On November 20, 2024 the Little Rock Workforce Development Board (LRWDB), Central Arkansas Planning and Development District (CAPDD), Arkansas Workforce Connections-Office of Skills Development (AWC-OSD), and Apprenticely hosted a Regional Apprenticeship Employer Forum in the Grand Hall at the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College (UA-PTC) in North Little Rock.
The agenda for the Regional Apprenticeship Employer Forum included:
- Registered Apprenticeship (RA) Overview – Mark McManus, Apprenticeship Expansion Coordinator, OSD, Arkansas Department of Commerce
- Spotlight Recognition – Arkansas Certified Pre-Apprenticeship Program, Associated Builders & Contractors of Arkansas, Bill Roachell, President and Kimberly Moore, Apprenticeship Coordinator
- RA Intermediary/Sponsor Expansion Activities – Lonnie Emard, Apprenticeship Director, Apprenticely
- Lunch and Learn Presentation on Workforce Development and Apprenticeship Opportunities – Glen Howie, Director, Arkansas State Broadband Office
- Registered Apprenticeship Employer Champions Panel – Facilitator: Lonnie Emard; Panelists: Candice Bailey, Arkansas Children’s Hospital; Kelly Hollis, EcoPump; G.B. Cazes, Emory Solutions; Jacob Guntharp, Riceland Foods
- WIOA Panel – Facilitator: Rani Cooksey, Business Services/HR Manager, Arkansas Workforce Center at Little Rock
- WIOA Core Partner Local Area Representatives – W.J. Monagle, Title I (Adult, DLW, Youth); Bobbie McNutt, Title II Adult Education; Earnest Merritt, Title III Workforce Connections; Gretchen Newton, Title IV Arkansas Rehabilitation Services
The event was part of the highly successful 2024 National Apprenticeship Week. During this week employers, industry representatives, labor and community-based organizations, workforce partners, educational institutions, and federal, state, and local government agencies hosted over 1,580 events and issued almost 900 proclamations celebrating Registered Apprenticeship.
