The U.S. Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeship Technical Assistance Center of Excellence on Strategic Partnerships and System Alignment hosted “Building Stronger American Workforce and Education System Support for Apprenticeship,” a national virtual Town Hall on advancing alignment of America’s apprenticeship, education, and workforce systems. This special event featured U.S. DOL leaders, Megan Baird, the Acting Administrator from the Office of Apprenticeship (OA), and Robin Fernkas, the Deputy Administrator from the Employment and Training Administration Office of Workforce Investment (OWI). 

OA and OWI leadership was joined by the Center lead, Safal Partners, and its five partners - the National Association of Workforce Professionals, Coalition on Adult Basic Education, National Disability Institute, Wireless Infrastructure Association, and FASTPORT – in sharing insights from the field, lessons learned from the Center’s work over the past four years, and recommendations for future work.

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The Transportation, Distribution & Logistics industry employs 1 in 14 working Americans offering a wide range of career opportunities and making it challenging for employers to fill open positions. This webinar provides Business Services Representatives (BSRs) with effective strategies to promote Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs to employers in this industry. The session highlights how RA programs offer tailored solutions to meet specific workforce needs, can be seamlessly integrated into existing training and HR development plans, and deliver clear benefits such as a skilled talent pipeline, improved retention, and reduced recruitment costs.

This webinar, presented by the Center of Excellence in partnership with FASTPORT, is presented by Dave Harrison and Scott Ellsworth. Scott Ellsworth, the Principal and Owner of Scott Ellsworth Consulting and Sherpa Management Solutions, works as a contractor with numerous workforce organization assisting employers in developing and implementing effective RA programs. Dave Harrison, Executive Director of Workforce Development and Government Relations for FASTPORT, is a highly accomplished subject matter expert in RA, workforce development, government relations, and veteran employment initiatives. Dave brings extensive expertise in transportation, logistics, financial services, information security, and artificial intelligence sectors, where he has assisted employers and workforce development professionals in meeting evolving industry needs with innovative workforce development solutions. 

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Case managers play a critical role in workforce development, connecting jobseekers to quality training and employment opportunities. As Registered Apprenticeship (RA) continues to prove effective for career advancement, this webinar equips case managers with practical strategies to present RA to jobseekers across various populations. Learn how to communicate the value of RA, articulate career pathways, and implement outreach methods for large-scale recruitment through events, platforms, and partnerships. The webinar also features real-world examples of how organizations effectively use RA to recruit and engage talent.

This webinar, presented by the Center of Excellence in partnership with Fastport, features guest presenters Dave Harrison and Scott Ellsworth. Dave Harrison, Executive Director of Workforce Development and Government Relations for Fastport, is a highly accomplished subject matter expert in RA, workforce development, government relations, and veteran employment initiatives. Scott Ellsworth, the Principal and Owner of Scott Ellsworth Consulting and Sherpa Management Solutions, works as a contractor with numerous workforce organization assisting employers in developing and implementing effective Registered Apprenticeship programs. 

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The National Association of Workforce Development Professionals 41st Annual Conference provided the opportunity for workforce development professionals to connect, innovate, and advance their work through interactive workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities. The conference attracts leaders and professionals from various workforce development organizations, including workforce boards, community colleges, private sector businesses, vocational rehabilitation, economic development, community and faith-based organizations, and more.  

The Center of Excellence presented the workshop, Aligning Workforce and Registered Apprenticeship: Key Components for Success, during the conference focusing on the crucial partnership between the workforce system under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs, demonstrating how their integration can drive success. Participants explored six key components for aligning and integrating RA programs into local workforce systems, using a tool developed by Safal Partners, Key Components of Workforce System Alignment with Registered Apprenticeship, providing a roadmap for local Workforce Development Boards to strengthen their collaboration with RA programs.

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The SelectUSA Investment Summit, the highest profile event in the United States, is designed to facilitate business investment by connecting thousands of investors, companies, economic development organizations, and industry experts. This event, hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce, fosters collaboration between companies considering U.S. expansion and economic development organizations. The event was attended by hundreds of economic development organizations, service providers, industry experts, representatives from 50+ states and territories, companies from 90+ markets, and government officials. Katie Adams, Safal Partners’ Chief Delivery Officer presented “Growing Your Workforce in America: A U.S. Department of Labor Overview of the Workforce System.” Adams provided an overview of the workforce system, employer services at a local level, and Registered Apprenticeship, as well as explaining the business case for apprenticeship. Over 120+ participants attended the presentation, requiring some attendees to stand. Participants also represented foreign companies looking to expand operations to the United States. 

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The National Youth Employment Coalition conference unites youth practitioners, policymakers, youth leaders, and stakeholders dedicated to improving the lives of youth and young adults. By creating a collaborative space to share best practices, innovative ideas, advocacy strategies, and practical solutions to common challenges, the Forum works across geographies and sectors to empower each other in their mission to connect youth and young adults to workforce and educational opportunities.

Center Subject Matter Expert, Alan Dodkowitz, hosted an interactive workshop, Building a School to Apprenticeship Pipeline for Opportunity Youth, on May 12th at the Forum. Attendees heard about how to establish Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs, conduct effective outreach to Opportunity Youth, and gain practical tools to bridge social services and the education system with the apprenticeship system. Attendees also learned how youth’s engagement in RA can improve WIOA grantees’ performance metrics and funding utilization. 

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The Pennsylvania Workforce Development Association (PWDA) serves as the voice of the Pennsylvania workforce development system and a clearinghouse for workforce development information statewide. They provide development and capacity building opportunities to workforce development professionals, local workforce development boards (WDBs), and other stakeholders while continuing proactive advocacy efforts on behalf of Pennsylvania’s workforce development system. 

Safal Partners' Apprenticeship Senior Subject Matter Expert, Alan Dodkowitz, presented, "Career and Technical Education and Registered Apprenticeship (RA) for Pennsylvania." This session explored strategies for aligning RA with CTE pathways, ensuring that students gain hands-on work experience while gaining the necessary related instruction. Attendees learned how leveraging RA can enhance CTE programs by providing students with structured career pathways and heard best practices for building partnerships between educational institutions, workforce agencies, and employers to create seamless RA pipelines. 

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WORKCON 2025, hosted and designed by the California Workforce Association (CWA), showcased innovative and strategic collaborations, partnerships, programs, ideas, and principles that highlighted the remarkable work of California's Workforce Development Boards, Community-Based Organizations, Educational entities, WIOA partners, and all those who are invested in the success of their local communities and the people who live in them. 

Center SMEs Katie Adams and Melissa Aguilar-Southard hosted an interactive workshop on “Aligning Workforce and Registered Apprenticeship: Key Components for Success.” Participants learned about the key components of workforce system alignment with Registered Apprenticeship (RA), the benefits of aligning workforce systems with RA programs, and practical strategies and actionable ideas to build or strengthen workforce system integration with RA. 

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Based on research and assessments conducted by the Center of Excellence, Center Subject Matter Expert, Alan Dodkowitz, provides a deep dive into understanding Registered Apprenticeship (RA) and workforce system alignment, the knowledge gaps that exist, and an analysis of how states are aligning their Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) state plans with RA.  

In addition, James Disbro, Senior Director of Regional Alignment and Programs Development for CareerSource Suncoast, and Brandon Butler, Executive Director of the Maryland Workforce Association, discuss Florida's and Maryland's apprenticeship expansion efforts. Mr. Disbro focuses on elements of integration such as a Local Workforce Development Board serving as a RA program sponsor, collaboration with U.S. Department of Labor intermediaries, ways to increase RA programs within the area, engagement with post-secondary institutions, and funding opportunities to support RA. Mr. Butler speaks about Maryland’s approach to RA, challenges faced in implementing apprenticeship programs, and Maryland’s overall RA strategy.

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The Missouri Association of Workforce Development (MAWD) is a statewide organization representing the states’ career and technical training, and workforce development professionals. Focused on workforce development professionals within the state of Missouri, attendees included workforce development professionals from local workforce boards, apprenticeship system staff, partner organizations, community-based organizations, and educational institutions including community and technical colleges. 

Center Subject Matter Expert, Haylie Schuster, hosted an interactive workshop at MAWD’s annual convening on “Local Workforce Development Boards: Forging the Future Through Alignment with Registered Apprenticeship.” Participants learned about the key components of workforce system alignment with Registered Apprenticeship (RA), the benefits of aligning workforce systems with RA programs, and practical strategies and actionable ideas to build or strengthen workforce system integration with RA.

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During the Coalition on Adult Basic Education 2025 National Conference, the Center of Excellence presented, Bridging the Gap: Empowering Adult Learners through Registered and Pre-Apprenticeship Programs. This presentation discussed the key challenges facing adult educators, such as transforming Integrated Education and Training (IET) into apprenticeships, engaging workforce partners, and leveraging Title 1 funding.

Pre-apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeship programs offer adult learners an array of benefits, including access to employment and training in some of the fastest growing industries in this country.  These programs also offer structured on-the-job learning (OJL) and related instruction (RI) that ensures adult learners have a pathway to earning industry-recognized credentials and long-term, well-paying careers. Through our work on the Center of Excellence, learn how Safal Partners can help develop pre-apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeship pathways for adult learners by aligning our nation’s workforce, education, and apprenticeship systems.

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The Southeastern Employment and Training Association (SETA) provides professional growth opportunities for all workforce development partners. Center Subject Matter Expert Alan Dodkowitz presented “The Workforce and Registered Apprenticeship System: How Do We Connect the Two?”. This engaging workshop provided an overview of the key findings from the Center’s research highlighting the statistics uncovered regarding the intersection of Registered Apprenticeship and workforce systems. The workshop introduced the “Key Components of Workforce System Alignment with Registered Apprenticeship” tool and outlined practical methods for workforce boards and job centers to improve integration with RA programs. The presentation also included guidance on ensuring eligible participants are properly co-enrolled in both WIOA and apprenticeship programs and offers strategies for equipping Business Services Representatives to effectively conduct outreach to employers. Attendees gained actionable strategies to strengthen the alignment between workforce systems and RA programs, fostering long-term sustainability for these programs.

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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. Center Subject Matter Expert, Alan Dodkowitz, 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 state and local CTE leadership and program instructors with customized, no-cost TA, resources and tools to engage in pre-apprenticeship.

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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. Dr. Melissa Schroeder also offers her insight into the challenges and opportunities facing community colleges.

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The Center of Excellence's subject matter experts Alan Dodkowitz, Nicole Bentley, and Jeremy Faulkner, alongside Amy Shields, the Executive Director of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Foundation and VP of Programs at ACCE, discussed how chambers can play one or more primary roles in Registered Apprenticeship. Participants also heard findings from a collaborative knowledge assessment given to member chambers and guidance on how chambers can serve as effective conveners of member employers.

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