Savannah Tech and Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America Welcome Eight New Apprentices at Second Year Signing Day
Savannah Technical College (Savannah Tech) and Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) welcomed eight new apprentices today and started the next chapter of a Coastal Georgia apprenticeship partnership that pairs classroom learning with paid, on-the-job equipment maintenance technician training at one of the most advanced manufacturing facilities in the Southeast.
During the Apprenticeship Signing Ceremony, members of the second apprenticeship cohort were announced publicly as they formally signed their enrollment agreements: Logan Leach, Lyric Johnson, Jordan Dyer, Tristan Bodden, Nicholas Garett, Ahmod Gilbert, Darnell Washington and Mekhi Yates. Family members, leadership members of HMGMA and Savannah Tech as well as members of the community joined the celebration.
“As we continue to grow, one of our greatest opportunities is developing the highly skilled maintenance and automation talent that advanced manufacturing requires. Savannah Tech has been an outstanding partner in helping create a pathway for local residents to gain the training and hands-on experience needed to succeed at HMGMA. Together, we are building a sustainable workforce that will support our operations and create long-term career opportunities across Coastal Georgia,” said Dr. Brent Stubbs, Chief Administrative Officer at HMGMA.
“Every apprentice who signs today is proof that Coastal Georgia does not have to look elsewhere for talent. We built this partnership with HMGMA so our neighbors can earn a paycheck, build real technical skills and grow a career right here at home,” said Tal Loos, Vice President for Economic Development at Savannah Tech.
Apprentices split their week between three days on site at HMGMA and two days in the classroom at Savannah Tech and are paired with a mentor. Training covers electrical and mechanical systems, including hydraulics, pneumatics and gearing, in preparation for Equipment Maintenance positions supporting the plant’s stamping, welding, paint and general assembly shops.
The first apprenticeship class, which began in August 2025, is now more than a year into the program and is on track to move into full-time Equipment Maintenance positions at HMGMA in Spring 2027. Savannah Tech and HMGMA plan a graduation and celebration for that class in May 2027, tied to the college’s commencement.
Coastal Georgia residents interested in apprenticeships and other technical programs at Savannah Tech can learn more at www.savannahtech.edu.
About HMGMA
Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) is Hyundai Motor Group’s first dedicated Electrified Vehicle mass-production plant located in Bryan County, GA. The plant boasts a highly connected, automated, and flexible manufacturing system, which organically connects all elements of the EV ecosystem to realize customer value. All processes of production, including order collection, procurement, logistics and production, are optimized utilizing AI and data. The innovative manufacturing system also helps create a human-centered work environment with robots assisting human workers.
About Savannah Technical College
A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, Savannah Technical College (Savannah Tech) is the premier provider of career-ready technical education in Coastal Georgia, offering a comprehensive range of over 190 market-driven programs, preparing students for high-demand careers including Aviation Technology, Cybersecurity, Health Sciences, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Automation & Robotics, Information Technology, Culinary Arts, Public Services and more. With campuses in Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty Counties, Savannah Tech serves more than 14,000 credit and non-credit students with a variety of pathways to success, including dual enrollment programs for high school students and specialized support services for military veterans and their families. Beyond academics, Savannah Tech is an economic and community development partner, collaborating with industry leaders to provide customized training programs, assessment services, and continuing education opportunities. For more information, visit www.savannahtech.edu.
Savannah Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees, diplomas and technical certificates of credit. Questions about the accreditation of Savannah Technical College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Savannah Technical College complies with the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). The TCSG State Board prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual’s age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status (“protected status”). No individual shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under, any TCSG program or activity because of the individual’s protected status; nor shall any individual be given preferential treatment because of the individual’s protected status, except the preferential treatment may be given on the basis of veteran status when appropriate under federal or state law.
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