Transcript of Maryland Apprenticeship 2.0 - Training that Works: Apprentices Video– Apprenticeship Act - Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Program (MATP)

Antonio Ricardo Mines Jr.- 3rd year Apprentice:
College really wasn’t the route that I wanted to take. I found an alternative option through being a registered apprentice. The enrollment was fairly easy.  I just came up here and put my name on a list. I was called within a month later,  I started school. I was in a program for a year and then I got a call back from Hawkins Electric Services, and I’ve been working there ever since. I’ve had excellent instructors along the way. Throughout the whole IT program from career apprenticeship to electrical, they’ve shown me how to do the trade and how to advance through other realms. I’m looking to get my degree in electrical engineering.  So far, I’m just blessed that I got into this program.

Dan Ordick- 3rd Year Apprentice:
My experience through apprenticeship has been really rewarding. I’ve had really great mentors here, this is a great education. I did attend college for about a year, and decided it wasn’t for me. I ended up getting into the painting apprenticeship, I am a third year apprentice, and it’s been fantastic. I’ve met a lot of great people, I’ve learned a lot and I’m making great money and it’s steady. I started basically from nothing when I joined the apprenticeship. They give you all the education you need you don’t have to pay for it, you get on the job training. If you’re coming out of high school and you aren’t sure if you want to go to college, maybe a career in the trades might be good for you. It’s not for everybody but you get paid training, you don’t have to go into debt to get and education, and you have guaranteed employment.  To date, it has been one of the most rewarding and challenging things I’ve ever done. And it’s really, really great and every day it gets better and better.

Robert Gurlick, Apprentice:
So I started my journey as an artist in school. I did traditional school, I went to college for it. It didn’t work out; because of finances and things I had to stop.  So I started doing some freelance work. I started working contractually for a company called Zest and ultimately they offered me the opportunity to go full time through the apprenticeship and also give me the certification to continue on as a professional.  This registered apprenticeship program has opened doors that potentially would not have been opened in my life. I am earning while I’m learning. Everybody can have the technology but to have the skills to actually use it and the experience that takes hard work.  This apprenticeship showed me that. They trained me and it changed my life. It’s a dream come true.

Kimberly Neal, TranZed:
Our apprenticeships can really benefit anyone who is 18 or older. The businesses in these emerging technologies are excited for the young talent right out of high school but by the same token someone who is more experienced and older in a particular industry may want to sharpen their skills and learn some of the new tracks that are available in IT, digital media, and cyber security. It’s definitely been an exciting opportunity to help build this program. I’m really excited where things will go.

For additional information, contact:
Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning
Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Program
1100 N. Eutaw Street, Room 209
Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: 410-767-2246
Fax: 410-333-5162
E-mail: info@mdapprenticeship.com