As President of the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce, we were seeking to fill a new administrative position within our organization. I reached out to contacts at the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership for assistance in creating and filling this full-time role. At the same time, OAI, Inc. was collaborating with the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, Employer and Employment Services (EES), and Governor’s State University School of Extended Learning (GSU-SXL) on marketing strategies for their newly approved Office Services Specialist (OSS) Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP).
Since the full-time administrative position, we were looking to create was intended to play a key role in connecting our membership with the talent pipeline in the Southland region, particularly through apprenticeship programs, I was invited to participate in their scheduled meetings. It didn’t take long for the position to evolve from a general administrative role to that of the Apprenticeship Ambassador. This new position would serve as a liaison between our Business Growth Committee, Workforce Development Committee, and regional business owners.
Given that it was a new position, we had to ensure it met the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) criteria for a new hire in the OSS RAP. The guidance and direction I received from EES, one of our key partners, were invaluable. It was exciting to become the first employer to sign the OSS RAP employer agreement, even as we were finalizing the hiring of the Apprenticeship Ambassador.
We successfully hired Rene Velazquez, who became one of the 11 OSS RAP apprentices. His on-the-job mentor was Kim Marisa Kunce and myself. It quickly became clear that the Related Training Instruction (RTI) had relevant applications, as Rene consistently demonstrated strong administrative skills throughout the 16 weeks of training. His initiative and energy were evident, and he quickly became a key asset to our team.
OAI’s Apprenticeship Program proved to be a “win-win” for both the Chamber of Commerce and Rene, our Apprenticeship Ambassador. His success was not only a win for him but also for our business. We had filled a crucial role in a way that helped us grow as a team. As OAI, Inc. continues their sponsorship of future apprenticeship programs, Rene will play a key role in connecting Southland employers with RAP opportunities.
As I reflect on the OSS RAP, I am proud that the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce played an integral role in the development and success of OAI’s pilot apprenticeship program.
When done right, apprenticeships are a win-win for both employers and apprentices. They’re not just about filling a role—they’re about fostering growth, opportunity, and shaping the future of the workforce.
Terri L. Winfree Ph.D., President,
Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce
Below are 2 short interviews about the Office Services Specialist Apprenticeship from a recent video:
Hi, my name is Nikki Smith. I am the HR Manager at Gotion Illinois New Energy. We are an electric vehicle battery manufacturer. We also manufacture energy storage systems.
Why join the Apprenticeship Program?
To have this opportunity in manufacturing was really neat. I’m in Human Resources, but we also have an Administration Department specifically so we have administrative specialists. So, we’re just starting up in our plant. We have I think 85 employees as of yesterday so we will have future Administrative Specialists needs so this is great that we have hourly employees that can learn these skills to fill our openings in the future.
Would you recommend to other employers?
Yes, I would definitely recommend this. It’s a great opportunity for them to be able to take classes, especially having Governors State involved and then I didn’t know even before they signed up that they will be able to take the certification exam at the end which that is huge. I’m taking the HR certification exam myself so for them to get to do this, this I thought that was amazing. Like this is an extra bonus for them. I’ve never heard of another apprenticeship offering this so I was shocked and amazed, happily amazed that they get to do that.
Susanna Vargas, Apprentice
My name is Susanna Vargas. I work for Gotion and I work on the Quality Technician team.
Would you recommend to coworkers?
It would help them learn more communication skills with the coworkers and better understand each other.
Alex Gorski is nearing his six-month anniversary at Reliable Fire and Security and has made significant progress in his apprenticeship program. He recently completed OSHA 10 training and is set to begin NICET 1 in Fire in the coming weeks. Alex has been effectively learning his role in the Sprinkler Apprentice Program and has successfully conducted fire pump tests alongside his journeyman.
During the pandemic in 2020, Shawnee, like many employers, experienced substantial staffing challenges. Shawnee recognized that some individuals in our local communities wanted to work in healthcare but had experienced barriers to employment. Many individuals could not attend traditional educational institutions full-time while working to support their families, and some adults struggled with traditional classroom learning with practical application at a later date. Becoming a certified medical assistant took several months, and dental assistants faced years to complete the certification process.
To address these issues, Shawnee expanded their “grow your own” programs to include paid registered apprenticeships in partnership with Man-Tra-Con Corporation and the Department of Labor. The apprenticeship program trains individuals to become certified staff through an educational course, on-the-job training, and coaching from experienced clinicians. Apprentices are hired as employees and paid for all on-the-job training hours. In October 2021, Shawnee and Man-Tra-Con successfully registered for the Medical Assistant Apprenticeship Program. In November 2021, Shawnee and Man-Tra-Con successfully registered for the Dental Assistant Apprenticeship Program. In December 2022, Shawnee and Man-Tra-Con successfully registered for the Community Health Worker Apprenticeship Program.
In spring 2022, Shawnee began its first Medical Assistant Apprenticeship program in partnership with the National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement (NIMAA). To date, Shawnee has completed four (4) apprenticeships, with two (2) currently in progress and one (1) upcoming for spring 2025. Shawnee has a success rate of 100% for apprentices completing the program, with the majority of them receiving high honors throughout the entirety of the NIMAA coursework. Thirteen (13) of the fifteen (15) apprentices still work with Shawnee as Certified Medical Assistants.
Shawnee began its first Dental Assistant Apprenticeship with participants enrolled at Southern Illinois University – Carbondale in spring 2022. Shawnee has completed one (1) apprenticeship and has started three (3) additional apprenticeships. Of the eight (8) enrolled, two (2) have completed the apprenticeship program as Certified Dental Assistants. While one (1) apprentice exited the program, the remaining five (5) continue their progress toward certification. Even while in training, the apprentices serve approximately 1,800 patients per year.
In fall 2022, Shawnee began its first Community Health Worker Apprenticeship in partnership with NIMAA. NIMAA developed the educational coursework using guidance provided by the Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA) regarding the specific competencies the state of Illinois will require for future community health worker licensing. The apprenticeship program trains individuals through educational coursework and on-the-job training to become community health workers, serving as a liaison between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality of service delivery. Apprentices are hired as employees and paid for all learning and on-the-job training hours. To date, Shawnee has completed one (1) apprenticeship with a success rate of 100% for apprentices completing the program. Of the six (6) apprentices, three (3) are still working with Shawnee as Community Health Workers. As the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) works on designing and implementing a licensing process for community health workers, Shawnee routinely provides feedback from both the perspective of an employer of community health workers and as community health workers working in the role.
Through apprenticeships, “grow your own” programs, and the assistance of local partners, Shawnee has successfully enhanced and stabilized its workforce while contributing to the economic viability of the local workforce and expanding access to care for its community.