‘Much work is still to be done. However, today is a “thank you” to everyone’- Samer Shatara

Left to right are- David Paul of TCAT, Erin Harlow with MBI, Debbie Petree, April Harmon, Jada Stanley, Camilla Gambrel of TCAT and Samer Shatara with Denark.  On the back row are TCAT’s Robert Ivey, and from Denark, Will Rothermel, Steve Lucas, and Frank Rothermel.

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- It was quite a gathering for lunch on Tuesday at TCAT. The catered event was more than just a luncheon, it was a celebration of the progress made on the budding new TCAT campus. Tuesday’s “Topping Out” ceremony traditionally takes place to celebrate the last beam going up. However, the last beam went up in January, and the ceremony had to be delayed.

There was plenty of elbow room for Tuesday’s celebration in a back section of Building B.

More than 150 people came together for this uplifting gathering. “This is such an exciting event to know that so many people are contributing to the future of TCAT Jacksboro. We will have a state of the art facility that will move our students decades into the future,” said TCAT President Dr. Debbie Petree.

Tuesday’s “Topping Out” ceremony traditionally takes place to celebrate the last beam going up. However, the last beam went up in January, and the ceremony had to be delayed. Lots of times a Christmas tree is placed on the final beam. This little Christmas tree was placed near the final beam.

Denark Construction is working with MBI Designers, both Knoxville companies, in bringing the new TCAT campus to reality. “TCAT is very important to us to continue our company. It’s where so many people are trained for what we do,” said Frank Rothermel. Rothermel is the President of Denark.

TCAT President Dr. Debbie Petree and Camilla Gambrel, TCAT’s Dual Enrollment Counselor, show off the orange T-Shirts.

The current TCAT opened in 1967, and has been in use for going on 60 years. Ground was officially broken on this project in early December 2024, and it has a projected completion date of August 2026 with the first classes in the new facility starting in September 2026. Notice to proceed with the project was March 10, 2025.

This photo is of some of the men and women bringing the new TCAT to reality.

“A lot of progress has been made by all the men and women involved in this project. We are still on schedule with our three phases,” said Samer Shatara, Project Manager with Denark. Phase 1 is the foundation and structural steel. Phase 2 is the actual interior of the two buildings. Phase 3 will be the demolition of the old building.

Building A is really taking shape as is Building B (in photo below).

Dead End BBQ catered Tuesday’s “Topping Out” barbecue luncheon with all the fixin’s. Lunch was followed by thank yous from Rothermel and lots of give-a-ways from new hard hats to gift certificates to restaurants and bright orange T-shirts commemorating the project. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-02/18/2026-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S CHARLIE HUTSON)

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