(DENVER) – Apprenticeship Colorado within the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) honored 15 individuals and organizations dedicated to advancing apprenticeships at the seventh annual Colorado Apprenticeship Awards held last night, November 14 at the Colorado History Center. Hosted by leaders from workforce and apprenticeship communities, the event kicked off with a special welcome video from Governor Jared Polis, who earlier this year signed six bills in a legislative workforce development package to support training and education for Colorado workers.
“Colorado's Apprenticeship Awards are a celebration of the dedication and innovation that fuels our state's apprenticeship ecosystem,” said Katherine Keegan, Director of the CDLE’s Office of the Future of Work (OFW), which houses Apprenticeship Colorado. "This event shines a spotlight on the apprentices, employers, educators, and champions who are transforming the way Coloradans build careers and businesses. Their collective impact is strengthening our workforce and driving economic growth across the state."
The Apprenticeship Awards took place during Colorado Apprenticeship Month. This is Colorado’s second year having an official State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA). The agency, also referred to as Apprenticeship Colorado, holds the responsibility for registering and overseeing apprenticeship programs in the state of Colorado.
Last night’s winners include apprentices, mentors, programs, employers, champions, and partnerships that have demonstrated a remarkable commitment to increasing apprenticeships and expanding access to apprenticeship programs.
Award Winners
Apprentice Winners:
Helda McCauley, Doctors Care & Arapahoe Community College
Cruz Rivera, Denver Public Schools & CareerWise Colorado
An "Andy" Tran, Pinnacol Assurance & CareerWise Colorado
Program Winners:
African American Trade Association
Colorado Restaurant Foundation
Employer Winners:
MTech Mechanical
Vibe Concepts
Champion Winners:
Helen Young Hayes, ActivateWork
Ron Lee, The Master’s Apprentice
David Scott, Encore Electric
Mentor Winners:
Robert Lee, BriDer Rotisserie and Kitchen
Joe Beggs, Work Options
Cal Blair, Independent Electrical Contractors Rocky Mountain
Partners Winners:
Colorado Mountain College, Teacher Education Program
The Master's Apprentice
Watch the videos from this year’s 2024 Apprenticeship Award winners.
The Apprenticeship Awards were made possible through the collaboration of many partners, including representatives from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE), the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), the Colorado Workforce Development Council, the Business Experiential Learning (BEL) Commission, CareerWise Colorado, the Colorado Community College System (CCCS), and the State Apprenticeship Council (SAC). View the Governor’s Apprenticeship Month Proclamation and visit Apprenticeship Colorado’s website to explore more about Registered Apprenticeships.
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