Julie Corcoran has taken the helm as chairwoman of the Business Education Partnership Foundation (BEP) board, the nonprofit announced. Corcoran has served on the BEP executive board since 2013, and was key to the launch of BEP’s SPARK speaker initiative.

Her tenure commenced with the retirement of longtime chair Emil Hassan, which was announced at the organization’s recent 30th anniversary celebration.

Corcoran’s 31-year career in manufacturing and industrial engineering at Nissan North America began with a role as a first line supervisor and progressed through positions of increasing responsibility in manufacturing and industrial engineering. Corcoran was promoted to plant manager/director in 1999 and continued to work throughout the Smyrna plant, including assignments in manufacturing, quality, engineering and human resources. She retired in April 2013 after two years as a director supporting the launch of the Nissan Battery Plant.

A 2017 ATHENA Award nominee, Corcoran served as Nissan’s representative on the Discovery Center board of directors for eight years, including one term as board president. She currently serves as a ruling elder at First Presbyterian Church and chairs the team working with youth ministry. Corcoran holds a seat on the board of the UKirk-MTSU-Presbyterian Student Fellowship supporting student ministries, and she is a member of the Murfreesboro Rotary Club.

The Business Education Partnership (BEP) Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization formed in 1988 with the help of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. The BEP states as its mission: “To foster interest in and to promote and support programs in public schools of the City of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County that will prepare students for the business world.” 

Today, BEP's diverse programs support students, teachers, school counselors, and leaders through a number of initiatives, all of which focus on the need to bring real world experiences into classrooms. 

BEP is best-known for its BEP Nissan Teacher Minigrant Awards as well as for its career exploration camps: BEP Summer Business Camp Presented by State Farm, STEMEx Camp, and BEP’s Camp M.D. Presented by Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital. 

To learn more about the Business Education Partnership and its programs for students, teachers, school counselors, and leaders, call Amelia Bozeman at (615) 278-2008, or email abozeman@rutherfordchamber.org.