Office Hours: Equipping Chambers of Commerce to Engage in Registered Apprenticeship

Office Hours: Equipping Chambers of Commerce to Engage in Registered Apprenticeship 

Chambers of Commerce are actively engaged in Registered Apprenticeship across the nation. The Center presented this Office Hours webinar to show how to leverage the expertise of Chambers of Commerce and their crucial role as vital collaborators in expanding Registered Apprenticeships. This webinar, a follow-up to the Center of Excellence’s January 9th webinar in partnership with the Association of Chamber Commerce Executives (ACCE), provided participants with the opportunity to hear about best practice models of Chambers of Commerce actively engaging in Registered Apprenticeship across the nation.  

Link to Presentation

Link to Webinar

Southeastern Employment and Training Association 2025 Spring Conference

Southeastern Employment and Training Association (SETA) 2025 Spring Conference

The SETA 2025 Spring Conference where professionals from across the region gather to share knowledge, explore best practices, and connect with peers. Attendees participated in educational sessions, opportunities to learn about best practices from industry leaders, and a vibrant networking environment to foster new connections.

Link to PPT

National Career Pathways Network Connect Conference

National Career Pathways Network Connect Conference 2025

The National Career Pathways Network (NCPN) is dedicated to improving the education-to-careers pipeline through professional development in career and technical education (CTE), Career Pathways, Adult Career Pathways, and workforce development. They hosted their annual conference, NCPN Connect 2025.

The Center of Excellence presented the interactive workshop, Building Student Awareness of Apprenticeship Career Pathways, equipping both stakeholders and educators with tools to link Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs and successful education-to-apprenticeship pathways. The session provided data showcasing the benefits of RA and a discussion around expert insights on effective transitions to apprenticeship.

The presentation also discussed how our Center of Excellence can provide your state and local CTE leadership and program instructors with customized, no-cost TA, resources and tools to engage in pre-apprenticeship.

Promising Practices in Registered Apprenticeship from a Rural Community College

Promising Practices in Registered Apprenticeship from a Rural Community College

Rural community colleges face unique challenges when implementing Registered Apprenticeship programs. In this webinar, Safal Partners Workforce Director Dr. Melissa Schroeder hosted a discussion with David Shofstahl, Apprenticeship Coordinator and Workforce Program Manager for Skilled Trades at Mountain Gateway Community College (MGCC). As a recognized leader in workforce development, David has navigated unique challenges of implementing Registered Apprenticeship programs in rural areas. MGCC, the second smallest community college in Virginia, has utilized innovative approaches to overcome significant barriers to apprenticeship adoption. 

Drawing on her 16 years of successful experience leading state and federal workforce and education initiatives including Registered Apprenticeship program expansion, Dr. Melissa Schroeder offered her insight into the challenges and opportunities facing community colleges. Having previously led the Division of Workforce & Economic Development at the College of Southern Nevada, Dr. Schroeder brought deep expertise in creating apprenticeship pathways. Participants received an opportunity to ask our experts questions. 

Link to Webinar