Summit takes renewed look at apprenticeships' workforce edge

More than 100 industry officials, thought leaders and partners – representing 69 employers – attended Thursday’s second annual Apprenticeship Summit to discuss how best to close skills gaps, retain workers and attract new employees. The keynote speaker was Eric M. Seleznow, senior adviser with Jobs for the Future, a nonprofit that collaborates with national authorities on education, workforce development, business, technology, government and philanthropy. Other presenters at the summit, themed around "Best Practices in Apprenticeship," included Joe Miller, senior human resources professional with First Quality Enterprises; Angela Hummel, talent development leader at Angela Hummel Consulting; and Eric M. Ramsay, director of the apprenticeship and training office for the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. Among the Penn College representatives on the agenda were President Davie Jane Gilmour; Shannon M. Munro, vice president for workforce development; and Christopher P. Ray, Workforce Development’s executive director for business development.  The day also featured workshops, networking opportunities, a showing of two recent college videos on apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, and lunch in CC Commons.

– Photos by Cindy Davis Meixel, writer/photo editor

A full house in Penn’s Inn

Barry King, director of career and technical education at Insight PA Cyber Charter School, rises to ask a question of Miller.

First Quality Enterprises' Joe Miller offers an industry perspective in the first talk of the morning.

Jim Kuhn (right), manager of training and development with South Carolina company J.W. Aluminum, converses with Russ Lawrence, director of innovation, IMC.

Angela Hummel leads participants in an exploration of organizational learning cultures.

Timothy Faust, vice president of manufacturing at Bingaman & Son Lumber Inc., Middleburg, networks with fellow attendees.

Albert Jones (right), director of human resources at First Quality, and John Keefe, mold shop manager at B. Braun Medical follow Hummels' directive to discuss “learning cultures” within their companies.

Listening intently is Nick Aquilino, information and student services director at Orleans Technical College in Philadelphia.

Keynoter Eric M. Seleznow

President Gilmour, fluently versed in workforce preparedness and the college's role in it, takes to the podium.

Some guests availed themselves of the beautiful weather to dine on the CC Commons patio.

During afternoon break-out sessions, a panel discussion with (at table, from left) Eric M. Ramsay, Shannon M. Munro and Seleznow.

The pre-apprenticeship break-out session draws a large crowd. At the screen is Beth M. Bittenbender, Workforce Development's operations/special projects director.

Focusing on a timely topic

Ross A. Berger, client development specialist, shares potential career pathways resulting from the college’s Advanced Manufacturing Pre-Apprenticeship.

Tiffany Loner-Diemer, training supervisor with West Pharmaceutical Services, listens to conversation in a manufacturing workshop.

Industrial technology specialist Gerry Pena (in blue shirt, facing camera) facilitates a discussion.

Becky Ramsdell (seated at center), president of The Electric Materials Co., Erie, engages in a manufacturing exchange with Christopher P. Ray (standing at right).

A tireless advocate of apprenticeships – and frequent campus visitor – Ramsay delivers the day's final talk.