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Community Update
March 2026
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MSSC Adds New Target Representative to Board of Directors
MSSC is excited to announce that Josh Gonzalez, Director of Technical Training at Target Corporation, has joined the MSSC Board of Directors. This appointment has received full Board approval.
Josh Gonzalez brings over 16 years of leadership experience across operations, engineering & maintenance, and technical training. In his current role, he leads enterprise technical training strategy across Target’s national supply chain and distribution network, overseeing regional Technical Training Centers, apprenticeship programs, and certification readiness initiatives.
Josh’s expertise in designing and scaling workforce development programs, along with his commitment to aligning training with industry-recognized credentials, makes him a valuable addition to the Board. We are pleased to welcome him as a new MSSC Board Member.
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MSSC CEO Featured in Modern Materials Handling – “Big Picture: Workforce of the future”
A recent Modern Materials Handling article by Gary Forger highlights the growing shift toward earlier, more structured workforce development strategies to address ongoing labor shortages in manufacturing and supply chain roles. The piece emphasizes the importance of building talent pipelines through partnerships with high schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs, rather than relying on traditional recruiting methods. MSSC CEO Neil Reddy was featured in the article, noting the national scale and impact of MSSC certifications, which have reached hundreds of thousands of individuals and deliver measurable wage gains for workers. The article reinforces that programs like MSSC, along with employer-led training and education partnerships, are playing a critical role in developing the next generation of skilled workers. Read the full article here.
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MSSC Fall 2025 High School Video Contest 3rd Place Winner
Congratulations to this year's third place winner, Marshall High School! You can watch their video entry here, and be sure to check out our 1st and 2nd place winners. Thank you again to everyone who participated and supported student engagement. Your efforts help MSSC highlight the many pathways and opportunities within manufacturing.
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Driven to Build: Young PA Innovator Earns Top State Honor 4 Years After Immigrating from Ukraine
A Pennsylvania high school student is gaining statewide recognition for her outstanding achievements in career readiness—highlighting the impact of pre-apprenticeship programs powered by MSSC curriculum.
Kira Voichenko, a junior at Keystone Oaks High School who immigrated from Ukraine in 2022, was named the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s Outstanding Registered Pre-Apprentice. After discovering a passion for robotics, she enrolled in Catalyst Connection’s Industrial Manufacturing Technician Pre-Apprenticeship Program, which utilizes MSSC curriculum. Through the program, Kira gained validated, portable skills while participating in STEM and robotics-related activities that reinforced real-world application and career awareness. Her success demonstrates how early, credential-aligned experiences can prepare students for future manufacturing careers and long-term success.
Kira's dedication extends beyond the classroom. She plays a key role on her school’s robotics team, contributes to award-winning academic competitions, and is actively involved in multiple extracurriculars. Her achievement underscores the power of MSSC-aligned programs to equip students with real-world skills and open pathways to high-demand careers in engineering and advanced manufacturing.
She plans to pursue a future in engineering, with an interest in applying robotics in the biomedical field. Read more here.
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Workforce Pell Proposed Rules Released for Public Comment
The U.S. Department of Education has officially released its proposed rules for the new Workforce Pell Grant program through a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), now open for public comment through early April. The proposal would expand Pell Grant eligibility to short-term, workforce-aligned programs (8–15 weeks / 150–599 hours) at accredited institutions, with implementation targeted for July 1, 2026. The rules place significant emphasis on program quality and outcomes, including a new Value-Added Earnings (VAE) metric and minimum 70% completion and placement rates, while giving governors and state workforce boards a central role in approving eligible programs tied to in-demand industries.
The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) has released a detailed analyses of the proposed regulations, highlighting key provisions and offering insights on metrics such as earnings calculations, placement verification, and program eligibility processes. Stakeholders are encouraged to review the proposal and share their perspectives during the 30-day comment period.
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NPR: “Desperate for skilled workers, a furniture maker looks to apprenticeships for relief”
An NPR feature highlights how manufacturers like Virco in Arkansas are turning to apprenticeships to address ongoing skilled labor shortages, especially as automation and advanced equipment increase demand for highly skilled technicians. Through a structured “earn while you learn” model, employees split time between hands-on work and classroom instruction, helping companies build talent internally while improving retention and productivity. The article also notes that the U.S. currently has about 700,000 active apprentices—with a federal goal of reaching 1 million—and that programs have grown nearly 80% over the past decade, delivering strong results including a reported 144% return on investment for employers. Arkansas is emerging as a national leader in these efforts, supported in part by $35.8 million in new federal funding to expand manufacturing apprenticeships, as efforts continue to scale programs to meet industry demand. Read and listen here.
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FAME Catalyst Grant Opens to Support New Regional Chapters
The Manufacturing Institute has launched a new FAME Catalyst Grant to help more regions start local FAME chapters and address the ongoing shortage of skilled maintenance technicians. The grant will provide early funding and support to a small group of regional organizations working to bring together manufacturers and community colleges around a shared training model. FAME, built around the Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT) program, combines classroom learning with paid, hands-on experience and has a strong track record of student success and job placement. Applications are due April 10, 2026, with selected regions aiming to launch their first student cohorts in fall 2027. More information can be found here. Additionally, the 2026 FAME National Conference will take place May 12–14 in Jacksonville, Florida, bringing together leaders from across the FAME network for sessions, networking, and sharing best practices. MSSC will be attending and sponsoring the event, providing an opportunity to connect with partners and support the continued growth of FAME programs nationwide.
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Department of Labor Updates Registered Apprenticeship Guidance
The U.S. Department of Labor has issued new guidance to make Registered Apprenticeship programs easier to start and manage. The updates give sponsors clearer instructions on program design, outline the roles of state agencies, and explain how completion rates are measured. The department also committed to making registration decisions within 30 days and launched new online tools to share data and track timelines. These changes are intended to reduce administrative hurdles and help more apprenticeship programs get up and running, while supporting the continued expansion of apprenticeship opportunities across industries. More background on the guidance can be found here.
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Walmart CEO: Supply Chain Investment to Peak as Automation Expands
During a February earnings call, Walmart CEO John Furner said the company’s supply chain investment is expected to peak over the next two years as it continues expanding automation across its network. Walmart is currently retrofitting 23 of its 42 U.S. regional distribution centers, with plans to automate all locations, while also beginning to roll out similar technologies internationally. About 60% of U.S. stores already receive freight from automated facilities, and roughly half of e-commerce fulfillment volume is automated—efforts that are improving inventory visibility, lowering costs, and enabling faster delivery, including over a third of store-fulfilled online orders arriving in under three hours. Read the SupplyChainDive Piece here.
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Application Windows Open for DOL Workforce Development Grants
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration has announced two major funding opportunities focused on expanding workforce development pathways. The Strengthening Community Colleges (SCC6) grant program will invest $65 million to help community colleges build and scale short-term training programs aligned with Workforce Pell and industry needs, with awards ranging from $6.5M to $10.8M and applications due May 20, 2026. In addition, the $81 million RESTART initiative will support programs that provide workforce training and employment pathways for justice-involved individuals across multiple age groups, with awards up to $5.1M and a deadline of April 15, 2026, emphasizing opportunities in skilled trades, advanced manufacturing, and Registered Apprenticeship. Interested in applying for one of these opportunities? Please reach out to Tyler Kennedy, MSSC Sr. Manager of Strategic Initiatives, to find out how MSSC can support your application: tkennedy@msscusa.org or 703-739-9000x2226.
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TechEd Podcast – “The Rise of Verified Skills: How Trusted Credentials Create Real Workforce Value”
The TechEd Podcast recently featured NOCTI CEO Kathleen McNally in a discussion on the growing importance of industry-recognized credentials in today’s rapidly evolving labor market. As job roles shift and employers look beyond traditional degrees, the conversation highlights how verified, third-party certifications are becoming critical for signaling real skills and job readiness. The episode also reinforces the value of rigorous, industry-aligned credentials in building employer trust, supporting career advancement, and enabling flexible, stackable pathways for lifelong learning. Notably, NOCTI serves as MSSC’s assessment development partner, supporting the quality and integrity of MSSC certification programs. Catch the full episode here.
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