September 2019
Celebrating N ew Apprenticeship Clusters in New Jersey and Texas
The GACC Skills Initiative achieved some major milestones this summer with expansions to both New Jersey and Texas. Apprenticeship programs run or certified by the GACCs are now available at over 85 companies in 15 states and counting. Read more about the new clusters below.

As the shortage of skilled workers grows, employers are choosing new strategies for their workforce. We examined the decision to “Make or Buy” your workforce in The Illinois Manufacturer, a publication that provides manufacturing professionals with insight on relevant issues and legislation.

For even more insight into German-style apprenticeships in the US, join our Skills Conference in Atlanta on September 25. And if you'd like to look at how Germany is using apprenticeships to enable smart, connected manufacturing, sign up for our study trip to Germany from October 21-25.

We look forward to seeing you soon!



Kind regards,

Director, Skills Initiative & Apprenticeship Programs
On August 22, GACC NY hosted the launch event for its New Jersey apprenticeship program as part of the Wunderbar Together initiative. The program supports an initial class of 4 mechatronics apprentices at companies Arconic and Bäumer of America . Over the course of 3 years, the apprentices will earn their DOL journeyworker credentials, an associates degree from the County College of Morris and a German Apprenticeship Certificate.

The event featured a keynote presentation by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. Congratulations to the incoming apprentices on the start of an exciting career! See more photos here.
Following the success of the program in other cities, GACC South is honored to present its first class of Dallas-based apprentices . On August 13, three apprentices signed their letters of acceptance into the program while family members, company leaders, local officials, and mentors cheered them on in this first step towards achieving their professional goals. The signing day was supported by Wunderbar Together . See more photos here.
Upcoming Events
Sign Up : ICATT CNC Trainer Roundtable - Long Grove, IL - Sept. 12
The ICATT Apprenticeship Program will kick off its first roundtable for CNC trainers on September 12, 2019 from 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm at Buffalo Creek Brewing in Long Grove, IL. Topics will include scheduling of core competencies, how to prepare apprentices for exams, and feedback for colleges.
  
RSVP by Tuesday, September 10 if you would like to attend. For more information, please contact Doris Bawa .
Our next Train the Trainer seminars will take place in September and October 2019.

These workshops give trainers the practical skills they need to pass on their knowledge to apprentices in the most effective way possible. The sessions are open to all company mentors and any individual who is interested in learning the methods of training.

September 17- 20: Vernon Hills , IL
To attend the seminar, register here . If you have questions, please contact Geneva Scurek.

Download the Train the Trainer flyer and contact Bernadette Duncan to register. Follow the MAT² Apprenticeship Program on Facebook and LinkedIn for Michigan apprenticeship updates.

To find out more, check out the Train the Trainer website or contact Stefanie Ziska.
On September 25 , discover how German-style apprenticeships help build a loyal, globally competitive workforce while giving American students an alternative to skyrocketing tuition rates. The International Skills Conference at the W Hotel Midtown in Atlanta, GA, will gather leaders from German-American business, education, and government for a full day of presentations, panels, and roundtable discussions.

For more information, please contact GACC South President Stefanie Ziska .
Sign Up : ICATT Recruiting Roundtable - Elgin, IL - Oct. 8
All ICATT Network Companies and educators are invited to our Recruiting Roundtable on October 8. Presenters from Endress + Hauser, GF Machining Solutions and the US Department of Labor will be sharing their tips and tricks for effective recruiting and marketing strategies. In addition, representatives from area network colleges and high schools will be present for discussion and networking opportunities.

Space is limited! Register here . For more information, please contact Ian Duncan .
Meet transatlantic leaders and innovators in the fields of Industry 4.0 and workforce training with our study trip to Germany from October 21-25. The trip will feature company visits at manufacturing plants, meetings with industry associations, and peer-to-peer exchange on Industry 4.0 and apprenticeships from diverse German-American perspectives.

To register, complete the following form and submit it to rounds@gaccmidwest.org by September 13, 2019 .
Event Recaps
Georgia Senator Matt Brass, GACC South, the Technical College System of Georgia, and the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership welcomed 17 new apprentices to the GA CATT Apprenticeship Program in August at the Georgia State capitol.

In the Midwest, the ICATT Apprenticeship Program held a series of Signing Days in August to celebrate the inauguration of its fall 2019 cohort. GACC Midwest members, college faculty, and company representatives gathered to welcome new apprentices and to connect with one another.

Contact Melissa Kmetz to register for our final Signing Day at Southwestern Illinois College on September 12, 2019 .
On August 8 , eight graduates received conditional job offers from Volkswagen Chattanooga as well as a Volkswagen Academy diploma and A.A.S degree from Chattanooga State Community College. Congratulations, graduates!
On September 5, the ICATT Apprenticeship Program 's second cohort graduated in Chicago, IL. The ceremony, held on the 57th floor of the Chase Tower overlooking Chicago and Lake Michigan, commemorated the achievements of seven apprentices who completed the program with an associate's degree and a two-year job guarantee.

Congratulations and best of luck for the future, graduates!

To find out more about the program, c lick here or contact Virginia Rounds .
Spotlights: The People Behind the Apprenticeships
Christina Schubert (center) had already been pursuing courses in manufacturing at Triton College when she first discovered the ICATT Apprenticeship Program and knew it was the right fit for her. Christina started work with BBS Automation this summer and will continue pursuing her degree in Engineering Technology at Triton College this semester. Congratulations, Christina!
GACC South i s adding to our Atlanta team : 

Director, Skills Initiative: located in our Atlanta, GA office, the Director, Skills Initiative will primarily be responsible for developing strategic partnerships and building relationships with network companies as well as German and American government authorities.

Visit our GACC Talent Network for further information and job listings.
Meet Lee Wickham, the newest addition to the   GACC Midwest Skills Initiative Team .

Lee will be focusing on exam development as well as applicant and company outreach. Before joining GACC Midwest, Lee received a Fulbright English teaching assistantship and spent two years working at a vocational school in Hamburg, where he saw the benefits of Germany's dual education system firsthand. Lee earned his Bachelor's in German and Political Science from Kenyon College.

You can reach Lee at wickham@gaccmidwest.org .
GACC South is pleased to introduce our new Skills Initiative Consultant, Kevin Lister .
Kevin is from Pittsburgh, PA, and studied German language and culture at Georgia State University. After participating in an apprenticeship program in Munich, Kevin says, “I knew I wanted to work with Germany for the rest of my career.” Kevin is excited to contribute to events like our recent GA CATT Skills Signing Ceremony .

You can reach Kevin at klister@gaccsouth.com .
Contact us for more information
Virginia Rounds
GACC Midwest

321 N Clark St, Suite 1425
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 494-2163
Kevin Lister
GACC South

1170 Howell Mill Rd, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 586-6839

Matthew Allen
GACC New York

80 Pine St, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10005
(212) 974-8856