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Five Michigan organizations recognized as 'Champions' for Registered Apprenticeship Programs
Registered Apprenticeships are vital to Michigan's workers, employers and overall economic vibrancy.
Five organizations have earned honors for their work to build the talent pipeline in Michigan by training new workers through Registered Apprenticeships.
The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s (LEO) Office of Employment and Training, along with the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) Office of Apprenticeship, Michigan, recognized the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 58, the Great Lakes Water Authority, the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office, and Michigan Works! Region 7B at a Race to Talent with Registered Apprenticeship Event held in conjunction with the 2023 Michigan Works! Conference in Detroit.
Stephanie Beckhorn, director of LEO’s Office of Employment and Training, emphasized the importance of Registered Apprenticeships and congratulated the honored organizations, recognized as “Champions” during the event.
“By taking a leading role in Registered Apprenticeships, these organizations have recognized the critical role this training model plays in sustaining and growing Michigan jobs, not only for themselves, but for working families and for our state’s economic future,” Beckhorn said. “They stand as a model for other employers to see the value of Registered Apprenticeships for their own organization.”
Since 2019, more than $100 million in State Apprenticeship Expansion Grants have been awarded in Michigan to support the development of more than 8,000 Registered Apprentices by 2027. Currently, Michigan is top 10 in the nation for Registered Apprenticeship according to the USDOL Office of Apprenticeship RAPIDS Data System.
Quotes from the "Champions"
“The Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights has a long tradition of training new workers leveraging all the tools available to ensure their success. We are proud to partner with LEO and the USDOL in implementing and promoting Registered Apprenticeships as we work together to grow Michigan’s skilled labor force.”
— Tod Sandy, Michigan Statewide Carpenters and Millwrights Joint Apprenticeship state director of training
“Apprenticeships provide a strong foundation of hands-on, on-the-job and technical classroom education. About 98% of our current contractors, who own many of the largest and most respected electrical contracting firms in the region, began as apprentices in our program.”
— Joseph Scott, director of the Detroit Electrical Industry Training Center, in partnership with IBEW Local 58
“Our apprenticeship program is one of our key strategies for transferring knowledge from our veteran team members to those who are new to the organization and often the water sector. It also provides a unique development opportunity for current team members who want to continue to grow and learn at GLWA. Through this program, we are making an investment not only in those taking the apprenticeship journey but also in our community, because it creates a pathway to vital and fulfilling careers that help protect the public health in Southeast Michigan.”
— Suzanne R. Coffey, Great Lakes Water Authority CEO
“The Registered Apprenticeship Program is a wonderful way to bring on new workers, and it allows us to evaluate our training to the benefit of all our employees. This not only helps us retain our employees, but it also provides them with the skills they need to advance their careers.”
— Melva Allen, human resources supervisor for Oakland County’s Learning and Development Internship and Apprenticeship Program
“We are pleased to be part of this partnership and even more pleased to help create and enhance the talent pipelines businesses in our region create through the use of apprenticeships. We see this as an opportunity to educate and skill up local talent and retain our population in good-paying jobs.”
— Pam O’Laughlin, chief operating officer for Michigan Works! Region 7B
Learn more about Registered Apprenticeship
Registered Apprenticeships are industry-driven, high-quality career training programs in which employers develop and prepare Michigan’s future workforce. Apprentices gain paid work experience, related classroom instruction and a national industry-recognized credential upon program completion.