National Apprenticeship Week Kicks Off at the Manufacturing Apprenticeship Summit at Richard J. Daley College

Richard J. Daley College and City Colleges' Workforce Solutions team kicked off National Apprenticeship Week by inviting manufacturing professionals, HR and talent acquisition teams, and employers to the Manufacturing Apprenticeship Summit. The summit provided a unique opportunity for employers to learn about apprenticeship programs at Daley College and how those programs can strengthen and diversify their organization's talent pool.

Attendees learned about the impact apprenticeships have on students through Binjamin Davis' speech. Binjamin is a maintenance electrician at Mauser Packaging Solutions and an alumnus of Daley College's manufacturing technology program. He was hired full-time at Mauser as a maintenance electrician after completing his three-year apprenticeship

"I was accepted into the ICATT program and started my three-year apprenticeship at Mauser," Binjamin said. "That's when I started to see how what I learned in school was applied in an industrial setting. It was challenging, but I loved my new-found responsibilities and the fact that I was being counted on. For the first time, I could say I had a career and not just a job."

Daley Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing Dean David Girzadas highlighted the mutual benefits for all parties involved in apprenticeships. Industry leaders like the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center also spoke positively about their apprenticeship experience. Both have developed impactful apprenticeship programs that bridge workforce needs with effective talent development strategies, helping companies build a reliable pool of skilled workers.

Attendees were also able to tour Daley College's Manufacturing Technology and Engineering Center (MTEC) building which provides students with hands-on experience using state-of-the-art equipment and learn how to establish an apprenticeship program that aligned with their organizations' goals.

National Apprenticeship Week highlights the value of apprenticeship programs in developing a skilled workforce and providing quality career pathways for students. It also emphasizes apprenticeships as a proven strategy for bridging the skills gap, supporting economic growth, and providing pathways to rewarding, high-demand careers.

Interested in learning more about apprenticeships at City Colleges of Chicago? Visit ccc.edu/apprenticeships.

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