Wacker Polysilicon of North America is Recruiting

Reporting:  Rabbit Zielke

Wacker Polysilicon of North America broke ground on their new facility in Charleston Tennessee in April 2011.  This chemical plant will be open in 2013 and will be producing hyperpure silicon for use in the photovoltaic industry such as solar cells for power production.  The chemical production process at Wacker Polysilicon requires trained specialists in the chemical industry.  Wacker has teamed with Chattanooga State Community College to help prepare the workforce for the plant opening.

Wacker Institute at Chattanooga State Community College offers Associate degree programs designed to prepare chemical operators for the positions that will be available in 2013.  Part of the recruitment efforts include job interviews for the students enrolled in these programs in the first semester of classes.  Successful candidates may end up with a job offer well before the plant is even complete.

Other positions at Wacker Polysilicon in the engineering field have already been filled with employees completing an intensive training program at Wacker Institute followed by 6 months of hands on training in the Wacker Polysilicon sister plant in Germany.  Human Resources at Wacker updates their career listing daily to reflect current available positions. The facility that will open in Charleston Tennessee is the first Wacker Polysilicon plan outside of Germany and represents an investment of $1.5 billion.

Listen to the story.

The Nutcracker Christmas Carol

Reporting:  Rabbit Zielke

The Nutcracker Christmas Carol is one of those holiday musicals that has it all – literally.  Author Rex Knowles mixed together classic holiday stories, songs, and ballet to produce a heart warming Christmas musical comedy ballet.  The show opens Friday, December 10th, at the Chattanooga State Community College Humanities Theater.  Performances are scheduled for December 10, 11, 17 and 18 at 7:30 pm and matinée performances December 12 and 19 at 2:30 pm.  The final performance on the 19th will feature real-time captioning for the deaf and hearing impaired.

The Nutcracker Christmas Carol was written by Rex Knowles with music by Sherry Landrum, Allan Ledford, and Knowles. Directed by Sherry Landrum and choreographed by Lindsay Fussell. Allan Ledford is Musical Director.  The

Bob Cratchit (John Thomas Cecil), Tiny Tim (Eric Phillips), and Caroline Cratchit (Maria Sager)

cast includes Jeffrey Parker as Charles Dickens, Rex Knowles as Ebenezer Scrooge, John Thomas Cecil in the dual roles of Bob Cratchit and the wealthy Dr. Stahlbaum, Maria Sager in the dual roles of Caroline Cratchit and Clara Stahlbaum, and Eric Phillips as both Tiny-Tim and Fritz Stahlbaum. Other cast members include: Fionna Battersby, Jared Bice, Maggie Bradshaw, Chris Defore, Stan Furlow, Lindsay Fussell, Jennelle Gilreath, Amy Henrichs, Karley Moon, Roman Penney, Brenda Schwab, and Jeremy Wilkins.

Listen to the story. 

Independent Film, Alive and Well in Chattanooga

REPORTING: MICHAEL EDWARD MILLER

Dave Porfiri, director of Chattanooga State’s Professional Film and Television Training Program, discusses the growth of independent filmmaking in the Scenic City.

This Friday, March 5^th, an indie film called THAT EVENING SUN will have its Chattanooga premiere.  Shot in the Knoxville area, it stars Hal Holbrook, and has won many awards.  At the Friday premiere, executive producer Larsen Jay will speak to the crowd about the film.

Tickets are available on Fandango, and Porfiri says those tickets are selling quickly.

Listen to the story.

Organizations mentioned in the interview:

The AFFT: the Association for the Future of Film and Television in Tennesssee.

Chattanooga State Community College’s Professional Film and Television Training Program.

Mindflow Media.