Doug Crider found himself at a crossroads – remaining at a job he hated or risk to go in a new direction. “I thought, if I wait too much longer, it’ll be too late to start something new,” Doug explained. He enjoyed mechanical work for years and noticed a job posting on Indeed for a diesel mechanic at Pepsi MidAmerica. During his interview, Doug was introduced to Man-Tra-Con’s Registered Apprenticeship Program in Industrial Truck Maintenance and realized he could pursue training he would enjoy.

Pepsi MidAmerica hired Doug and helped him enroll in the Industrial Truck Maintenance Apprenticeship Program. Doug quickly realized he had found the right path. Man-Tra-Con provided the tools Doug needed to start as a diesel mechanic, allowing him to begin on-the-job training at Pepsi MidAmerica while earning a sustainable wage. “[The apprenticeship] helped me know this is the career I want versus just a job,” Doug said. “Great people are training me.”

Emily Munoz has always had a passion for nursing since she was little. With a strong desire to help people and support them during times of sickness and pain, she knew she wanted to be a nurse. Due to barriers, she could not begin nursing school immediately after high school. To get work experience, Emily first connected with Elgin Community College (ECC) through the Future Workforce Leaders Program (FWLP), which connects area youth ages 16-24 with opportunities to explore different career paths through paid work experiences and job shadowing.

Through FWLP, Emily was connected with Hanover Township, completing a paid work experience with their Community Health Department. As her paid work experience ended, her WIOA Navigator suggested she explore the CNA Apprenticeship through ECC. In December 2023, Emily completed her CNA course with AVID CNA School, ECC’s RTI vendor, and passed her state exam.

Now a licensed CNA, Emily is completing her on-the-job training with The Vines, a senior care center in Elgin. She loves working with patients and has developed a strong sense of the kind of healthcare worker she aspires to be. As she completes her apprenticeship, Emily takes the necessary prerequisites to enter ECC’s nursing program. Her experience as a CNA apprentice gives her insight into current issues with health care and a chance to refine her basic skills, making her an excellent candidate for the nursing program.

Salim Medjdouba immigrated to the United States from Algeria in 2022. With a degree in commercial and management sciences from the University of Boumerdes, he set out to establish his life in a new country. Thanks to family connections, he settled in the Elgin region. With experience as a machine operator, he found employment at a local manufacturer working as a materials handler, moving on to roles in production assembly as he worked to find his fit in the workplace.

Fluent in three languages, Salim knew he needed to master a fourth, English, for his career to flourish truly. In September 2023, he enrolled in Elgin Community College’s (ECC) English as a Second Language (ESL) Program, hoping to become proficient enough to enroll in the college’s technical courses. While in the ECC ESL program, Salim heard about ECC’s free Pre-Apprenticeship in Manufacturing. He and a family friend signed up to take the course together. Salim began the program eager to learn how to translate his technical knowledge into English, finding a common language on the machine floor. Salim passed all pre-apprenticeship classes, earning his OSHA-10 card and Forklift Driver certification. He then successfully interviewed for a materials handler job with a well-known local manufacturing company. As he began his new job, Salim was grateful for the chance to upskill and get into a company with upward mobility and opportunities. His new employer, Elgin Sweeper, is also on ECC’s target list to develop registered apprenticeships; hiring one of our pre-apprentices opened the door for those discussions in 2024.

From the moment I started my journey as a Desktop Support Apprentice (or Information Systems Apprentice) at Northwestern Medicine, the decision to choose this path became increasingly evident. Being an apprentice in such a high-priority healthcare institution was about gaining technical skills and immersing myself in an environment that thrives on innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to patient care. The primary reason for pursuing an apprenticeship was the unique opportunity to bridge the gap between things I learned in school (at the College of DuPage) between knowledge and practical application.

Northwestern Medicine strongly emphasizes hands-on experience, allowing apprentices (like me) to work directly with cutting-edge technologies and real-world challenges. This dynamic approach enhances technical skills and fosters a deeper understanding of the healthcare industry’s needs. In desktop support, my experiences ranged from troubleshooting hardware and software issues to implementing system upgrades seamlessly.

The mentorship provided by seasoned professionals ensured a steady learning curve, allowing me to grow in confidence and competence. Working with experts in the field accelerated my technical proficiency and exposed me to the critical role desktop support plays in maintaining the hospital’s day-to-day operations. I feel like I’m already growing at an alarming rate; pretty soon, I feel like I will be able to find the solution to anything in the realm of my department’s abilities.

Collaboration was a cornerstone of my experience as an apprentice at NM. The healthcare environment demands a high level of teamwork, and my role allowed me to interface with various departments, from nursing to administration. I’ve worked on numerous projects with people on other teams, like managing Apple products and developing ideas for healthcare providers to maintain a steady and productive workflow. I’ve also worked with Networkers, Systems Engineers, Sound Design, and Cybersecurity teams. This cross-functional collaboration not only broadened my understanding of the healthcare system but also honed my communication skills, showed me a whole new side of IT, and made me start to come up with ideas about which branch of IT I would want to pursue.

The work environment at Northwestern Medicine is very positive and friendly. The energy within the IT department is excellent, driven by a shared commitment to excellence and a passion for leveraging technology to enhance patient care. In retrospect, choosing to be a Desktop Support Apprentice at Northwestern Medicine was a transformative decision but a pivotal step in terms of what I want to pursue.