Three Northern Michigan Employers Recognized as Apprenticeship “Champions”

Three northern Michigan employers — Weinkauf Plumbing & Heating, Alcona Health Center, and the Center for Competency Development — were honored on November 4 for their leadership in training workers through Registered Apprenticeship Programs.

The recognition took place at the Otsego County Library following a panel discussion aimed at encouraging more area businesses to grow their own talent through apprenticeships. The event was part of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s (LEO) “Race to Talent with Registered Apprenticeship Michigan” initiative, hosted locally by Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium.

“It was an honor to host some incredible people in our region who are making great strides in the apprenticeship world,” said Jessica Topp, CEO of Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium. “Our Apprenticeship Specialist, Jeremiah Johnston, has been hard at work registering new programs that strengthen both our workforce and local employers.”

Panelists included representatives from LEO, the Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Department, Alcona Health Center, and the Center for Competency Development, who shared their experiences with building successful apprenticeship programs and their impact on employee retention and skill growth.

Registered Apprenticeship opportunities continue to grow across industries such as construction, healthcare, energy, manufacturing, and IT — supporting Governor Whitmer’s Sixty by 30 initiative to ensure 60% of Michigan’s working adults earn a skill certificate or degree by 2030.

To learn more, visit Michigan.gov/Apprenticeship or contact Jeremiah Johnston, Apprenticeship Specialist with Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium, at 989-306-8589 or apprenticeship@nemcworks.org.

Center for Competency Development - For being an outstanding Training Provider, Jeff Jackson; Weinkauf Plumbing & Heating, Luke Gerhart-, President, and Hutch Gibbons, HVAC Technician Apprentice; Alcona Health Center - Rachael Techel, Manager of Organizational Quality and Risk, and Jarod Goodson, Certified Medical Assistant Apprentice Graduate  (LEO representatives on left of each photo, Jeremiah Johnston, Michigan Works! Apprenticeship Specialist)