Community Update

March 2025

MSSC Welcomes Wes Prosser, Senior Director of Product Development

MSSC is pleased to welcome Wes Prosser as the newest member of our team. With more than 35 years of manufacturing experience and seven years of teaching MSSC and other manufacturing-related courses, Wes brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to our mission. He will play a vital role in the development of new Instructor Training programs and supplementary materials that support and strengthen our curriculum. Welcome aboard, Wes!

MSSC Impact in Action - Alamo Academies

The Alamo Academies program has developed one of the most successful models in the U.S. in integrating the courses and industry-recognized credentials offered by the national Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) into their for-credit academic curriculum. The Alamo Academies program is a model of the kind of community-wide strategy that, in MSSC’s experience, provides the best framework for successful MSSC implementation. Read more here.

Reshoring Momentum Faces Key Challenges: Workforce Shortages & Supply Chain Gaps

Although reshoring and foreign direct investment (FDI) announcements are at record levels, their pace is slowing. According to Reshoring Initiative Founder and President Harry Moser, two major challenges could hinder this trend: the labor and skills shortage and the need to build robust supply chain ecosystems.

Skilled workforce availability remains the top criterion for reshoring site selection, as training millions of workers will directly impact U.S. reindustrialization efforts. Additionally, reshoring is not feasible without a well-established supply chain ecosystem, including suppliers, intermediaries, inputs, and raw materials. The U.S. manufacturing sector is at a pivotal moment—success will depend on strategic workforce recruitment, training, and supply chain ecosystem innovation. Read Mr. Moser’s full report in FAB Shop Magazine.

President Trump Signs Executive Order Calling to Dismantle the Department of Education



President Trump signed an executive order (EO) that directs U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to develop a plan for the closure of the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and shift control over education to the states with reduced federal oversight. The executive order is titled “Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities” and argues that the size of ED has grown substantially since its creation in 1979. 

U.S. Senate Confirms Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education

On March 3, 2025, the U.S. Senate confirmed Linda McMahon as the 13th Secretary of Education. In this role, she will oversee the Department of Education at a time of significant policy shifts and reform initiatives.

McMahon, a former wrestling executive and business leader, previously served as the head of the Small Business Administration during President Trump’s first term. She has also been involved in education policy through her service on Connecticut’s state board of education and as a trustee at Sacred Heart University.

Upon confirmation, McMahon emphasized a commitment to expanding education freedom, supporting school choice initiatives, and reducing federal oversight in favor of state-led education decisions. She has pledged to focus on policies that prioritize students, families, and educators while working toward making the Education Department more efficient.

Her appointment comes amid broader discussions on federal education funding, school choice, and potential restructuring of the department’s role. With the administration’s goal of shifting more authority to states, her leadership will play a key role in shaping national education policies in the coming years.

Lori Chavez-DeRemer Confirmed as U.S. Labor Secretary

Lori Chavez-DeRemer, former Republican congresswoman from Oregon, was confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Labor in a 67-32 Senate vote earlier this month. Notably, she received support from 17 Democrats, while three Republicans opposed her confirmation.

Chavez-DeRemer’s past support for pro-labor policies, such as the PRO Act, signals a potentially more worker-friendly approach at the Department of Labor than is typical in Republican administrations. Unions, including the Teamsters and Amalgamated Transit Union, welcomed her appointment, though some labor leaders remain cautiously optimistic. Meanwhile, Republican opponents criticized her stance on union-related policies.



Her next steps at DOL remain uncertain, but early indications suggest a pro-worker agenda, including a recent appeal of a Texas court decision blocking the Biden-era overtime rule. Chavez-DeRemer said during her confirmation hearing that one of the president’s top priorities is “expanded apprenticeships.”

2024 MHI Annual Industry Report Highlights Supply Chain Tech Investment Trends

The 2024 MHI Annual Industry Report, “The Collaborative Supply Chain – Tech-Driven and Human-Centric,” published by MHI and Deloitte, explores the transformative technologies shaping modern supply chains. Key findings reveal that 55% of supply chain leaders are increasing investments in technology and innovation, with 88% planning to spend over $1 million and 42% budgeting over $10 million. These investments aim to enhance resiliency, transparency, and workforce solutions in response to ongoing industry challenges.

The report offers new insights into emerging trends and technologies, providing a roadmap for supply chain leaders navigating an increasingly digital and dynamic landscape.

Momentum Builds for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Reauthorization

During a recent House Education and Workforce panel hearing, bipartisan support was evident for reauthorizing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which narrowly missed passage in December. Lawmakers emphasized the need to modernize WIOA to better connect job seekers with in-demand careers, highlighting the A Stronger Workforce for America Act (H.R. 6655).4

Key aspects of the bill include strengthening training partnerships with employers, expanding upskilling initiatives, and creating a Critical Industry Skills Fund to support workforce development in priority sectors. Witnesses, including MSSC Board Member Molly Dodge of Ivy Tech Community College, underscored the critical role of community colleges in meeting employer needs through responsive training programs and career services.

SBA Launches Made in America Manufacturing Initiative

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently announced its Made in America Manufacturing Initiative, aimed at reducing regulatory burdens, expanding access to capital, and strengthening the U.S. manufacturing workforce. Announced by SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler, the initiative seeks to cut $100 billion in regulations, streamline loan programs, and establish a new Office of Manufacturing and Trade to support small manufacturers.

A key focus of the initiative is workforce training and development, ensuring a steady pipeline of skilled workers for the manufacturing sector. Through partnerships with agencies, trade schools, and private sector stakeholders, the initiative aims to equip workers with the necessary skills to support and sustain a thriving U.S. manufacturing industry.

Foxconn Unveils AI Model ‘FoxBrain’ for Manufacturing Applications

Foxconn, the global electronics manufacturer known for producing Apple products, has launched its own AI large language model (LLM) called “FoxBrain.” Initially developed for in-house use, the model supports data analysis, decision-making, document collaboration, mathematics, and code generation to enhance manufacturing efficiency.

Developed in just four weeks, FoxBrain outperformed several traditional Chinese language models and is expected to power Foxconn’s smart manufacturing, electric vehicle, and smart city initiatives. The company collaborated with Nvidia, leveraging its H100 GPUs for training. Foxconn also plans to make FoxBrain open-source in the future, though no release date has been announced. This move highlights the growing role of AI-driven decision-making in manufacturing, as companies seek innovative ways to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Henry Mack Nominated to Lead Employment and Training Administration

Henry Mack III has been nominated to serve as the Assistant Secretary of the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA). If confirmed by the Senate, he will oversee workforce development programs, registered apprenticeships, and the federal-state unemployment insurance system.



Mack brings extensive experience in education and workforce training, having served as Chancellor for the Florida Department of Education and as a professor and administrator at various Florida universities. His leadership will play a key role in shaping job training initiatives, modernizing workforce programs, and addressing issues such as unemployment fraud and workforce visa processing.

Congress Passes Continuing Resolution Averting Government Shutdown



Congress passed a continuing resolution (CR) for the remainder of fiscal year 2025 (FY25). President Trump signed this CR into law. The CR, passed almost entirely along party lines, mostly maintains level funding from fiscal year 2024 (FY24) through the end of the current FY25 ending this September 30, including state formula funds authorized by Title I of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V). The CR similarly extends most funding for other major education and workforce development programs while making a few targeted funding reductions for national programs overseen by the Department of Education (ED) and Department of Labor (DOL).  

New Thumbtack Report Shows Social Media Driving Gen-Z’s Rising Interest in the Skilled Trades



Gen-Z is increasingly turning to social media for career advice, drawn to content showing authentic on-the-job experiences, ultimately fueling the rise of the #NoFilterWorkforce. In fact, social media is the second-biggest influence over this generation’s career path—above teachers, siblings, and extended family. What’s more, Gen-Z feels let down by traditional four-year degrees, with 90 percent of graduates feeling strongly that teens are incorrectly told college is the only way to be successful. This is leading to a major shift in how they are charting their future: as 80 percent agree, the skilled trades can be a better pathway to economic security than college, jumping to 93 percent among those with a degree. 

Credentials of Value



The Lumina Foundation recently launched a new national goal they aim to achieve: By 2040, 75% of adults in America will have a credential of value that leads to economic prosperity. Lumina defines a credential of value as a post-high school credential that leads to a career paying 15% more than the national median salary for a high school graduate. As part of this new goal, Lumina published a data dashboard monitoring the progress of the nation and states in reaching the 75% threshold. As of 2023, 44.1% of adults aged 25-64 in the workforce have a credential of value, including bachelor’s degrees (18%), graduate degrees (13.2%), short-term credentials (7.7%) and associate degrees (5.2%). States and territories have varying percentages of adults with a credential of value, ranging from 22.5% in Puerto Rico to 70.4% in Washington, DC. The findings, which can be disaggregated by age as well as by race/ethnicity, highlight the benefits of adults earning a post-high school credential while also underscoring disparities.