Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch joined Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Ray Allen, German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest (GACC Midwest) officials and other partners on Sept. 6 to recognize Hermle Machine Co., Franklin, Wis., for being the first employer in the state to introduce a new apprenticeship collaboration that follows the structure of internationally renowned German apprenticeship system.
"With the state’s unemployment rate at 3.2 percent, Wisconsin's job creators need a robust set of tools to attract and train workers to stay competitive in the national and global economy," Kleefisch said. "Today, Wisconsin welcomes a proven, successful collaboration between the private sector, the state’s apprenticeship program, and the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest, and we thank the Hermle Machine Co. for its enthusiasm in advancing this opportunity in our state."
Wisconsin DWD's Registered Apprenticeship program, which was created in 1911 and has served as a national model for generations, provides a value-added training model for as many as 11,000 apprentices and 2,500 employers in over 200 occupations across the state annually.
GACC Midwest established the Industry Consortium for Advanced Technical Training (ICATT) program in 2015 based on the structure of the internationally renowned German Dual Education System. The Chicago-based GACC Midwest has been expanding the program in and beyond Illinois, and this year worked with officials from DWD, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), the Wisconsin Technical College System and other partners to bring the program to Wisconsin. The ICATT program will be another program available under the state's Registered Apprenticeship system.
"Under Governor Walker's leadership, Wisconsin is advancing efforts to find and equip workers with the skills needed for jobs in the modern economy," Secretary Allen said. "Today, we are pleased to introduce one more innovative way to meet demand for skilled talent in good-paying, high-growth occupations."
The Hermle Machine Co. has selected an employee to be the first apprentice once program structure, related instruction, occupation and other details are finalized. The structure of the three-year program will allow apprentices to register with the state, complete on-the-job training and earn an associate's degree, with GACC Midwest providing expertise and certification along the away. The first ICATT apprenticeship in Wisconsin will focus on industrial maintenance.
"At Hermle we understand how important building the next generation of skilled workers is, and it's why we put so much effort into our apprenticeship program in Germany," said Manuel Merkt, Hermle's executive vice president of operations. "The jobs are here, but It’s up to manufacturing companies together with technical colleges to develop younger generations into skilled workers to meet the demands of the industry. With the ICATT program we’re looking to inspire other companies to join us and invest in the future of manufacturing in America."
Mario Kratsch, skills initiative director at GACC Midwest, said, “Apprenticeships work, not just in Germany, but also in the US. ICATT is a one stop shop solution for companies of every size to join. It is an industry-driven program benchmarked to the highest international standards and directly addresses the challenges companies face today. We are very thankful for the State of Wisconsin’s support in promoting ICATT to contribute positively to company and job growth in Wisconsin."
During a visit to Hermle, Lt. Gov. Kleefisch presented the company with a commendation for its partnership to bring ICATT to Wisconsin, and recognized GACC Midwest for its vision and innovation in developing the program. The event is part of Workforce Development Month, which Gov. Walker proclaimed for the month of September.
