TCAT Powersports shop is WLAF’s Business of the week

For a full-time TCAT student, the program lasts one year or 1296 clock hours

By Charlotte Underwood

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- For this week’s featured business, WLAF is highlighting TCAT Jacksboro’s Powersports Program and repair shop.

The class is instructed by Adam Hatmaker, who also runs the repair shop where students get first-hand experience in servicing, diagnosing, and repairing powersports vehicles such as motorcycles, ATVs, go-carts, side-by-sides and more. The occasional lawnmower, boat motor, weedeater and leaf blower also make their way into the shop for repairs.

These repair services are open to the public, but you must purchase your own parts for repairs. The TCAT Powersports program doesn’t charge for repairs, but donations to TCAT Jacksboro are welcome and are used to provide scholarships, and other opportunities to students who need assistance.

“Donations will go into the school’s foundation for scholarships, equipment replacement, food pantry help for students and more,” said TCAT Jacksboro President Debbie Petree.

Jacksboro’s TCAT is unique in offering Powersports for students as not all TCAT’s in the state have the program.

“It’s a great program for us, with Campbell County fitting the niche with OHV trails in the area and all the boats on Norris Lake,” Petree said.

The Powersports shop at TCAT Jacksboro also has the ability to test boat motors on site, thanks to addition of an outboard test tank that was provided through a USDA Rural Development grant.

According to Hatmaker, the shop works on “a little bit of everything,” which is a good way for the students to learn what area of powersports repair they want to focus on.

Hatmaker has been an instructor at TCAT for nine years and is himself a TCAT graduate.

“My dad worked on small engines, and I always wanted to be around him because I thought it was interesting. When I was 11 or 12, I started working on lawnmowers and took care of lawn mowers and yards around the neighborhood. At one point, I even had a lawnmower junkyard for parts behind the house so I could fix all the different mowers; that’s where it all started,” Hatmaker said.

When he started school at TCAT Jacksboro, the Powersports program had not started yet.

“I find anything with an engine interesting, so I took automotive in 2010,” Hatmaker said. When the Power Sports Program was added around 2015, he applied for the position.

 Hatmaker said he enjoys his job, and that “most days, it doesn’t even feel like work.”

He currently has 16 students enrolled in Power Sports.

“We have a great group in the program this year; I try to teach them a good work ethic, that there’s always something new to learn and the industry is always changing, so we keep them up to date,” Hatmaker said.

The Power Sports Technology Program is geared to meet the “growing need of servicing and repairing power sports vehicles, such as motorcycles, ATVs, side-by-sides, boats and more. The program is designed to prepare students to enter the workforce in the field of power sports equipment.

For a full-time student, the program lasts one year or 1296 clock hours. There are two certificates with the completion of study and a final diploma with the completion of the one-year program.

TCAT Jacksboro is located at 265 Elkins Road, Jacksboro. For more information about TCAT’s Powersports, or any of their other many programs, call 423.566.9629 or visit their website. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-11/08/2024-6AM)