NASHVILLE (AP) — Nissan Americas executive Randy Knight was among community and civic leaders given the opportunity to meet President Barack Obama before his speech to a Nashville high school on Thursday.

Knight, who is the vice president of manufacturing for the Japanese automaker, is a Rutherford County native who began working at Nissan's Smyrna plant as a production technician in 1983. Nissan's American headquarters are located in Franklin.

Knight said he planned to speak to the president about Nissan's successes and needs in Tennessee and in the country.

Obama in his speech stressed the need for improving the country's education standards and lauded Nashville's academies system that gives students hands-on experience in business fields.