The YBA Workforce NOW Foundation has a new executive director.
The York County-based nonprofit launched earlier this year named Melissa Longenberger to the role to help the foundation develop the next generation of skilled trade professionals.
Longenberger comes to the foundation from the York Builders Association (YBA) where she served as vice president of membership. YBA said Longenberger helped develop YBA’s WorkforceNOW initiative in 2018, well before it achieved nonprofit status.
She is a graduate of Mansfield University, with a degree in Business Administration.
“As plans to launch the Foundation came to fruition, it didn’t take us long to realize that Melissa was a natural fit for the role,” said YBA Executive Vice President Laurie Lourie. “She has the experience and passion we need to lead the organization and a true connection to our mission. Her guidance will be key to helping us achieve our goals in the coming years.”
The Manufacturers’ Association of York received a state grant to support efforts to grow a skilled workforce in York and surrounding counties.
Tom Palisin, executive director of The Manufacturers’ Association. PHOTO/PROVIDED – Submitted
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry awarded the $519,338 grant to the association to expand the ‘Apprenticeship Ecosystem’ which will support local manufacturers efforts in Adams, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, and York Counties.
The project is expanding the Association’s registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs by adding new employers as well as apprentices and pre-apprentices, especially non-traditional manufacturing populations and the underemployed, the association said.
“Apprenticeships are a proven model of success for developing skills for both the employer and employee, and with a challenging labor market, apprenticeships are another competitive edge for employers to leverage” said Tom Palisin, executive director of the Manufacturers’ Association.
The funds will be used for the association’s new Center of Excellence for Apprenticeship and Training, launched in 2021, by adding new equipment to the center’s machine shop.
The new equipment will support hands-on learning, which is a hallmark of registered apprenticeships, the association said. Apprenticeships combine classroom training, on-the- job training, and mentoring from journey workers.
The association’s apprenticeship program trained over 100 apprentices in 2021 and enrolled over 84 high school students in the pre-apprenticeship program in the 2021-2022 school year.
The pre-apprenticeship program will focus on engaging high school students in manufacturing careers and achieving industry credentials that can be used as credit towards a full registered apprenticeship with employers.
In support of the pre-apprenticeship program, Mike Granby, board president of the Manufacturers’ Association said, “Manufacturers who invest the time to develop students’ interest in modern manufacturing careers will have a competitive edge in securing future talent.
“Manufacturers understand that they need to take control of the workforce development process, and to invest in schools, the community and in programs like this to secure the talent needed to increase economic prosperity in the region,” Granby said.
The Association received funding in 2020 to establish the ecosystem model in southcentral Pennsylvania and has expanded to seven different registered trades including a first in the state 4-Year robotics apprenticeship which was announced in 2021. The funding will assist in adding additional trades to the program that will enable more companies to participate.
The Manufacturers’ Association apprenticeship program was established in 2005 and has credentialed hundreds of journey workers during its history. The program supports over 43 manufacturers in southcentral PA and is the largest manufacturing apprenticeship program in the region.
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