New Century Careers: 2024 Year in Review

2024 marked New Century Careers’ entry into our 25th anniversary of service to the region—a milestone celebrating decades of training individuals and advancing the manufacturing workforce for our region’s advanced manufacturing employers.

This year, we strengthened our team with a staff promotion, welcomed a new hire, and saw one team member earn two industry-recognized credentials, showcasing our commitment to programming and professional growth. We also invested nearly $200,000 in cutting-edge equipment and technology to enhance our training programs, ensuring our students are equipped to meet the needs of an ever evolving manufacturing industry.  These milestones, along with additional stories of impact, will be featured in our upcoming annual Impact Report!

As we close the year, we thank our manufacturing partners, funders, board of directors, and staff for making this milestone possible. Together, we look forward to building on our legacy of innovation and impact in 2025 and beyond.

- Neil Ashbaugh, President & CEO

Welcoming Our New Student Services Coordinator: Jasmine Dent

Spotlight on Success: John Alexander Achieves Two Credentials

New Century Careers proudly celebrates the achievements of John Alexander, our dedicated Facility Supervisor, who recently earned the Certified Manufacturing Associate (CMfgA) credential through Tooling U-SME. This credential further solidifies John’s expertise and commitment to staying at the forefront of the industry.

This milestone builds upon John's earlier success in obtaining the Quality Inspector credential from the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS). Since 2019, only 172 persons have earned this designation!. His dedication to mastering critical manufacturing skills exemplifies the values that drive New Century Careers forward.

John’s credentials enhance his expertise and serve as an inspiration to both trainees and colleagues. His achievements underline the opportunities available through programs like those at New Century Careers, which support continuous learning and career advancement.

Congratulations, John, on your well-deserved success!

Congratulations to Robert C. and Gabriel O.

on Their New Roles at B.M. Kramer

At New Century Careers, we are proud to celebrate the achievements of MANUFACTURING 2000 (M2K) trainees Robert C. and Gabriel O. Both have successfully completed their training and secured employment at B.M. Kramer, marking the start of their manufacturing careers.

Robert and Gabriel both joined the M2K program in June of 2024 with a shared determination to gain hands-on experience and develop essential skills for the industry. They worked diligently to master key competencies and earned industry-recognized credentials that set them apart as top candidates.

As members of the same cohort, they supported each other throughout their training journey. Their parallel paths now lead them to B.M. Kramer, where they will continue to grow and contribute to the manufacturing industry.

Their success exemplifies the mission of New Century Careers: to equip individuals with the tools to build rewarding careers while strengthening the manufacturing workforce.

B.M. Kramer, a valued partner of New Century Careers, provides excellent opportunities for our trainees to apply their skills and thrive. We are confident Robert and Gabriel will make valuable contributions to the company’s success.

Please join us in wishing them the very best as they embark on this exciting new chapter!

To support the manufacturing workforce through New Century Careers

DONATE HERE or by mailing a check made payable to

New Century Careers, 305 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219