Celebrating Apprentices
On Thursday, November 16, Cleveland Community College held its annual Apprenticeship Cleveland signing event. The evening commemorated National Apprenticeship Week by recognizing two graduates of the Apprenticeship Cleveland program, 25 new apprentices and 10 new employer partners.
Graduate Doug Womack completed the Milwright apprenticeship with Greenheck. He earned a certificate of completion from the North Carolina Community College System, as well as a diploma in Industrial Systems Technology and multiple certificates from CCC.
Womack is a 22-year Army veteran who says that “having the opportunity to work with seasoned professionals on the job has helped me translate what I learned in the classroom to real-world applications in my industry.”
The second graduate, Shane Rogers, completed the Heat Treatment Maintenance Technician apprenticeship with Eaton Corporation. He earned a certificate of completion from the North Carolina Community College System and a journey worker credential from the Department of Labor. He also earned an Associate of Applied Science in General Occupational Technology, a diploma in Automation Engineering, a diploma in Industrial Systems Technology and multiple certificates from CCC.
Earlier this year, Rogers was featured in an article by EdNC about apprenticeships. In the article, he talks about the fear of going back to school and how, by overcoming that fear, he is advancing his career and showing his four children that anything is possible with hard work and commitment.
The second part of the night’s program featured the official signing of 25 new apprentices, formalizing the commitment between the apprentices and their employers. The apprenticeships are in healthcare, electrical, maintenance, welding, HVAC/refrigeration, machining and millwright.
Apprenticeship Cleveland was formed in 2017 to meet the needs of local businesses and industries in Cleveland County. Apprenticeships help develop highly skilled jobs with a minimum of 2,000 on-the-job training hours and at least 144 related instructional hours. Upon successful completion, the apprentice qualifies for a nationally recognized certification as a “journey worker” in a skilled trade and an academic credential from CCC. Employers get skilled workers who have demonstrated, through their participation in the apprenticeship program, discipline, dedication, and a strong work ethic.
New Employer Partners for 2023
- Bayada Home Health
- Camp Electric
- Clearwater Paper
- Eaton Corporation
- IMA Contractors
- Maco
- Miller & Condrey Refrigeration and HVAC
- Pioneer Motor Bearing
- Settle Heating & Air
- Peak Resources