Press Release
The Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC) is bridging the skills gap in American manufacturing by delivering workforce solutions through Apprenticeship Works, the National Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship Partnership.
Apprenticeship Works now assists companies in West Virginia and 32 other states in overcoming workforce challenges by establishing and maintaining U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) registered apprenticeship programs in 18 high-demand industrial occupations – and this number is growing.
“Apprenticeships provide a structured framework for upskilling incumbent workers and training new hires,” said MAMC Apprenticeship Unit Director Heather Cooper. “Data show that apprenticeships boost employee retention and improve efficiency and safety. They’re also a great way to ensure the vast institutional knowledge of veteran employees isn’t lost when they retire but instead is transferred to the next generation of workers.”
Falcon Mine Service of Midway as well as Wilson Welding and Mountain Mindful, both of Huntington, are the latest West Virginia entities to establish apprenticeship programs in occupations such as machine operator and CNC operator/programmer through MAMC’s Apprenticeship Works.
Weyerhaeuser, which already has apprenticeship programs through Apprenticeship Works at its Buckhannon and Heaters locations in West Virginia, has expanded with electrician maintenance and industrial maintenance apprenticeships at facilities in Alabama, Arkansas and Louisiana.
Out-of-state companies that recently signed up for Apprenticeship Works are CoorsTek of Colorado, Morgan Truck Body of Pennsylvania, Magna Engineered Glass of Michigan and Optimas Solutions and Semblex, both of Illinois. Their apprentices are in occupations that include tool and die maker, electromechanical technician, electrician – maintenance, industrial maintenance mechanic and machine operator.
The MAMC team helps manufacturers establish apprenticeship programs and tailor them to companies’ particular operations, delivers train-the-trainer services to mentors, provides related online technical instruction, assists with recordkeeping and serves as liaison with the DOL.
Because Apprenticeship Works is funded entirely through a $7,103,847 grant from the DOL’s Office of Employment and Training Administration, MAMC’s services are free to manufacturer.
Klockner Pentaplast of Beaver also recently added a quality control apprenticeship to enhance its workforce continuity plans. Brian Bowman, who has been with the company five years, is the first apprentice in the program. The Raleigh County company manufactures plastic film and plastic trays that are made from and sold to be sustainable products.
“When you invest in your employees’ futures, they are more likely to stay and grow [with you]” said Dana Farris, Human Resources Generalist at Klockner. “The trainings and programs offered by MAMC have been vital in the growth of our team at Klockner.”
When employees finish their apprenticeships, which takes one to four years, they earn national credentials in the form of journeyworker certificates from DOL.
Several employees at Mull Group of Wheeling recently completed their apprenticeships as precision machinists, CNC operator/programmers and quality control technicians. The company has added new apprentices in precision machining.
WV Manufacturing of Boomer, a Ferroglobe company, recently honored the second group of employees to complete its apprenticeship program through Apprenticeship Works. Eight individuals earned journeyworker certificates as industrial maintenance mechanics. WV Manufacturing also added a new industrial maintenance mechanic apprentice and six employees have enrolled in the industrial maintenance mechanic – furnace operator apprenticeship – a new apprenticeship develop by company leadership and employees of WV Manufacturing with guidance from MAMC and Jobs for the Future.
“Like other manufacturers throughout the country, the transfer of specialized knowledge from veteran employees to new employees has become even more crucial with an aging workforce,” said Kim Knapp, WV Manufacturing’s Director of Training, Development and Grants. “Apprenticeship is the most effective training model for mitigating skills gaps and ensuring continuity.”
Learn more about Apprenticeship Works at www.mfg.marshall.edu/apprenticeships.
Aug. 28, 2026
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