DAYTON, Tenn. — Nokian Tyres P.L.C. paid for two dozen employees to participate in a class in leadership skills at a nearby institution Chattanooga State Community College.
The investment paid off for Brok Gould, who less than a year after joining the company was promoted to a shift leadership role — which included a pay raise and new responsibilities — at the tire maker's plant in Dayton.
"That was one of the biggest reasons I wanted to come here," Gould said. "I felt like since it was a newer place, there might be opportunities to grow."
He said Nokian is "taking the initiative to help me expand (skills) makes me more confident in my career here at Nokian Tyres," Gould said.
The class covered topics such as mentorship, change management and conflict resolution.
Jonathan Hall, who leads the tire maker's new finished goods warehouse, also said the training class helped prepare him for leading a team.
"A day in my life is busy, but that's what we want," Hall said. "This is my first time being in a leadership role, so I wanted to take all the opportunities to learn. I learned so much that I can use, at work and outside of work."
According to Nokian, Chattanooga State tailored the leadership development program to company's needs. The workforce at the plant has grown from a 60-member launch team to more than 500 employees since opening the facility in 2019.
Nokian said the class taught leaders to tailor their approaches to meet the learning styles of each employee, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
"It made it easier to understand how to adjust to help people," Gould said, "and to understand how they can work well with each other depending on what kind of worker they are."
Nokian added 125 team members last year and completed an expansion this year that increased capacity. All-season and all-weather tires are produced there and distributed to North American customers.
"We recognize the vital role of leadership development in our organization," Nokian Tyres North America Human Resources Director Blake Markham said "As our team grows in number, we are eager to provide growth opportunities that will serve our employees' career goals and help us meet our ambitions in North America."
