Tom Looney, the retired senior executive at Lenoovo who championed bringing business to North Carolina, is in his latest career seeking to boost the state through apprenticeships for Wake Tech Community College at area employers. In an exclusive Q&A, Looney talks about giving back and how apprenticeships could help address a growing need for skilled workers.

Wake Tech and Lenovo recently announced a partnership that landed a dozen students paying positions at the global high-tech company, which operates one of its two global headquarters in Morrisville. Plus, Looney helped Wake Tech land a $3 million grant to develop a cybersecurity program along with SAS and IBM. Big Blue also has selected Wake Tech as one of the schools it will work with to develop what IBM Chair and CEO Ginni Rometty calls “new collar jobs.”

The latest news made headlines, but Looney has worked with Wake Tech for several years – and now he’s increasing that commitment.

  • In your retirement from Lenovo/IBM, why did you decide to get involved with Wake Tech?

I have been involved with Wake Tech for a number of years. I saw the impact that Wake Tech had changing people’s lives in our community. I often ask people where they went to school. When they said Wake Tech they lead me through their personal journey to securing a job and independence.

I was appointed to the Board of Trustees and later elected Chair of the Board. My retirement allowed to me focus more time on Wake Tech.

I used this time to leverage relationships with the IT business community in preparation for the new RTP campus. I did not want the IT community to be partners with Wake Tech but take ownership and become part of the fabric of Wake Tech. This effort included securing support for technology, curriculum and internships.

  • What sets the Wake Tech apprenticeship program apart from others?

It is a program developed, implemented and owned by the business community, Wake Tech and the State Department of IT.

We are addressing the needs of all students including those starting a career, building a new career or rejoining the workforce. This provides opportunity to everyone seeking to better their lives and the lives of their families. It also promotes diversity which is critically important in the IT industry today.

We want to encourage and support women and underrepresented minorities to enter this high growth, high paying segment of the market.

  • Why are you advocating apprenticeships for Wake tech students? How do they benefit? How do the companies such as Lenovo benefit?

These internships provide students with real life business experience. This includes soft skills such as problem solving, collaboration and effective communications. It prepares them for future jobs and helps ensure their success in the workplace. It allows companies to mentor these students and most times they will be hired directly out of school. Workforce development must be owned by both the private and public sector.

When it is, everyone wins in the long term. Companies recognize that today. This collaborative approach to workforce development will fuel accelerated business recruitment in our state.

As we engaged the IT community, we validated there was aggressive competition for talent in the private sector, however, the state was also challenged in attracting and retaining IT talent. They had to compete with the private sector and the private sector was attracting their skilled employees.

In addition, there was a large population at the state approaching retirement. To address this issue the team developed an offering that included a scholarship at Wake Tech and an internship at Lenovo.

To receive both the student must commit to work at the NC Department of Information Technology for two years. This program will start in 2018 and we expect to scale it with additional partners very quickly. This ultimate collaboration and team work sets North Carolina apart from other states.

North Carolina is a true innovator and leader when it comes to workforce development.

In part two of our Q&A, Looney talks about the increasing popularity of apprenticeship programs and the growing number of companies interested in working with Wake Tech.