Inside IALR

IALR has grown really fast. But, as President Telly Tucker explains, growth alone isn’t the goal. In this conversation, Telly reflects on four years as president, sharing what it’s like to lead an organization that’s quadrupled in size, why culture matters more than ever during rapid change, and the real stories that make the work meaningful. It’s a candid look at leadership, impact and what comes...

Cedric and Ethan Bond are brothers who took very different paths before finding the same destination: training through the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program and careers at Newport News Shipbuilding.  In this episode, they talk about career crossroads, the reality of hands-on training, and why building ships for the U.S. Navy feels personal—especially with a brother curre...

Recruiting skilled manufacturing talent is expensive, time-consuming, and unpredictable. But it doesn’t have to be. Recorded during a recent career fair for the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program at IALR, this episode features Slade Gardner from Big Metal Additive, John Duncan from Penn United Technology and Ashley Webb from Vulcan Tool Company. They explain why they rely...

In this special mini episode, IALR President Telly Tucker sits down with Casie Hansen , who recently graduated from the Non-Destructive Testing track of the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM). Casie shares how she discovered ATDM, what it was like to uproot her life and start over in her 40s and how the program’s training and wraparound support helped her step confidently into a...

What does it actually take to move a new technology from the lab to the shop floor and make it stick?  In this episode of Inside IALR , host Caleb Ayers is joined by Jason Wells, John Ring, Josh Sims, and Jeremiah Williams for a deep dive into IALR's Center for Manufacturing Advancement (CMA).  Together, they highlight how CMA functions as a hands-on optimization arm focused on operationalizi...

What does it really take for families in Southern Virginia to make a living — no extras, just the basics? And are those jobs actually available? In this data-rich episode, host Caleb Ayers talks with Jessie Vernon, Director of Employer Engagement and Experiential Learning at IALR, and economist Colin Emberland from Chmura Analytics. Together, they break down the Southern Virginia Living Wage and J...

GO TEC — Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers — is transforming how middle schoolers explore potential futures. Today’s episode dives deep into how it works.  Host Caleb Ayers sits down with GO TEC teachers Laurie Cossaboon and Justin Adams, along with GO TEC Region 3 Training Coordinator Chris Griffith, to unpack the program’s statewide expansion and classroom impact. The con...

What do submarines, aircraft and even theme park rides have in common? They all rely on Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) to ensure safety and reliability. In this episode of Inside IALR , host Caleb Ayers talks with Phil Bowers, NDT instructor for the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program, and Michael Donnelly, NDT manager with Industrial Inspection & Analysis at the Center...

In this episode of Inside IALR , we sit down with two of our most experienced research associates, Amy Turner and Rob Chretien.  Each has more than a decade of hands-on experience in IALR's research labs. They've witnessed significant changes in agricultural research, from theoretical plant genetics to cutting-edge applied science, during that time.  Learn about their work with beneficia...

This episode shifts the focus from student success stories to the broader impact of the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program on the maritime industrial base. Joined by Mike Villanueva of BAE Systems, Michael Ripich of AT&F, and Justin Scarce from ATDM, the conversation explores how companies are leveraging ATDM graduates to fill vital roles in shipbuilding and defense m...

Host Caleb Ayers sits down with Meredith Gregory, Director of Digital Strategy and Program Management, to explore the real-world applications of artificial intelligence in manufacturing and business. Meredith shares her journey from Northern Virginia to IALR, explains the foundational math behind AI and discusses how companies can adopt AI tools to solve specific problems. From resume restructurin...

In this episode of Inside IALR , host Caleb Ayers is joined by Ereina Avery (Austal USA), Jon Harrison (Phillips Corporation), and Jason Wells (IALR) for a deep dive into the Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE) . Together, they explore how this unique public-private consortium is transforming the Navy’s supply chain by developing and deploying 3D-printed parts for ships and submar...

 In this special episode of Inside IALR , we take you straight to the floor of the Career ChoICE Youth Expo , a dynamic, hands-on career fair designed for middle and high school students across Southern Virginia. Hear directly from students as they explore everything from virtual reality welding and flight simulators to radiologic technology and forestry. Employers and educators share why this eve...

 The Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program is preparing the next generation of skilled workers for the U.S. Navy’s Maritime Industrial Base. With an 85% job placement rate and graduates from nearly every state, ATDM is creating real career opportunities. In this episode, recent graduates Dylan Carter and Angel Gallaher describe how the program equipped them with technical ex...

In this episode of Inside IALR , we sit down with President Telly Tucker and Executive Vice President of Operations Dr. John Hughes for a wide-ranging conversation about growth, leadership and the mission of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research. From managing exponential expansion to filling workforce gaps, Tucker and Hughes reflect on how IALR continues to transform lives in Southern...

What is it like to be a woman teaching advanced manufacturing in a field where men make up the majority? Hear it from three members of the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) instructional team: welding instructor Makayla Baker , metrology instructor Holly Lyle  and welding technician Autumn King . As the only women on a team of nearly 40 instructors and technicians, they share th...

What happens when Ph. D. candidates, master’s students, undergrads and interns all share the same greenhouse? You get a powerful, layered research environment that grows more than just plants. In this episode of Inside IALR , we explore how the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Innovation Center is not only advancing sustainable agriculture but also training the next generation of researche...

What is it like to be an intern at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research? In this episode of Inside IALR , hear from five of the 18 interns who spent their summer working across IALR’s divisions—from applied research and economic development to manufacturing advancement and GO TEC. You’ll hear from: Grayson Snead , an ag tech intern researching bacterial endophytes in broccoli microgree...

What if you could track a plant’s health and growth every 15 minutes, all automatically and without ever touching it? In this episode of Inside IALR , Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President of Applied Research at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, explores the SMART Platform—IALR’s Spatially and Mechanically Accurate Robotic Table system. These high-tech tables combine robotics, precision...

Registered apprenticeships pair paid, hands-on work with classroom lessons to grow dependable talent. In this Inside IALR episode, host Caleb Ayers talks with: Natori Neal – Apprenticeship Coordinator, IALR’s EXTRA program Jenny Spitzer – Co-owner, Spitzer Inc. (electrical contractors) Josh Arnold – Master Electrician and lead instructor at Spitzer Jacob Oakes – Second-year electrical apprentice T...

In this episode of Inside IALR, host Caleb Ayers talks with Patrick Crowley and Ronald Green, recent graduates from the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program. Listen in as they share: Patrick’s transition from logistics to CNC machining for more impactful work. Ron’s journey from entrepreneurship in fashion to welding for career stability. Their intense and rewarding four-mo...

In this episode of Inside IALR , we dive deep into the world of metrology, a crucial trade that plays a significant role in national defense manufacturing. The episode features Tony Almeida, Regional Sales Manager at Mitutoyo, and Jarrod Hankins, Metrology Instructor at IALR's Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program.  Metrology is the science of measurement. It ensures th...

Let's hear from Randy Johnson, founder of God's Pit Crew, a faith-based disaster relief organization headquartered in Danville, Virginia, and Tracy Fink, Vice President of the IALR Conference Center. God's Pit Crew has transformed from a simple altar prayer into an extensive operation that has responded to over 200 disasters across more than 30 states and 15 countries in their 26-ye...

Let's hear from Jake Taylor, Technical and Training Manager of the Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC®) program managed by IALR. GO TEC is an innovative career initiative providing middle school students across Virginia with engaging, hands-on experiences in technology, manufacturing and engineering careers.  Jake shares how GO TEC rapidly expanded from a pilot...

Internships create powerful win-win opportunities for both students and employers when structured properly. IALR's Work-Based Learning Coordinator, Kiana Dillard, explains how these programs build talent pipelines while giving students valuable real-world experience. • Internships provide structured learning opportunities where students develop skills while exploring potential career paths •...