17 min
Episode 12: Guilford Apprenticeship Partners impact. The Boro
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- Entrepreneurship
The Guilford Apprenticeship Partners program allows high school students to learn a trade and graduate with both their high school diploma and associate's degrees debt-free. Meridith Berger, director of existing industry services for the Chamber, sits down with Peter Shoun from LC America and Courtney Smith, an apprentice with MSI, to talk about how GAP works.
Thanks for joining us!
This episode is sponsored by Truliant Federal Credit Union
Visit Truliant here
---------------------
Today’s host is Meridith Berger, Director of Existing Industry Services
Disclaimer: We recorded this episode in early February, before the impact of COVID-19. Our programming for the Guilford Apprenticeship Partners (GAP) Program is now all virtual.
1:52 - Meridith kicks off the episode with some background information about the Guilford Apprenticeship Partners Program and how it benefits both young students and our local companies. GAP is a registered apprenticeship program for high schoolers, is in its fifth year of operation, and has grown to include six program tracks.
3:08 - Today’s guests are Peter Shawn with LC America and Courtney Smith, a second year apprentice with Machine Specialities Inc. Peter and Courtney share some more information about how the companies interact with and teach their apprentices.
5:44 - Peter dives into why LC America partnered with the GAP Program, the benefits that the company is seeing from the program, and how the apprenticeship program is cultivating a long-term, dedicated, and highly skilled employee for the company. Peter explains how LC America is seeing a great return on investment from taking on apprentices, but also how the students grow and benefit.
9:40 - Meridith asks Peter about what cultural or work stresses can be presented by bringing in such young apprentices into the workplace. Peter explains that these students go through a rigorous application, are hardworking, have a particular focus and have great community support behind them. Once employees see how eager the apprentices are, their energy is contagious.
12:10 - Meridith asks Courtney about her experiences as a student-apprentice, her interactions with the other workers, and how career mentors are helping to shape her professional learning. Courtney has found her mentors and fellow employees to be very open, helpful and accepting.
13:20 - Meridith explains that although the GAP Program is 138 students strong, only 6 are female. She asks Courtney how she’d encourage other women to get into GAP or manufacturing environments. Even though manufacturing is a male-dominated field, she feels supported and able to work just as well as her male counterparts. Courtney encourages women to pursue their interests, whatever they may be.
15:25 - For those students interested in the GAP Program, make sure to ask your school counselors, teachers, and peers for information! You can also visit https://gapnc.org/ for more information on how to apply, how it works, and participating employers.
---------------------
Find out more about GAP: gapnc.org
Remember to subscribe for new episode notifications each week.
Make sure to follow impact. The Boro on social media!
Facebook, Instagram and Twitter: @gsochamber
Visit the Chamber website at greensboro.org.
The Guilford Apprenticeship Partners program allows high school students to learn a trade and graduate with both their high school diploma and associate's degrees debt-free. Meridith Berger, director of existing industry services for the Chamber, sits down with Peter Shoun from LC America and Courtney Smith, an apprentice with MSI, to talk about how GAP works.
Thanks for joining us!
This episode is sponsored by Truliant Federal Credit Union
Visit Truliant here
---------------------
Today’s host is Meridith Berger, Director of Existing Industry Services
Disclaimer: We recorded this episode in early February, before the impact of COVID-19. Our programming for the Guilford Apprenticeship Partners (GAP) Program is now all virtual.
1:52 - Meridith kicks off the episode with some background information about the Guilford Apprenticeship Partners Program and how it benefits both young students and our local companies. GAP is a registered apprenticeship program for high schoolers, is in its fifth year of operation, and has grown to include six program tracks.
3:08 - Today’s guests are Peter Shawn with LC America and Courtney Smith, a second year apprentice with Machine Specialities Inc. Peter and Courtney share some more information about how the companies interact with and teach their apprentices.
5:44 - Peter dives into why LC America partnered with the GAP Program, the benefits that the company is seeing from the program, and how the apprenticeship program is cultivating a long-term, dedicated, and highly skilled employee for the company. Peter explains how LC America is seeing a great return on investment from taking on apprentices, but also how the students grow and benefit.
9:40 - Meridith asks Peter about what cultural or work stresses can be presented by bringing in such young apprentices into the workplace. Peter explains that these students go through a rigorous application, are hardworking, have a particular focus and have great community support behind them. Once employees see how eager the apprentices are, their energy is contagious.
12:10 - Meridith asks Courtney about her experiences as a student-apprentice, her interactions with the other workers, and how career mentors are helping to shape her professional learning. Courtney has found her mentors and fellow employees to be very open, helpful and accepting.
13:20 - Meridith explains that although the GAP Program is 138 students strong, only 6 are female. She asks Courtney how she’d encourage other women to get into GAP or manufacturing environments. Even though manufacturing is a male-dominated field, she feels supported and able to work just as well as her male counterparts. Courtney encourages women to pursue their interests, whatever they may be.
15:25 - For those students interested in the GAP Program, make sure to ask your school counselors, teachers, and peers for information! You can also visit https://gapnc.org/ for more information on how to apply, how it works, and participating employers.
---------------------
Find out more about GAP: gapnc.org
Remember to subscribe for new episode notifications each week.
Make sure to follow impact. The Boro on social media!
Facebook, Instagram and Twitter: @gsochamber
Visit the Chamber website at greensboro.org.
17 min