On Thursday AJAC, Washington’s leader in advanced manufacturing apprenticeships, hosted industry partners at the Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center. Local manufacturers including Jamco, SEA-LECT Plastics, Electroimpact, Toolcraft and others enjoyed breakfast and presentations from PNAA and Erin Williams, AJAC Regional Program Manager.
Kim Brown, Sno-Isle Assistant Director, provided a welcome and shared context on the Skills Center’s aerospace classes, telling attendees that the program has doubled in size in the past few years.
AJAC’s Williams and Bri Durham, Director of Business Engagement & Programs, provided updates on AJAC’s work in recent months.
The pair reported that two new registered apprenticeships of 3,000 hours/18 months kicked off recently: Logistics Specialist and Operations Specialist, with nearly 25 apprentices across the two occupations. Williams also shared more information on AJAC’s updated CNC Programmer apprenticeship, required anti-harassment training, AJAC’s new logo and more.
The morning closed out with guest speakers from New Tech Industries, administrator Gina Morken and apprentice Max Ackerman. Located in Mukilteo, New Tech specializes in aerospace tooling, short-run production, and prototyping.
Ackerman is currently working through AJAC’s Tool & Die apprenticeship after his successful completion of AJAC’s youth Production Technician apprenticeship, offered in partnership with Sno-Isle. Just a few years out of high school, Ackerman is well on his way to journey status and mastery in a challenging and intensely-needed occupation. There was no hesitation in moving from the youth program to the adult program, said Ackerman. It was a clear pathway.
AJAC BY THE NUMBERS
AJAC hosts 400 apprentices and 315 partner employers/training agents. They offer 10 apprenticeship programs, partnering with 7 colleges and 14 school districts at 18 locations across Washington State. Apprentices earned a total of 7,065 college credits in 2020. Find out more at
ajactraining.org