Alcona Health Center Invests in Their Workforce Through Apprenticeship

(L) Elly Webb, CCMA, graduated Apprentice; (R) Lisa Lakin, LPN, AHC Clinical Educator and Apprentice Preceptor

At Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium, we’re committed to helping employers build strong, sustainable talent pipelines—and Alcona Health Center is a perfect example of that in action.

As a trusted healthcare provider in Northern Michigan, Alcona Health Center faced a familiar challenge: growing demand for Medical Assistants alongside a shrinking talent pool. Determined to find a long-term solution, they turned to Michigan Works! for support.

MW! Apprenticeship Specialist Jeremiah Johnston introduced Alcona to the Registered Apprenticeship model, helping identify which job roles would benefit most and guiding the center through the registration process with the U.S. Department of Labor. Jeremiah worked closely with Alcona to design a program tailored to their needs, defining competencies for hands-on training and securing Career Step as the Related Technical Instruction (RTI) provider. This flexible, online platform allows apprentices to complete coursework while continuing full-time work, integrating learning seamlessly with day-to-day responsibilities.

To make the program even more accessible, Business Solutions Professional Brandy Kozlowski assisted Alcona in applying for the Going PRO Talent Fund, successfully securing $36,000 to offset training and onboarding costs. This funding supported training for 13 current employees and six new hires, including five new apprentices and five current employees transitioning into the apprenticeship program.

Thanks to this collaboration, five current Alcona Health employees are now enrolled in the Medical Assistant Apprenticeship Program, gaining confidence, advancing skills, and learning directly from experienced staff—all while progressing through their RTI. One apprentice is already nearing program completion, and others are well on their way toward certification.

Even before all apprentices graduate, the results are clear: Alcona Health Center is building its future workforce from within. Employees feel supported and engaged, and patients benefit from highly trained, capable staff.

By partnering with Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium and leveraging resources like the Going PRO Talent Fund, Alcona Health Center didn’t just create an apprenticeship program—they built a long-term strategy to grow talent, invest in their people, and continue delivering high-quality care to their communities for years to come.