond Beach. Six years in, they had traced most of the behavior problems they saw to two causes: too much unspent energy and too little socialization. The group play areas they built to solve both became the foundation of the business Puppy Playground is today.
About Puppy Playground
Puppy Playground has designed and manufactured commercial-grade dog playground equipment since 1994. Based in Alexandria, Virginia, the company builds modular, made-in-USA play systems that support exercise, confidence, and socialization for dogs in daycares, boarding facilities, shelters, and homes worldwide. Learn more at Puppy Playground.
Media Contact Details
Jennifer Villa
MJI Marketing Agency
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Website: mjimarketing.com
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Valtorc International is proud to offer our USA fabricated METAL SEATED 3 WAY BALL VALVES
Kennesaw, Georgia Valtorc International : USA Manufacturing Operations Valtorc international USA manufacturing operations has announced the completion of their new High Performance 3 Way all 316 Stainless Steel METAL SEATED ball valves.S372M series. These High performance 3 way ball valve packages, are being used in various industries worldwide. Chemical plant operations, Oil and Gas […]
Kennesaw, Georgia
Valtorc International : USA Manufacturing Operations
Valtorc international USA manufacturing operations has announced the completion of their new High Performance 3 Way all 316
Stainless Steel METAL SEATED ball valves.S372M series. These High performance 3 way ball valve packages, are being used in various industries worldwide. Chemical plant operations, Oil and Gas refineries, Food Processing plants, Water treatment facilities , and many other manufacturing plants worldwide. We are very proud of our engineering team, for the production and implementation, and fabrication of this high performance package. These packages are available in sizes from 1/2″” to 2″, in all stainless steel material, All packages are available with Pneumatic or Electric automation. Or can be used manually if required. We are very excited to promote these High quality packages, and are looking for qualified customers and distributors worldwide to help us promote these packages …
Valtorc International P.O. Box 1928 Kennesaw Georgia 30156
Call us. 770-423-7100
A J Bental
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.valtorc.com
Guardian Fire Services Completes Acquisition of Houston Fire & Security
Puppy Playground Named “Versatile Product of the Year” in the 2026 Pet Innovation Awards
Valtorc International is proud to offer our USA fabricated METAL SEATED 3 WAY BALL VALVES
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