Pictured: (seated, from left to right) Patrick Marshall, Prototype Model Maker apprentice; Bryan Hafley, Industrial Maintenance Repairer apprentice; Courtney Walters, Industrial Maintenance Repairer apprentice; Tre Cannon, Industrial Maintenance Repairer apprentice; Dakota Webb, Industrial Maintenance Repairer apprentice; Canaan Bennett, Industrial Maintenance Repairer apprentice; (standing, from left to right) Laila Malta, Whirlpool senior HR manager; Jeff Jones, Whirlpool senior director of Operations/Production; Mike Mahoney, Whirlpool SmR manager Engineering; Steve Playl, assistant commissioner TN Labor & Workforce Development; John Squires, Cleveland State Community College vice president of Workforce Development, Institutional Research, Advancement, and Communications; Kevin Brooks, mayor of City of Cleveland; Michele Holt, executive director Southeast TN Local Workforce Development Board; Jennifer Thacker, Lead East Regional Apprenticeship director; Jessica Barnett, East Regional Apprenticeship director; Holly Free-Ollard, State of TN Apprenticeship director; Gary Davis, mayor of Bradley County; Tim Kober, Whirlpool Engineering manager for Maintenance & Tooling; Darlene Ownbey, Whirlpool senior analyst Training/People Development; Mike Griffin, director of Cleveland Chamber & CSCC Foundation chair; Wesley Glover, Whirlpool Model Shop supervisor; and Heather Brown, Cleveland State director of Workforce Development.
Cleveland State Community College has partnered with Whirlpool Corporation in Cleveland to provide two registered apprenticeship programs for Whirlpool employees. Five employees in the maintenance department are participating in the Industrial Maintenance Repairer Apprenticeship, and one model shop employee is starting the Prototype Model Maker Apprenticeship.
Cleveland State hosted representatives from Whirlpool and the Tennessee Department of Labor at a ceremony on Friday to recognize the six apprentices.
Jeff Jones, Whirlpool Corporation Cleveland plant manager, said, “Education is the foundation upon which we build our future.
We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Cleveland State Community College in providing our apprentices with valuable hands-on experience and practical knowledge that will shape their future careers. Thank you for your commitment to education and your support in our apprenticeship program.”
Over the four-year programs, these apprentices will complete a minimum of 8,000 hours of on-the-job learning with specific competencies taught and outlined by Whirlpool. They will also complete a minimum of 576 hours of related technical instruction at Cleveland State.
As the official apprenticeship sponsor of both programs, Cleveland State secured two grants through the Tennessee Board of Regents. These grants will cover the first-year technical instruction component for the industrial maintenance program. The model maker program apprentice qualifies for the Tennessee Reconnect scholarship through Cleveland State.
Dr. Ty Stone, CSCC president, said, “We are proud to partner with Whirlpool as the official sponsor of these registered apprenticeship programs. Cleveland State is committed to helping our business and industry partners train a highly-skilled workforce. The apprenticeship program allows the college and industry to develop a pathway together to meet the needs of an ever-changing global economy.”
Officials said, "According to Apprenticeship TN, a registered apprenticeship is an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce. Registered apprenticeship programs are approved by the U. S. Department of Labor and benefit employers with increased productivity, safety, worker versatility and employee retention. Most companies see a 94 percent retention rate after an apprentice completes the program.
"Employees benefit from apprenticeships by gaining paid, relevant workplace experiences while acquiring the skills and credentials that employers value. Employees receive progression wages during the program and earn a journeyman license recognized by industry. Apprenticeship provides affordable paths to secure, high-paying jobs and careers without the typical student debt."
For more information about registered apprenticeship programs, contact Cleveland State Director of Workforce Heather Brown at hbrown@clevelandstatecc.edu or 423-614-8793.