2. News Room

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 31, 2018
CONTACT: DWD Communications, 608-266-2722
On the Web: http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/news/
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DWD Announces New Registered Apprenticeship Program

First hybrid IT service desk technician registered apprenticeship contract signed in Wausau

WAUSAU (8/31/18) – The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) – Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards (BAS), the Wisconsin Technical College System and Wausau based Footlocker.com/Eastbay, launched the new IT Service Desk Technician Apprenticeship Thursday.

This new, hybrid registered apprenticeship is upskilling a current employee from the company to participate in the one-year hybrid training program, a first for Wisconsin. DWD Assistant Deputy Secretary BJ Dernbach was in attendance to congratulate this new apprentice and celebrate this new program.

"Under Governor Walker's leadership, Wisconsin continues to advance innovative talent development strategies to equip workers with the skills needed for jobs in our growing IT economy," Dernbach said. "Thanks to our partnership with IT professionals across the state, we celebrate the launch of a new, hybrid Registered Apprenticeship training model to help employers further develop their workforce and fill the ongoing need for highly skilled IT professionals."

DWD provides dozens of apprenticeship opportunities in the construction, industrial, service and utility trades.

"We are excited not only to be bringing on an IT Service Desk Technician Apprentice, but to extend the opportunity to a current associate who will be furthering his career and education with Foot Locker," said JoAnn Jensen, Global Service Desk Director. "After seeing great results from our previous Youth Apprenticeship workers, it seemed like a logical next step to pursue a Registered Apprentice. It was a joy and honor working with the team across the state to build and create curriculum for this new apprenticeship."

“With increased reliance on information technology in every business sector, it is important to have IT service desk technicians trained and performing at increased levels quickly,” said CyndiKaye Lambach, D. Sc., associate dean of Business Information Technology at Waukesha County Technical College. “This movement has provided the opportunity for WCTC to develop the IT Service Desk Technician Apprenticeship and partner with DWD and businesses to fill the education gap in this necessary career.”

Wisconsin has one of the nation's oldest registered apprenticeship programs, created in 1911, and has served as a national model for generations, annually provides value-added training for as many as 11,000 apprentices and 2,500 employers across the state in over 200 occupations.

IT Service Desk Technician is the second IT occupation developed through the Wisconsin Apprenticeship Growth and Enhancement Strategies (WAGE$) grant, a $5 million American Apprenticeship Initiative grant awarded to DWD by the US Department of Labor. The purpose of the WAGE$ grant is to expand apprenticeship opportunities into three new areas-IT, Advanced Manufacturing and Healthcare.

More information about Wisconsin Registered Apprenticeship