Working with the German American Chamber of Commerce to Enhance Student Success
Four students from County College of Morris (CCM) signed apprenticeship agreements in advanced manufacturing on August 22 in front of a
Chairman and CEO Andreas Fibig of International Flavors & Fragrances Inc., New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Montclair State University President Dr. Susan A. Cole, and County College of Morris President Anthony J. Iacono.
capacity-filled crowd of industry, educational and political leaders, including New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. The signing, which took place at Montclair State University, was part of the German American Chamber of Commerce (GACC) Apprenticeship New Jersey Launch.
With a $4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), CCM is leading a consortium of New Jersey community colleges, in partnership with GACC, to build a national model for strong apprenticeship programs in advanced manufacturing.
The college additionally is working with GACC on the apprenticeship program celebrated at the launch, which is being funded with a New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development GAINS grant awarded to the German organization in partnership with the Morris County Chamber of Commerce. CCM is an important partner in the delivery of this apprenticeship program, which provides students with a pathway to well-paying careers in advanced manufacturing as they receive technical training to earn an associate degree funded by their host company.
“The best thing about the program is that I get to go to college for free and also have a steady job for the future,” said Oviane Marsh, of Wantage, who is apprenticing at Arconic.
“We are working with an initial cohort of two companies – Baumer of America and Arconic – along with our related technical instruction provider, County College of Morris,” said Matthew Allen, director of Careers and Education at GACC. “We are excited by the opportunities this program will provide to our four apprentices and to the host companies.”
l-r: Matthew Allen, director of Careers and Education, German American Chamber of Commerce; (GACC); Oviane Marsh, CCM student and apprentice; Nicolas Sondej, CCM student and apprentice; Patrick Enright, CCM vice president for Professional Studies and Applied Sciences; Rich Halen, plant manager, Arconic; CCM President Anthony J. Iacono; Alexandra Hoffman, GNACC manager of apprenticeships; CEO Uwe Sharfy, Baumer of America; Daniel Finley, CCM student and apprentice; and Thomas Sexton, CCM student and apprentice.
Also signing with Arconic were CCM students Nicolas Sondej, of Lafayette, and Thomas Sexton, of Denville. Daniel Finley, of Newton, signed with Baumer of America.
CCM President Anthony J. Iacono and Professor Ian Colquhoun, Engineering Technologies/Engineering Science, both have traveled to Germany to examine that country’s apprenticeship model. Their visits were funded through the Transatlantic Outreach Program (TOP), an initiative of the Goethe Institut.
The relationships being formed by GACC, industry and educational institutions will develop and expand apprenticeship models in New Jersey to strengthen its economy.
Photos Credit: Neil van Niekerk
