Building Skills for the Future: Giesecke & Devrient Launched Industrial Maintenance Apprenticeship Program 

Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) is taking a proactive step toward workforce sustainability with the launch of its Industrial Maintenance Apprenticeship Program at the company’s Chicago facility. The initiative, developed in partnership with the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC), aims to enhance technical expertise, improve operational efficiency, and establish structured career pathways for employees. By investing in on-the-job learning and mentorship, G&D is ensuring that its workforce is equipped to meet the challenges of increasingly advanced manufacturing technology. 

For apprentice Simon Wu, the program has been transformative. Recently awarded his U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) credential, Wu shared how the apprenticeship has enhanced both individual development and team collaboration: “This apprenticeship program creates opportunities to highlight the skill sets of individuals and the areas in which they need improvement. Offering in-house training with people who are familiar with solving those issues daily will create a better learning environment for our future technicians.” His success is a testament to how hands-on learning, supported by experienced mentors, can enhance skill levels and confidence among employees. 

According to Luis Lara, Sr. Manager at Giesecke & Devrient, the program represents a vital investment in both safety and operational excellence: “An Apprenticeship program for our maintenance technicians here in G&D Chicago is essential to ensure the safety, efficiency, and reliability of equipment. It equips technicians with the necessary skills and knowledge to perform preventive and corrective maintenance, effectively troubleshoot issues, and adapt to evolving technologies. Investing in training programs like the one implemented not only reduces downtime and costly repairs but also promotes a culture of continuous improvement, compliance with safety standards, and overall operational excellence.” 

IMEC Regional Manager, Dave Musgrave, praised G&D’s commitment to workforce development and the company’s vision for long-term talent growth: “Supporting Giesecke & Devrient in establishing their Industrial Maintenance Apprenticeship program has been a rewarding experience. Our role at IMEC has been to help set the project in motion and continue guiding as they implement and grow the program. This initiative is a clear example of how manufacturers can invest in their people while addressing critical workforce needs. We’re proud to partner with Giesecke & Devrient as they strengthen their team and build a sustainable talent pipeline for the future.” 

Apprenticeship programs like G&D’s are proving to be powerful tools in addressing the manufacturing skills gap. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 93% of apprentices remain employed after completing their program, with an average annual salary exceeding $77,000. In Illinois, IMEC and its partners are helping manufacturers implement programs that not only close critical skills gaps but also foster loyalty, engagement, and innovation among employees. By combining technical training with mentorship and career advancement opportunities, Giesecke & Devrient is creating a model for how manufacturers can invest in their people and secure the future of industrial excellence. 

Photo: Left to right: Stacey B. Walker, MBA, Senior Human Resources Business Partner; Industrial Maintenance Apprentice Simon Wu; and Luis Lara, Senior Maintenance Manager, Giesecke & Devrient 

In late summer 2024, Pyramid WorkWise Alliance met with City Colleges of Chicago’s workforce specialists to discuss creating a culinary pre-apprenticeship program for youth and a culinary registered apprenticeship with Navigate Foundation. Navigate Foundation is a nonprofit organization from Georgia that provides quality internship opportunities for youth interested in the culinary/restaurant industry and looking to expand their footprint to Chicago. During program year 2024, Pyramid, City Colleges, and Navigate met many times to create the two programs.

The Pre-Apprenticeship Program is a comprehensive program intended to offer young people (ages 18-24) a mix of classroom and on-the-job experience in the culinary field. Participants will participate in a two-week job readiness program with Navigate Foundation, attend classes at City Colleges of Chicago, Washburne Culinary & Hospitality Institute, where they will earn their Basic Culinary Certificate, and work for Compass Group across the region at their various locations. The first cohort of the Culinary Pre-Apprenticeship Program began training on August 11, 2025! This direct-feed Program is designed to help recruit customers for the longer-term Registered Apprenticeship Program.

In addition to the Pre-Apprenticeship Program that Pyramid created with Navigate Foundation and City Colleges of Chicago, Pyramid also acts as the intermediary for a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) for culinary apprentices. Pyramid created the RAP Work Process Schedule and all related documents and submitted them to the United States Department of Labor for approval. The first RAP cohort is scheduled to commence in January 2026.

The YDPA (Youth Development Practitioner Apprenticeship) program came to Lake County to support youth-serving agencies with professional development for incumbent staff. fhi360 is the training provider and sponsor of this program. Nineteen apprentices started the program in January 2024. In January 2025, 7 of those apprentices graduated. Eight more apprentices are planning to finish in the next couple of months. Participants represented the county government, non-profits, and businesses that provide services to youth. The apprentices focused on:

9 Modules – 29 competencies, 165 hours of instructional material

1. Positive Youth Development Principles & Relationships

2. Coaching

3. Planning & Support

4. Group Facilitation

5. Career Pathways

6. Case Management

7. Leveraging Technology

8. Understanding How Youth Organizations Work

9. Professional Development and Self-Care

The Waukegan Public School District 60 partnered with Blooboard as a sponsor to help their incumbent Para-professional staff enter into apprenticeships to complete their teacher certification. This program allows apprentices to work in the classroom and attend an online course for a bachelor's degree pathway to teacher certification. The apprentices do not have the traditional college experience. Rather than study texts and lectures and submit lesson plans that were never put into practice, the Para-professionals submit the materials they use in class for credit. The flexibility of the related training in this format fosters more on-the-job learning and puts the training into practice in the classroom. This is the first cohort in Waukegan, and all partners support continuing efforts to help the teacher shortage. LWIA 1 utilized Incumbent Worker Training funds to help offset the cost of training.