Dr. Jeff McCord assumed leadership of Northeast State in September 2022. Prior to his selection as president, Dr. McCord served as the Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development in from January 2019 until September 2022. Under McCord’s leadership as Commissioner, Tennessee developed its first multi-agency comprehensive workforce development strategy, grew employment to the highest level in state history, and raised apprenticeships to the highest level in state history.

Previously, McCord spent several years in higher education primarily focusing on workforce development including: leading the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing, a nationally recognized technical training facility; leading the development of Tennessee’s first registered apprenticeship program through a post-secondary institution; and serving as the lead administrator for the award-winning Kingsport Academic Village.

McCord also spent over twenty years in business and industry holding a variety of leadership positions primarily in a Fortune 500 company. He has specific experience related to corporate learning and development, organizational effectiveness, process improvement, and information technology.

President McCord is a writer and Twilight Times Books published his debut novel Awkward Grace in 2008. He has also written more than 500 columns for two Tennessee newspapers. McCord received his Bachelor of Science degree from Georgia Tech. He went on to earn a Master of Business Administration from Kennesaw State University and his Doctorate in Learning & Leadership from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

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