Elsner is proud to continue our relationship with the Hanover Chamber. Here is the latest article on the Apprenticeship program as featured in Hanover Chamber's January 2018 Chamber Connection, "Chamber Begins New Apprenticeship Program":
Last year, the Hanover Chamber became the first chamber in Pennsylvania to submit an Apprenticeship Model that was approved by the PA Department of Labor and Industry. Following approval, the chamber set the program in motion in September 2017 along with Hanover High School, South Western High School, Elsner Engineering Works, Inc., KLK Welding, Inc., RH Sheppard Co., Inc., and UTZ Quality Foods, Inc.
Through the apprenticeship program, high school students begin as pre-apprentices in their junior year. As they progress, students become acquainted with equipment, practices, and skills within one of the four participating companies. The program allows students a taste of life within their industry and company, while also allowing companies a chance to evaluate potential employees. Upon graduation, students have the opportunity to complete paid apprenticeships within the companies where they were pre-apprentices.
One of the four participating companies, Elsner Engineering Works, Inc., has been especially instrumental in bringing the apprenticeship program to life. The chamber is extremely appreciative of the work of Bert Elsner II in particular. Bert has been extremely attentive throughout the entire processes of creating and implementing the apprenticeship program. He has been an advocate, negotiator, and facilitator; the program would certainly have failed to reach its full potential without his assistance. To recognize his efforts, the chamber awarded Bert with the Chairman’s Award at the 2017 Business Awards Ceremony.
The chamber hosted an event on Nov. 15, 2017 to celebrate the apprenticeship program and its success thus far. Both Hanover and South Western High Schools opened up their facilities for tours and student demonstrations. Welding labs, foundries, 3-D printing stations and even augmented reality rooms were on display for guests to observe and interact with.
Throughout the day, several students gave testimonials to the programs which have well-prepared them for life after high school. There were several school districts in attendance that do not yet have these facilities but aspire to offer workforce preparation to students in the future. The chamber is working with these districts to provide workforce education opportunities, and to bring their districts into the Apprenticeship Program.
Additionally, representatives from several state agencies were present to learn more about what Hanover schools have to offer, and how the Chamber’s apprenticeship model can be replicated across the Commonwealth.
