August 2019
As we move into August, we're celebrating the start of new apprenticeship cohorts, as well as the successful completion of others.

Please join us on September 5 for the graduation of the second Chicago-region ICATT Apprenticeship Program cohort . And congratulations to all the apprentices who have already graduated: ICATT's downstate IL apprentices, Michigan ' s MAT² Apprenticeship Program , and Ohio's MAP2 Program .

We are celebrating new cohorts with signing days across the ICATT region. Please see below for information on how to join us!

Make sure to visit our ICATT Apprenticeship Program website and follow us on social media to stay up to date with apprenticeship news.



Kind regards,

Director, Skills Initiative & Apprenticeship Programs
Our next Train the Trainer seminars will take place in August , 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.

August 13-16 : McHenry, IL - Sold out
To be added to the waiting list, please contact Joshua Seeberg.


To find out more, check out the Train the Trainer website or contact Nicole Heimann .
Join us at our remaining Signing Days for the inauguration of our fall 2019 cohort:


Learn more on the ICATT Apprenticeship Program website or contact Melissa Kmetz to register.
Industry 4.0 and the skills gap are transforming the way the manufacturing world operates. Our workshop at Automation Alley in Troy, MI will explore how apprenticeships can serve as an answer to the complex problems companies face.

The workshop will focus on interactive discussions and development of best-practice recommendations, followed by optional site visits on August 22.

Our featured speakers are:

  • Roland Biebl - ZF
  • Andreas Brockmann - Festo Didactic
  • Dr. Patricia Chatman​ - Henry Ford College
  • Jan Künzel - BBS Neustadt Technical School
  • Peter Loetzner - EMAG LLC
  • Pavan Muzumdar - Automation Alley

Find out more and register here for our High-Tech Apprenticeships for an Industry 4.0 World workshop . This event will be followed by a study trip to Germany from October 21-25, 2019.
Recent Maine West High School graduate Konrad Ryk is this year’s CNC apprentice for Herrmann Ultrasonics . After taking CTE classes in high school and attending ICATT Open Houses, Konrad decided that a job in manufacturing would be the best move for his future. Konrad began his apprenticeship at Herrmann Ultrasonics in June 2019 and is off to a flying start. Check out the video of Konrad at the Maine West Signing Day.

Click here to learn more about the ICATT Apprenticeship Program or contact Ian Duncan.
Kaskaskia College is a junior college dedicated to providing higher education for the community of south central Illinois. Starting out as Centralia Township Junior College in 1940, Kaskaskia College was established in the 1960s. Now, the college offers over 50 degrees and 100 certificates, serving more than 7,500 students every year. We look forward to collaborating with KC!

Visit our website to join as an ICATT Network College or contact Joshua Seeberg .
A new tax credit will be available to Illinois employers who offer apprenticeship programs. The tax credit provision was an initiative of the IMA Education Foundation and will take effect for tax years starting January 1, 2020. It will be available to Illinois employers who hire an Illinois resident 16 years of age or o lder at the end of the school year when the credit is to be used.

The individual must be a full-time apprentice enrolled in an apprenticeship program at a community college that is registered with the US Department of Labor , such as the ICATT Apprenticeship Program .

Employers interested in learning more should contact their ICATT representative or J im Nelson , Vice President Education & Workforce Policy for the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association.
Meet Sascha Kuhn , the newest addition to our GACC Midwest Skills Initiative Team. As Deputy Director, Skills Initiative & Apprenticeship Programs, Sascha will focus on ICATT operations, German-American relationships, and developing new apprenticeship profiles. Sascha was previously the Head of the Dual Vocational Training Department at the Malaysian-German Chamber of Commerce & Industry . After completing his Industrial Mechanic apprenticeship at ZF Automotive GmbH, Sascha earned his Bachelor of Metal Production Technologies & Operations and his Train the Trainer certification.

You can reach Sascha at kuhn@gaccmidwest.org.
GA CATT Signing Ceremony 2019 - Atlanta, GA, August 7
Join us on August 7, when Georgia State Senator Matt Brass and GACC South will welcome the new class of GA CATT apprentices! The signing ceremony marks the fourth year of incoming apprentices, while the first participants from 2016 are preparing to graduate from the program with their certifications.


Visit our website for more information about the signing ceremony , or contact Nicole Heimann .
International Skills Conference - Atlanta, GA, September 25
Join us for the third International Skills Conference on September 25, 2019 at the W Hotel in Midtown Atlanta . The German-American business community, along with regional and state leaders, will come together to discuss ways to grow a globally competitive, highly skilled workforce in their markets as well as upcoming pilot projects for the southeast region.


Learn and network at the 2019 International Skills Conference . For more information, please contact Skills Director Nicole Heimann .
The MAT² Apprenticeship Program's fourth class graduated on July 26 in Lansing, MI. 23 apprentices from four community colleges and 16 companies each received an associate degree, a certificate in mechatronics, and a two-year job guarantee. Congratulations graduates!

To find out more about the program, follow us on social media , visit the MAT² website, or contact Virginia Rounds .
GACC South 's senior technical trainers conducted pre-exams for the GA CATT Program throughout last month. Through this process, trainers can find gaps in the apprentices' training while also giving those apprentices the chance to prepare for exam day.
For more information, please contact Martin Feuckert.
GACC Midwest i s adding to our Illinois team

Company Account Manager, Apprenticeship Programs ; located in our Chicago, IL office, the account manager will be primarily responsible for advising companies on the apprenticeship programs managed by GACC Midwest, determining suitability, and increasing the number of company participants.

Visit our GACC Talent Network for further information and job listings.
Contact us for more information
Virginia Rounds
GACC Midwest
Director, Skills Initiative

321 N Clark St, Suite 1425
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 494-2163
Nicole Heimann
GACC South
Director, Skills Initiative

1170 Howell Mill Rd, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 586-6829

Matthew Allen
GACC New York
Director, Careers & Education

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