Two new associates from J.A. Street & Associates General Contractors recently joined the group apprenticeship program at Northeast State Community College.
New apprentices Lucas Griggs and Mason Sizemore signed their apprenticeship agreements this spring at the Technical Education Complex on the Blountville campus. Both enter the Carpenter apprenticeship program sponsored by the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing (RCAM) at Northeast State. The construction industry places a premium on a skilled carpenter.
“We are currently in a high-demand, low-supply era for carpentry in construction work,” said James Osborne, director of Safety and Quality at J.A. Street.
The Carpenter Apprenticeship follows a four-year path to completion. Those apprentices earn 8,000 total on-the-job training hours. They also complete more than 600 classroom training hours.
Northeast State and RCAM worked with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to create the Group Registered Apprenticeship Program in 2017. These registered group apprenticeship programs use DOL standards, which provides certification for more than 1,000 occupations. The curriculum for the J.A. Street carpentry path will come from the National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER).
As a registered apprenticeship sponsor, RCAM can construct DOL-guided training for companies of any size. This training serves as a valuable education asset for smaller companies and entrepreneurs that might not otherwise be able to offer or sustain an apprenticeship program. At completion of the apprenticeship program, participants receive a DOL certificate of completion.
The RCAM Group Apprenticeship Program includes the occupations of Mechatronics Technician; Industrial Manufacturing Technician; CNC Machinist; Carpentry; Metal Buildings. The pro. Participating companies become Authorized Training Agents to provide on-the-job training for their employees.
Osborne inherited an existing training program when he joined J.A. Street. He reviewed those standards and sought out company associates for their input on how existing training flowed into workplace responsibilities.
While with another company, Osborne had worked with RCAM and understood the training processes available. He reconnected with RCAM Training Coordinator Cindy Necessary who initiated a curriculum for J.A. Street to join the group apprenticeship program. Osborne said the best qualities to become an apprentice came down to determination and communication.
“We want someone attentive, outgoing, and willing to put the time in to follow through with the program,” said Osborne. “We can take anyone from high school student to an adult student if they have a good attitude show up and participate.”
As the economy continues to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, a carpenter ranks as a precious skilled professional. New building projects and building renovations require a carpenter’s deft skills to start the construction process. There are opportunities to advance as project manager or site manager over a large construction job.
“Skilled carpenters are in such high demand, there is a path for entrepreneurs,” Osborne said. “If you spend the time to become a skilled carpenter, many people go on to start their own companies.”
Programs established as “Group Apprenticeship Programs” enable companies of all sizes to take advantage of apprenticeship training, without the burden of managing a company sponsored program. Companies that use such programs can diversify their workforce, improve productivity and profitability.
Companies interested in learning more about the registered group apprenticeship process can visit the RCAM web site manufacturing at https://manufacturingfuture.net.
Two new associates from J.A. Street & Associates General Contractors recently joined the group apprenticeship program at Northeast State Community College.
New apprentices Lucas Griggs and Mason Sizemore signed their apprenticeship agreements this spring at the Technical Education Complex on the Blountville campus. Both enter the Carpenter apprenticeship program sponsored by the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing (RCAM) at Northeast State. The construction industry places a premium on a skilled carpenter.
“We are currently in a high-demand, low-supply era for carpentry in construction work,” said James Osborne, director of Safety and Quality at J.A. Street.
The Carpenter Apprenticeship follows a four-year path to completion. Those apprentices earn 8,000 total on-the-job training hours. They also complete more than 600 classroom training hours.
Northeast State and RCAM worked with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to create the Group Registered Apprenticeship Program in 2017. These registered group apprenticeship programs use DOL standards, which provides certification for more than 1,000 occupations. The curriculum for the J.A. Street carpentry path will come from the National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER).
As a registered apprenticeship sponsor, RCAM can construct DOL-guided training for companies of any size. This training serves as a valuable education asset for smaller companies and entrepreneurs that might not otherwise be able to offer or sustain an apprenticeship program. At completion of the apprenticeship program, participants receive a DOL certificate of completion.
The RCAM Group Apprenticeship Program includes the occupations of Mechatronics Technician; Industrial Manufacturing Technician; CNC Machinist; Carpentry; Metal Buildings. The pro. Participating companies become Authorized Training Agents to provide on-the-job training for their employees.
Osborne inherited an existing training program when he joined J.A. Street. He reviewed those standards and sought out company associates for their input on how existing training flowed into workplace responsibilities.
While with another company, Osborne had worked with RCAM and understood the training processes available. He reconnected with RCAM Training Coordinator Cindy Necessary who initiated a curriculum for J.A. Street to join the group apprenticeship program. Osborne said the best qualities to become an apprentice came down to determination and communication.
“We want someone attentive, outgoing, and willing to put the time in to follow through with the program,” said Osborne. “We can take anyone from high school student to an adult student if they have a good attitude show up and participate.”
As the economy continues to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, a carpenter ranks as a precious skilled professional. New building projects and building renovations require a carpenter’s deft skills to start the construction process. There are opportunities to advance as project manager or site manager over a large construction job.
“Skilled carpenters are in such high demand, there is a path for entrepreneurs,” Osborne said. “If you spend the time to become a skilled carpenter, many people go on to start their own companies.”
Programs established as “Group Apprenticeship Programs” enable companies of all sizes to take advantage of apprenticeship training, without the burden of managing a company sponsored program. Companies that use such programs can diversify their workforce, improve productivity and profitability.
Companies interested in learning more about the registered group apprenticeship process can visit the RCAM web site manufacturing at https://manufacturingfuture.net.
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