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 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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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 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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The Center of Excellence lead this interactive workshop during the Pennsylvania Workforce Development Association’s Apprenticeship PA Collaborative and Expo. This presentation helps educators, industry employers, and workforce staff learn how to develop, implement, and sustain youth Registered Apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs.

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The Center of Excellence presented at the Worksource Academy Conference in December. This presentation will allow you to understand the building blocks of Registered Apprenticeship (RA), learn the benefits of RA programs for both job seekers and business customers, understand what it means to braid funds, learn the elements of success, complete a braided funds exercise, and explore alternative funding sources.

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Maryland's employers are struggling to fill jobs, while parents face the rising costs of college. The state has also set an ambitious goal: by the 2030-2031 school year, 45% of graduating seniors should complete an apprenticeship or earn an industry-recognized credential. Achieving these objectives will require a significant expansion of youth apprenticeships across the state.

This workshop provides insights into how education can seamlessly transition into apprenticeship. It presents data and statistics highlighting the impact and success rates of Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs and explores the many benefits of combining traditional education with RA, such as enhanced skills acquisition, job readiness, and long-term career success. Industry experts share examples of successful education-to-apprenticeship pathways. This presentation equips you with the strategies and knowledge to bridge the gap between education and apprenticeship, ultimately benefiting both students and the workforce.

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