GACCs
Skills Update
August 2018
Meet Our Team at IMTS in Chicago
Celebrate with us!
The inaugural ICATT Apprenticeship Program cohort will be graduating on September 13 during IMTS in Chicago, and we’d love for you to join us!

This isn’t all we’ll be doing at IMTS to raise awareness for the excellent career opportunities through apprenticeships in the manufacturing industry. Find out more about our presence at IMTS and all the events we will be hosting during the trade show in the article below.

Upcoming timeline:
 
  • August 2018: Finalizing company-specific training plans
  • August 8, 2018: Trainer Roundtable in Bartlett, IL
  • Mid-August: Official start of cohort
  • September 10-15: ICATT at the IMTS Student Summit
  • September 13, 2018: GACC Skills Conference, IMTS, Chicago, IL
  • September 13, 2018: Inaugural ICATT Cohort Graduation Ceremony, IMTS, Chicago, IL
  • Fall 2018: Start recruiting for 2019-2022 cohort; curriculum development with colleges
  • October 2018: Train the Trainer in Chicago
  • November 14, 2018: GACC Apprenticeship Awards 2018, Washington D.C.

Kind regards,

Virginia Attaway Rounds
Director, Skills Initiative & ICATT Apprenticeship Program
T he ICATT Apprenticeship Program will be participating at IMTS/Hannover Messe USA , one of the leading trade shows for manufacturing technology and automation in the world.

  • Exhibitor booth (215430) at the Smartforce Student Summit, 9/11-14
  • Students, teachers, parents and company representatives will receive first hand information on pursuing and offering cutting-edge careers in manufacturing at Booth 215430 in the North Building
  • GACC Skills Conference on 9/13
  • Analyze new solutions in workforce development and to discuss the latest updates on certified apprenticeship programs.
  • Graduation Ceremony on 9/13
  • Join us in networking and celebrating the graduation of the first ever ICATT Apprenticeship Program cohort.
  • German Night Reception on 9/11
  • Find excellent networking opportunities with the German American business community at our 6th German Night Reception.
New Blog Post: Making the Investment in Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships are an investment in the future growth of a company. A well-executed program helps companies address the skills gap, retain talented employees, and improve workplace morale.

But how can executives convince other company decision-makers that it’s the right time for this investment? The ICATT Apprenticeship Program team works with employers to help them calculate the cost of their skills gap, set concrete goals for their specific program, and to enable an informed decision-making process. 

3rd Annual GA CATT Apprenticeship Signing Ceremony
On August, 13, 2018 Lt. Governor Casey Cagle will host the Georgia Consortium for Advanced Technical Training (GA CATT) program signing ceremony at the State Capitol. The 3rd cohort of Advanced Manufacturing Technician apprentices consists of 13 high school sophomores and 11 sponsoring Georgia manufacturing companies. GA CATT continues to develop a sustainable workforce for its 18 host companies, with a total number of 39 apprentices this year.

To learn more about this event or GA CATT, please contact Nicole Heimann or call (404) 586-6829.
Welcome to our new ICATT Network Companies
 D&M Plastics is a privately held injection-molding manufacturer which specializes in tight-tolerance precision parts for the medical, electronics, and other industries. Customers’ production goals are met through superior quality, on-time delivery and competitive pricing.
Grupo Antolin Nashville is one of the largest players in the car interiors market internationally and the number one worldwide supplier of headliner substrates. They offer products with high added value to outfit automobile interiors: Overheads & trunk trim, doors & hard trim, lighting and cockpits & consoles . 
The Diemasters have been committed to the quality craftsmanship of high precision products at the lowest landed costs. Their high-precision services include manufacturing, assembly and subassembly, stamping, fabrication, product design support, or a combination of those.
To join the ICATT Apprenticeship Program or for more information, please contact Joshua Seeberg or call (312) 494-2170.
Train the Trainer Seminars in Georgia, Illinois and Michigan
We are offering Train the Trainer Seminars to certify “AdA International - Trainer Qualification/USA”, the highest international certification for apprenticeship trainers accredited by the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs) and the German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHKs).

This seminar is designed for trainers, mentors, as well as individuals that are interested in the topic but have no prior experience. The training prepares participants to effectively train and communicate with apprentices and includes topics such as teaching methods for breaking down complex tasks, learning styles, apprenticeship structure, and much more.

Transatlantic Apprenticeship Dialogue: On The Job Training 2.0
Best practices are best discussed and shared together! Join your German SME industry counterparts for intercultural exchange and trainer networking events in Chicago ( October 23-24, 2018) and in Germany ( December 3-7, 2018) . Those events will:
  • Facilitate a knowledge exchange with German trainers, examiners and vocational schools
  • Increase the acceptance of apprenticeships in the US to counteract the skills gap
  • Form understanding for the benefits of creating a sustainable pipeline of talent from within
  • Share best practices of current methods, approach styles, exams, implementation of training and much more!

For more information and to get involved, contact Stefanie Andrews at [email protected] or call 312-494-2167.
This project is supported by the Transatlantic Program of the Federal Republic of Germany, funded by the European Recovery Program (ERP) of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy (BMWi).
New Skills Initiative Team Member at GACC Midwest
The ICATT Apprenticeship Program is not just gaining more and more ICATT Network Companies, it is also growing as a team. Please welcome our new colleague , Stefanie Andrews. Stefanie previously worked as an intercultural communications trainer. Later on she helped to open and grow the HARIBO USA office, focusing on consumer communications, product strategy and innovation. As part of the GACC Midwest's Skills Initiative team, Stefanie will be focusing on the Transatlantic Apprenticeship Dialogue program and "Deutschlandjahr".

You can reach Stefanie at [email protected] or (312) 494-2167.
Expert Support from Germany for the AMT Exam Part 1 in Georgia
GACC South will fly in Hendric Jacoby, an experienced training supervisor from SAMSON Germany, to share his expertise. Jacobs started his career 9 years ago as a construction mechanic apprentice with a specialty in welding technology at SAMSON. He has been the training supervisor there for the past 3 years, being responsible for approximately 100 apprentices in 7 different occupations.

During his visit, Hendric will work with the GA CATT apprentices, instructors and mentors to get everyone ready for the exam part 1. He will also support GACC South with the execution of a mock exam for the apprentices, prior to the exam part 1. GACC South is very grateful to have the support of such an experienced trainer.

To learn more about GA CATT, please contact Nicole Heimann or call (404) 586-6829.
Recap: New Jersey Apprenticeship Roundtable
On July 19, GACC NY hosted the New Jersey Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship Roundtable in partnership with the New Jersey Office of the Governor and New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). The roundtable followed on the heels of Governor Phil Murphy’s announcement of the NJ Place Initiative, formed on the model of the German dual system. Governor Murphy was previously Ambassador to Germany, where he observed the successful apprenticeship model first-hand. 

The roundtable included the critical stakeholders, including BASF, Linde, Wurth, Eastern Millwork, education partners NJIT, NJ Council of County Colleges, and NJ Council of Vocational-Technical Schools. The state of New Jersey was represented via the State Secretary of Higher Education, State Chief Academic Officer, Commissioner of Labor, Policy Advisors of the Governor.
GACC NY CEO Dietmar Rieg introduced the German apprenticeship model, framing the discussion around the necessity for leadership from industry. As next steps, the Governor’s Office will be building a database of the players in the new skills training system, and GACC NY will be working with industry to provide them with the tools they need to grow successful programs for their teams.
 
For more information, visit nj.gov/apprenticeships . To learn more about building your own program, contact Matthew Allen . 
Recap: MAT2 Graduation Event in Michigan
Head of ICATT Apprenticeship Program Mario Kratsch joined 38 proud apprentices of this year’s cohort of the Michigan Advanced Technician Training (MAT2) program at their graduation ceremony on July 10, 2018 in Lansing, MI.

Working with community colleges and employers in advanced manufacturing all over Michigan, MAT2 gives apprentices hands-on-skills and real-world experiences in the skilled workforce. As part of our services, GACC Midwest develops, prepares and executes the different exams which are required during the certified 3 year program.
Recap: VETnet Conference - Worldwide Success Through Apprenticeships, Germany
The commitment of the German Chambers stays an important factor for the successful implementation of apprenticeships world wide.

The results of five years of VETnet projects were presented on June, 18 at the VETnet conference ‘Worldwide success through apprenticeships’ in Berlin, Germany.

Apprentices participating in VETnet projects at the German Chambers in Mexico, Greece, Italy, Thailand and the Baltic States spoke about their experiences with apprenticeships. The successful outcome of the event proved the efficiency of the apprenticeship programs, making it an important goal to continue its implementation in the future.

Recap: ICATT Apprenticeship Program Roundtable on Veteran Employment, Illinois
In cooperation with our partner Root3, the ICATT Apprenticeship Program co-hosted a round table focusing on the advantages of integrating veterans into the workplace. Head of the ICATT Apprenticeship Program, Mario Kratsch, joined the panel discussing success strategies for this process.

The ICATT Apprenticeship Program is GI Bill certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Since manufacturers value veterans for their smart, highly qualitative and adaptable work mentality, the ICATT Apprenticeship Program is a perfect platform for high-tech manufacturing companies to implement veterans into their workforce.

Recap: Panel on German Dual System, Georgia
GACC South was part of a panel on the German dual system (apprenticeships) and Central Educational Center (CEC) with the Newnan-Coweta County (Georgia) community at an event on June 27, sponsored by the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce. 

CEC is the model for what are now 46 "College and Career Academies" across Georgia. In 2016, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle launched the Georgia Consortium for Advanced Technical Training (GA CATT), in partnership with GACC South to allow the implementation of the German-certified Industrial Mechanic apprenticeship program. Beginning in the 10th grade, high school students now enjoy the opportunity to complete their education by age 18 with a high school diploma, German apprenticeship certificate, and an associate degree in Industrial Mechanics.
 
To learn more about this event or GA CATT, please contact Nicole Heimann or call (404) 586-6829.