Turner's Tyson a "VIP"
Wayne Tyson supports various education initiatives

While most acknowledge public education needs to modernize and grow to meet the new demands of the world, few take action. Whether in a school or workforce setting, advancements in technology increase the demand for more hands-on learning and real-world application. Turner Industries' Wayne Tyson recognizes these needs for modernizing education. In the past year alone he has both teamed with the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) to restructure leadership industry curriculum, and joined the board of directors of Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS).

With Wayne's help, NCCER's revised curriculum better accommodates an evolving workforce. New modules emphasize hands-on and soft skills training. These attributes can be used as a teaching tool for all crafts, including communications, scheduling and estimating.

Wayne says, "The new curriculum stresses the importance of continuing education and technology, while including project planning, scheduling, estimating and management skills." Wayne and six others from industrial and commercial businesses met multiple times to discuss and determine better ways to improve the curriculum to fit all businesses.

"We have found Fundamentals for Crew Leadership to be an extremely valuable resource in our efforts to train, equip and promote our employees as they strive to improve themselves and our company," said Jay Tournquist, instructor and Master Trainer at Willmar Electric Service.

Students who successfully complete Fundamentals for Crew Leadership through an NCCER Accredited Training Sponsor will earn industry-recognized credentials. The credentials are verifiable through the NCCER Automated National Registry. To date, nearly 1,000 Turner employees have graduated from the program.

However, Wayne isn't just concerned with the state of education within the workforce. Tyson's belief in bettering education starts at the roots: public education. As a director of VIPS he will work toward supporting students with educational and financial needs, while building support for the public education system within the community. Wayne, began his one year term of volunteer board service on July 1st. "I am most looking forward to fostering student success and building support for our public education system," Wayne said.

Wayne's dedication to a better workforce and community embodies Turner's philanthropic vision: investing in volunteerism and social and public partnerships will inevitably result in positive neighborhoods.