Making Connections 2022 – Growing Your Own Through Apprenticeship: A Joint Approach to Building Skills
This session about apprenticeship was presented as part of TWC’s Making Connections 2022 transit workforce conference in December, 2022.
Session Summary: Apprenticeship programs create a foundation for strong, effective workforce development programs. The ability to build and sustain these programs requires strong labor-management partnerships, or, in the case of nonunion agencies, ongoing involvement of, and management engagement with, the frontline workforce. In this session, panelists from a diverse group of transit agencies presented examples of challenges met and lessons learned as they designed and implemented their apprenticeship programs. Attendees heard how apprenticeship can support a variety of frontline transit occupations and the benefits that apprenticeship offers.
Moderator
- Jamaine “G” Gibson: Director of Apprenticeships and Workforce Development – Amalgamated Transit Union
Speakers
- Dexter Bishop: Elevator/Escalator Journeyman – Amalgamated Transit Union/Local 689
- Stephanie Deiger: Chief Human Resources Officer – Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
- Brian Funk: Chief Operating Officer and Deputy General Manager – MetroTransit Minneapolis
- Michael Hanssen: Supervisor of Technical Skills Training – Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
- Alec Johnson: Bus Operator Apprenticeship Coordinator – MetroTransit Minneapolis/Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1005