As we celebrate the 12th annual National Apprenticeship Week, we wanted to highlight two of our newest Apprenticeship Navigators in the region. Meet Robert Gannone, Apprenticeship Program Specialist at Philadelphia Works, Inc, and Jennifer Rawson, Supervisor of Apprenticeship Programs at Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22. Both Robert and Jennifer participated in the sixth cohort of the Registered Apprenticeship Navigator Apprenticeship program, sponsored by the Keystone Development Partnership (KDP). We asked them a few questions to summarize their experience in the program.
Briefly tell us about your role and how it is connected to apprenticeship.
Robert: “My role as an apprenticeship specialist involves working with organizations as they develop, register, and manage their registered apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships. Specifically, with APHL, my goal is to expand and promote registered apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships in the Southeastern Pennsylvania region. Within this, topics ranging from curriculum to funding to recruitment may come up and I assist our partners with navigating the ecosystem. A good portion of my role is education – discussing and promoting apprenticeships to not just other groups but also the wider community such as PA CareerLink® staff, employers, nonprofit organizations, and prospective apprentices. Since apprenticeship is not as well known in the United States, it’s important that people have a good grasp on the opportunity before delving further into it”.
Jennifer: “For me personally, since I had been active with registered apprenticeships for several years prior to taking the related technical instruction (RTI) involved with the Navigator program, it helped me to “fill in the gaps” in areas where I had questioned my own knowledge and answer questions that I had generated related to policies, regulations, and funding”.
How has the Apprenticeship Navigator program benefited your day-to-day operations in your role?
Robert: “First, the in-depth RTI sessions provided a comprehensive overview of not only the apprenticeship system and components but also best practices that have benefited my day-to-day operations. This knowledge has allowed me to become more confident and skilled in communicating about the apprenticeship system to employers and partners. There are classes such as project management that have been vital to my success in this role and to the success of our Apprenticeship team initiatives.
Second, the work of apprenticeships is not done in a silo; partnerships are essential. This program has given me the ability to develop relationships with those currently doing the work across the state to be more effective in my role as well as to connect and collaborate with both peers and professionals in the apprenticeship ecosystem”.
Jennifer: “My involvement with the KDP Navigator Program and the Keystone Apprenticeship Alliance (KAA) has helped me to make meaningful connections with community partners and network within the apprenticeship community”.
What is one thing you would tell others (co-workers, family, the community) about apprenticeship?
Robert: “I think that Apprenticeship is truly an effective model to become trained and skilled in an occupation, and I have seen firsthand the benefits including the fact that it leads to a family-sustaining career. The future of the workforce is constantly changing, and people must stay up – to – date with essential skills. I like to highlight the fact that this is not just a full-time job, but a learning experience with a mentor that can give you the skills and confidence to continue to grow and succeed in the workforce. I love emphasizing these facts to employers, organizations, communities, and job seekers that may be unfamiliar with all the opportunities that apprenticeship can provide. I’m also big into education, but it’s not an either/or situation in the sense that you can still be an apprentice and get college credit and get a degree”.
Jennifer: “If someone is going to be charged with developing, monitoring and sustaining apprenticeship programs, the Navigator program is a “must do” to ensure quality and appropriate programming”.
If someone is interested in the Apprenticeship Navigator program, what would you encourage them to do or think about prior to applying for the program?
Robert: “Apprenticeships and the navigator program are exciting and there are many benefits, but it’s important to note that it takes time and is a big commitment, so I always recommend to others to reach out and speak with people who have gone through an apprenticeship program already to learn more about the experience. I also encourage people to bring with them a curiosity and a passion to learn more about apprenticeships and the workforce as there’s always more to learn!”
Jennifer: “You don’t know what you don’t know! Even if a person has experience with registered apprenticeship in PA, the Navigator program provides instruction and insight in so many crucial areas that would be difficult to learn in another format”.
To learn more about our navigators and the Registered Apprenticeship Navigator Program, click here.