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Brandi Olberding, Director for the grant program
Edison State Receives
Apprenticeship Grant
Fall 2017 semester marked the initiation of Edison State Community
College as a State approved Registered Apprenticeship Sponsor. This
distinct honor allows Edison State to leverage funds through the State
of Ohio and build upon the vast amount of partnering opportunities with
regional industry.
The new apprenticeship program at Edison State is part of the U.S.
Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeship College Consortium
project and most recently supported by a $65,000 grant from the Ohio
Department of Job and Family Services.
Key objectives of the grant include: 1) to significantly increase the
number and locations of registered apprenticeship embedded work
experiences, 2) employ best practices in student and company registered
apprenticeship support, and 3) to provide a simplified college-based
point of entry process for employers to engage in registered
apprenticeship programs.
With these key objectives in mind, Edison State has hired Brandi
Olberding as a full-time Director of Apprenticeship and Work-Based
Learning following an extensive search.
Olberding returns to Edison State with experience that will lend itself
to the success of the Registered Apprenticeship Program. Notably
garnering experience as an industry program coordinator, a position in
which she managed adult accredited trade programs and related technical
instruction for apprenticeship and part-time skill-enhancement students
attending courses.
Among additional accomplishments in this role, Olberding contributed to
a significant increase in full-time academic enrollment as well as an
increase in skill enhancement and apprenticeship course registrants
through outreach and public awareness. She understood and supported the
needs of the HVAC/R, manufacturing, and machine programs by
successfully securing grant funding and working with employer
partnerships.
In addition, Olberding has remained active in the United States Army
Reserves since 2000 and is a Platoon Sergeant in a combat support
hospital.
Olberding brings knowledge of local needs and a passion for helping
bridge the skills gap to influence the local economy.
“My focus will be to endorse education programs at Edison State
Community College by interacting with employers and working closely
with the federal, state, and local agencies,” said Olberding.
“I understand the power and importance of building strong
relationships with students and stakeholders. I look forward to
creating new bonds and continuing to build upon those previous
relationships by partnering with key players in the region.”
Edison State has a long-standing relationship with a variety of
companies to support apprenticeship programs under their State approved
sponsorships including Emerson in Sidney and FRAM in Greenville. Under
these partnerships, students attend academic courses for certificates
and degrees. Edison State may also serve as a proctor for tests for the
related hours of instruction in the electrical, toolmaker, and machine
repair apprenticeships.
“We know that employers are seeking a skilled workforce, apprenticeship
is a proven model that produces skills needed along with a nationally
recognized credentialed employee.”
“It’s about bringing dignity back to the American worker, and
apprenticeship is an effective strategy for developing a new generation
of skilled workers that fit the needs of the 21st century.”
While the initial focus of the Edison State Registered Apprenticeship
Program is placed on manufacturing to meet the in-demand need, other
industries will be pursued including information technology,
healthcare, and business services.
For more information about the Registered Apprenticeship Program at
Edison State, contact Brandi Olberding at 937-381-1533 or
bolberding@edisonohio.edu.
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