Powers moving to TTC-Dickson

By CINDY SIMPSON

rccindysimpson@bellsouth.net

Harriman Councilman Mark Powers has been appointed director of the Tennessee Technology Center at Dickson.

Powers, who leaves his job as head of the Tennessee Technology Center at Harriman to accept the appointment approved Friday by the Tennessee Board of Regents, will also soon be leaving his official city capacities.

“I was encouraged to apply for the job. I got the right kind of encouragement so I went ahead,” Powers said.

“Dickson is going to be a real challenge,” he added. “I’ll have four campuses there under my direction.”

In addition to the Dickson campus, Powers will direct satellite campuses in Franklin, Waverly and Clarksville, the latter of which is constructing a new campus.

Powers started the new job Saturday. He said he plans to work with Harriman Mayor Chris Mason for the next few months before giving up his council seat.

“I’m trying to work on a transitional phase to help make us maintain what we’ve got and help us continue going in the right direction,” Powers said. “We’ve accomplished a lot of good things and started some good ones.”

He added, “I’m not going to just walk out on folks here. I don’t think that is right.”

Some of the things Powers said he is proud of is that he brought “some accountability” to Harriman Utility Board, as well as the work that was accomplished in the hospital sale to Covenant Health.

Other things he hopes that are in the works is his idea of having a human resource department and plans to improve lighting and paving in the community.

He said he will miss Harriman, which he thinks is a progressive community.

“I leave with mixed emotions,” he said. “I feel we have a lot of things going on here that are really good. I like the people here.”

Powers said he believes the council has accomplished things in his 16 months in office.

“I liked being a part of that,” Powers said.

Powers said Danice Turpin, who was the assistant director at Harriman’s Tennessee Technology Center, will serve as interim director until the search for a new director begins.