LCCC Apprenticeship Program Helps Build Skilled Workforce

LCCC Apprenticeship Program Helps Build Skilled Manufacturing Workforce

BY Enrique Correa Ohio

PUBLISHED 2:24 PM ET Jan. 16, 2020 PUBLISHED 2:24 PM EST Jan. 16, 2020

LORAIN COUNTY, Ohio — For almost two years, Nelson Rodriguez has been in the Lorain County Community College apprenticeship program.

He’s getting college credit while also getting paid to learn.

LCCC is offering a variety of apprenticeships to build a skilled workforce in manufacturing
Students earn college credit while getting a paycheck
LLCC partners with local organizations and employers to provide support and training

“It’s very hands-on,” said Rodriguez. “At the end, you get an apprenticeship card and a lot of knowledge, actually.”

Human Resource Manager Molly Lucas, at AJ Rose Manufacturing Co. in Avon, says the company has a hard time hiring skilled workers in maintenance and tool & die-maker jobs. So, the apprentice program at the college is helpful in building a staff.

“We are at the point where we have a lot of people retiring and the apprentice program, I think, encourages the younger people not only to stay, but gives them something to look ahead to and they know they’ll end up getting their state Journeyman’s Card, so it helps with retention, gives them something to look forward to and just helps get them in the door,” said Lucas.

Lorain County Community College partners with local organizations and employers to provide support and training in a variety of apprenticeship programs.

Kelly Zelesnik is the dean of engineering at the college.

“So, the apprenticeship program is so important to students, they understand they can have a job waiting for them while they are in the program and for the companies, they are finding qualified employees that they really need to keep their businesses growing,” said Zelesnik.

The apprenticeship program gives workers the necessary on-the-job experience to make it to the next level

“Being able to apply what you’ve learned at school is pretty cool, being able to do that in a book, then bring it here and actually being able to hold it and actually do it, definitely pretty awesome,” said Rodriguez.

For more information on LCCC's apprenticeship program, visit their website.