HANCEVILLE, Ala. – Wallace State Community College (WSCC) has announced the launch of TITAN (Tool & Die Industry Training for Advanced Needs), a new apprenticeship program designed to prepare skilled tool and die professionals for north Alabama’s advanced manufacturing sector. As part of the program’s launch, Shawn Merritt of Y-tec Keylex Toyotetsu Alabama (YKTA) has accepted the role of president of TITAN and will help guide its development and industry engagement.
TITAN combines rigorous academic instruction with paid, hands-on work experience, giving students the opportunity to develop technical expertise while learning directly in the workplace. The program emphasizes precision machining, tool and die and advanced manufacturing skills, preparing graduates to meet the demands of industries such as aerospace, automotive and general manufacturing.
“I am honored to step into the role of president of TITAN,” said Merritt, senior specialist for training and development at YKTA in Huntsville. “This program represents the gold standard of craftsmanship and technical excellence in our region. With TITAN, we hope to replicate the same earn-while-you-learn model that has made apprenticeship programs so successful, especially here in Alabama.”
“It’s exciting,” said Darana Calvert, machine tool technology instructor at Wallace State. “TITAN blends paid on-the-job training with technical education, allowing students to earn while they learn and graduate prepared for long-term careers in tool and die.”
Wallace State’s Machine Tool Technology program and its Tool & Die Repair pathway has long been recognized for producing highly skilled graduates. Employers know that Wallace State graduates understand tolerances measured in thousandths, deadlines measured in hours, and quality measured in reputation.
For Merritt, the mission is personal. “My father-in-law spent his career as a tool and die maker, but what he valued most was mentoring apprentices,” Merritt said. “That spirit of mentorship is at the heart of TITAN — passing on the craft while developing the next generation of skilled professionals.”
In addition to technical instruction, TITAN emphasizes professional skills that are critical in modern manufacturing. Apprentices will receive training in safety, 5S workplace organization, lean principles and structured problem solving, ensuring they are workplace-ready and able to contribute immediately to industry partners.
“Technical skills are essential, but professional skills make the difference in long-term career success,” said WSCC dean of applied technologies Jerry Murcks. “TITAN students will learn how to work safely, stay organized, solve problems and continuously improve processes — the same skills employers demand on the shop floor.”
Through close collaboration with industry partners, TITAN provides a clear pathway from training to employment, allowing students to earn while they learn and graduate with the skills and experience needed for high-demand careers in tool and die and precision manufacturing.
“The future of manufacturing depends on people who can build the tools that build everything else,” Merritt said. “Wallace State is committed to making sure that legacy continues — one apprentice at a time.”
For more information about TITAN, contact Darana Calvert at 256-352-7430 or darana.calvert@wallacestate.edu or Kaitlyn Michael-Ryan at 256-352-7874 or kaitlyn.michaelryan@wallacestate.edu.
