The Michigan Apprenticeship and Training Association (MEATA) held its first in-person conference since 2019 on May 24-26, 2022 in Acme, MI. The two-day conference was made possible by our generous donors: Oakland County Michigan Works, Michigan Construction Laborers’ Local 1076, Operating Engineers Local 324, Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights, Michigan Laborers Training and Apprenticeship Institute and the Carl D. Perkins Consortium grant.
To kick off ‘Expanding Registered Apprenticeships Together’ was our very own State Director, Russ Davis from the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship and all three of his Apprenticeship Training Representatives: Marybeth Koski, Tiffanie Clawson and Steve Long.
Both days were full of educational and networking sessions with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Apprenticeship, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Michigan Department of Education/OCTE, trade and labor organizations, WIN (Workforce Intelligence Network) and intermediary, employers, vendors, workforce development agencies, as well as secondary and post-secondary educators from around the state.
The conference had its first in-person, RAPIDS (Registered Apprenticeship in a Day) singing ceremony since 2019 with sponsor, Habitat for Humanity and Northwest Michigan Works, an articulation agreement signing ceremony with Northwestern Michigan College’s Construction Management Program and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters, sponsored employer, Precision Plumbing & Heating, Inc. presenting on their DOL approved, HVAC Installation occupation and 9 apprentices; as well as two awards presented for Apprenticeship Employer of the Year going to Great Lakes Water Authority in Detroit and Apprenticeship Educator of the Year being awarded to Oakland Community College.
Those in attendance were also enlightened by Genesee County Sheriff, Christopher B. Swanson, not only a motivational speaker but creator of the IGNITE (Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education) program which is also working with the US DOL on CDL Registered Apprenticeships.
Many thanks to all those in attendance who made the 2022 MEATA spring conference a success!
MEATA Executive Board Members:
Kevin Green – MEATA President
Debbie Schultz – MEATA Vice President
Annette Norris – MEATA Treasurer
Cameron Albring – MEATA Secretary
