RCBC kicks off Apprenticeship Week by recognizing two journeymen Barons
Monday, Nov 15, 2021

Renyboy Mayo & Christian Miller

Following two years of state government support, including tens of millions of dollars in funding, paid apprenticeships in New Jersey have grown by 68%, with over 8,500 active apprentices serving in 1,000+ programs, as of April 2021. 

The Growing Apprenticeships in Nontraditional Sectors (GAINS) grant program, an offshoot of the New Jersey Apprenticeship Network, aims to increase economic development by creating paths to better paying jobs through attainment of advanced industry credentials and education. 

One such credential program exists at Rowan College at Burlington County. The college’s manufacturing machinist program, which prepares individuals for entry-level positions in the advanced manufacturing industry, covers blueprint reading, applied math, job layout, hand and power tools, manual milling, manual lathe, grinding, band saw and CNC lathe and mill machines. It also provides a NIMS Level 1 certification.

On November 17, at 1 pm, RCBC will celebrate Apprenticeship Week by joining employer partner Tecomet to present Machine One Journeyperson certificates from the United States Department of Labor to Christian Miller and Renyboy Mayo, both of whom earned the GAINS grant and completed RCBC’s machinist program. 

“The whole program was a memorable experience! To be able to work hands-on with the machines in my field as a group and discovering the trade secrets that help me in my everyday job was truly fulfilling,” Miller said. “The most memorable experience overall was being able to pull through as a whole during the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We had the support from RCBC’s Workforce Development team every step of the way until the end!”

Tecomet, located in Pennsauken, provides manufacturing solutions for complex, high-precision products and services for the medical device and aerospace markets. They operate 17 global manufacturing facilities in five countries worldwide, employing over 2,500 people. Their location in Pennsauken is an advanced manufacturing facility that employs over 50 people; it is a modern operation that utilizes computerized machinery, including CNC (Computer Numerical Control) lathes.

To learn more about RCBC’s manufacturing machinist program, visit rcbc.edu/ppd/manufacturing-machinist.