Scaling Modern Youth Apprenticeship In Indiana

WHAT IS CEMETS iLAB INDIANA?

CEMETS iLab Indiana is a coalition of more than 100 Indiana leaders working to develop a statewide modern youth apprenticeship system as one potential solution to the state’s mounting workforce crisis. The 10-month Implementation Lab – referred to as an iLab – is an intensive collaborative that will result in a comprehensive statewide plan to increase the number of available modern youth apprenticeships across in-demand industry sectors.

The goal of the iLab is to ensure that by 2030, every student and adult learner in Indiana has access to high-quality education and training options. Reaching this goal will enable all Hoosiers to discover their passions, reach their fullest potential, and meaningfully contribute to the economic and civic vitality of their communities.

INDIANA’S WORKFORCE CRISIS

TALENT SHORTAGES ARE THREATENING INDIANA’S ECONOMIC STABILITY

Indiana’s long-standing talent shortages worsened during the pandemic and are projected to increase. Further, by 2031, 72% of jobs in the U.S. will require postsecondary education and/or training. Unfortunately, Indiana is not on track to meet that need. Because just over half of Indiana’s high school graduates go on to college, and only about two-thirds of the students who attend an Indiana public college complete a program within six years, a majority of Hoosier students are entering the labor market without a degree or credential.

Indiana must take bold action to reform its education and workforce development system to deliver better outcomes for individuals, employers, and the state’s economy.

39%
of Hoosier adults 25+ have an associate degree or higher.1
53%
of Indiana seniors from the class of 2021 enrolled in college, compared to 65% in 2015.2
47%
of Indiana college students graduate on time, and many of those do not earn degrees in high-demand areas.3

1 American Community Survey, 2 Indiana College-Going Dashboard, 3 Indiana College Completion Report 

YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP HELPS STUDENTS, THE ECONOMY

APPRENTICESHIP MODEL IS ONE SOLUTION FOR EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE CRISES

Indiana’s youth apprenticeship model allows 11th grade students to participate in a three-year, paid work-and-learn program. It culminates in a high school diploma, college credit and an industry credential, while at the same time preparing students for in-demand careers.

Indiana’s model is based on Switzerland’s system, which is considered the “gold standard” for educating young people and meeting labor market demand. Today, about 30% of Swiss high school students enroll in college. The remaining 70% participate in a three- or four-year paid apprenticeship across 250 occupations spanning the entire labor market, from life sciences to banking to advanced manufacturing. One of the hallmarks of this model is its permeability, which allows Swiss students to switch from vocational pathways to higher education in addition to pursuing more advanced education and training opportunities. 

CEMETS iLAB INDIANA

iLAB MEMBERS TO BUILD PLAN FOR YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP IN INDIANA

A delegation of more than 100 Indiana leaders attended the September 2023 Indy Chamber Leadership Exchange (LEX) trip to Zurich to see the Swiss youth apprenticeship system in action.

During the trip, the delegation heard from Ursula Renold, Ph.D., and Katie Caves, Ph.D., of the Center on Economics and Management of Education and Training Systems (CEMETS) at ETH Zurich about the Swiss model and its key characteristics. Renold and Caves are considered the preeminent experts in dual vocational education and training, and they provide counsel to representatives from countries interested in planning for and implementing robust youth apprenticeship systems. These groups are sometimes guided through what CEMETS refers to as an Implementation Lab, or iLab, which assists them in developing an actionable plan for making the system a reality.

When the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation announced a $180,000 grant to fund an iLab in Indiana in late 2023, many members of the LEX delegation joined other state leaders as iLab committee members. 

The iLab is specifically targeting how to scale youth apprenticeship across three industry groupings – banking and insurance, healthcare and life sciences, and advanced manufacturing – all of which face increasing talent shortages. In addition to an implementation plan, another key deliverable of the iLab is the recommendation of a governing and operating structure that can oversee the work to scale youth apprenticeship statewide, eventually spanning all sectors of Indiana’s economy. Read more about the iLab’s vision and short-term goals.

Because of the Fairbanks Foundation’s years-long investment to bring the modern youth apprenticeship system to Indiana, its staff is providing subject matter expertise and partnering with CEMETS leadership to oversee the iLab from inception to completion. 

Ascend Indiana, the talent and workforce development initiative of Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, is providing project management for iLab committees, offering opportunities for industry leaders to see apprenticeships in action, and coordinating convenings of iLab stakeholders. The Indy Chamber is conducting an industry occupation analysis to inform the iLab’s work and will develop a plan for how to communicate about modern youth apprenticeship to employers and other stakeholders.

YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP IN INDIANA

LEADERS PREVIOUSLY STUDIED THE SYSTEM AND IMPLEMENTED PILOT PROGRAMS

In 2016, Indiana leaders first learned about Switzerland’s dual vocational education and training (VET) system from a report issued by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), No Time to Lose: How to Build A World-Class Education System State by State. In 2017, the Fairbanks Foundation awarded a grant to NCSL to convene learning sessions with relevant state leaders.

These learning sessions culminated in a planning process led by the Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA), which began in 2019. A 25-person planning group took a deeper dive on the Swiss model and benchmarked with other states piloting youth apprenticeship.

In July 2019, a subset of the Indiana planning group attended CEMETS Institute in Zurich to see the Swiss system first-hand and develop a plan for Indiana. The group decided on a two-pronged approach to implementing a youth apprenticeship system in Indiana: the launch of pilot programs, and the creation of a statewide Community of Practice to convene communities across Indiana working to implement youth apprenticeship programs. As of 2024, there are five pilot sites operating and five more in the planning phase. 

The work being done by CEMETS iLab Indiana is a continuation of these planning and implementation efforts. Read more about the history of youth apprenticeship in Indiana.

MEMBER ROSTER

The iLab’s members are divided into committees that focus on the roles of relevant stakeholder groups – employers, high schools and higher education institutions. Below, you’ll find a roster of all CEMETS iLab Indiana committee members, as well as more information about the organizations managing the iLab.

Note: Member roster current as of April 25, 2024.

CEMETS iLAB INDIANA MEMBERS

Co-Chairs

  • David Becker (Co-Chair), Chairman & CEO, First Internet Bank
  • Claire Fiddian-Green (Co-Chair), President & CEO, Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation

Members

  • Senator Rod Bray, President Pro Tempore of the Indiana Senate
  • Jeff Harrison, President & CEO, Citizens Energy Group
  • Representative Todd Huston, Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives
  • Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education
  • Melina Kennedy, CEO, Central Indiana Corporate Partnership
  • Chris Lowery, Commissioner of Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education
  • Matt Mindrum, President & CEO, Indy Chamber
  • Mario Rodriguez, Executive Director, Indianapolis Airport Authority
  • Pamela Whitten, President, Indiana University

Committee Staffing

  • Kate Pangallo, Sr. Director, Talent & Strategic Partnerships, Indy Chamber
  • Erica Viar, Vice President, Ascend Indiana

Co-Chairs

  • Mike Ash, Regional President, Fifth Third Bank
  • Dennis Murphy, President & CEO, IU Health

Industry Representatives

Banking

  • Scott Bove, South Region President, Star Financial Bank
  • Kyra Clark, SVP & Chief Human Resources Officer, Lake City Bank
  • Jason Eckerle, Regional President, Central & Southern Indiana, PNC Financial Services Group
  • David Findlay, Chairman & CEO, Lake City Bank
  • Juan Gonzalez, President, Central Indiana, KeyBank
  • Steve Harris, Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer, First Merchants Bank
  • Annie Hills, Chief of Staff, Old National Bank
  • Carrie Houston, First VP & Chief Human Resources Officer, The National Bank of Indianapolis
  • Jon Loftin, President & COO, MJ Insurance
  • Lucia Mar, Senior Vice President & Market Executive, Bank of America
  • Ann Merkel, SVP & Chief Market Development Officer, The National Bank of Indianapolis
  • Christina Moungey, Managing Director, Ohio Indiana Region Manager, JP Morgan Chase
  • Lorraine Ortiz, First Vice President, Chief People Officer, First Internet Bank
  • James Ryan III, CEO, Old National Bank
  • Jake Sappenfield, Commercial Market President, First Financial Bank
  • Robert Senz, Senior Vice President, Talent Management, PNC Financial Services Group
  • Michael Stewart, President, First Merchants Corporation and First Merchants Bank
  • Amber Van Til, President & CEO, Indiana Bankers Association

Insurance

  • Lisa Cameron, VP of Human Resources, Indiana Farmers Insurance
  • Scott Davison, Chairman, President, & CEO, OneAmerica
  • Drew Dean, VP, Managing Director, Burns & Wilcox
  • Steve Duff, Executive Director, The Big I
  • Amanda Pennington, VP of Sales Enablement, UnitedHealth Group
  • Karin Sarratt, Executive Vice President, OneAmerica
  • Kim Thomas, VP, DEI & Community Affairs, OneAmerica
  • Kevin Wheeler, Indiana Insurance Industry Training Consortium Representative

Health Care

  • Karly Cope, Vice President, Talent Management, Community Health Network
  • Nancy Foster, Market Chief Human Resources Officer, Ascension St. Vincent
  • Kreg Gruber, CEO, Beacon Health System
  • Lisa Harris, MD, CEO, Eskenazi Health
  • Christia Hicks, Chief Human Resources Officer, Eskenazi Health
  • David Hyatt, CEO, Riverview Health
  • Erin LaCross, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CENP, Senior Vice President, Nursing Professional Development, Parkview Health
  • Melinda Lebofsky, Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, Deaconess Health System
  • Michelle Mahaffey, Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, Community Health Network
  • Tammi Nash, Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer, Riverview Health
  • Michael Schroyer, RN, MSN, FACHE, President, Baptist Health Floyd
  • Adrienne Sims, Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer, Indiana University Health
  • Mary Jo Smith, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Franciscan Alliance
  • Ram Yeleti, MD, Executive Vice President, Chief Physician Executive, Community Health Network

Life Sciences

  • Bridget Boyle, Head of People and Culture, Roche Diagnostics
  • Kelly Copes-Anderson, Vice President and Global Head of Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Eli Lilly & Company
  • Travis Chrisman, VP of Quality & Regulatory, Medartis
  • Ryan Christner, Supply Chain & Logistics Manager, Medartis
  • Allyn Decker, Vice President of Operations & Engagement, OrthoWorx Indiana
  • Trevor Foughty, Vice President of Public Affairs, Heartland BioWorks
  • Babette Gann, VP of HR for Ops, Supply Chain, QA & RA
  • Erin Hughes, Sr. Human Resources Manager, Medartis
  • Erin Serafino, Talent Director, OrthoWorx Indiana
  • Maurice Taylor, Executive Director, Talent Attraction, Recruitment Marketing and Workforce Equity Programs, Eli Lilly and Company
  • Bob Vitoux, President & CEO, OrthoWorx Indiana
  • Vince Wong, President & CEO, BioCrossroads

Advanced Manufacturing

  • Nicole Adamopoulos, Safety & Operational Learning, Learning Delivery Manager – Whiting Refinery, BP
  • Kevin Ahaus, President & CEO, Ahaus
  • Scott Brand, President & COO, Subaru Indiana
  • Chris Brunner, AM Region Talent Strategy and Marketing Manager – Human Capital, Hitachi Astemo Greenfield, LLC
  • Julia Buckley, Chief Operations Officer, Reliable MicroSystems, LLC
  • Brendan Cahill, President, PTG Silicones
  • Chris Clark, Training and Development Manager, PMC SMART Solutions
  • Brooke Firestine, Global Resourcing Business Partner – Defence; Talent Acquisition GBS People Services, Rolls-Royce North America
  • Fiorella Gambetta-Gibson, Director, Global Inclusion & Diversity & CSR, Allison Transmission
  • Katrin Gerig, Vice President of Human Resources, Telamon
  • Chad Goldsmith, Human Resources Organizational Development, Analyst Talent Management, Toyota Manufacturing NA
  • Dannette Howard, Global Education Director, Corporate Responsibility, Cummins, Inc.
  • Kiersten Janik, Chief Talent Officer – Heritage Construction & Materials, The Heritage Group
  • Sarah Johnston, Human Resources Manager, Sanko Gosei Technologies USA
  • Amy Ketcham, President, Tsuchiya Group North America
  • Shawn Maple, Director, Global Plastics, Inc.
  • Mark Murphy, President, PRD, Inc.
  • Nicole Otte, Director of Workforce Development, Endress+Hauser USA
  • Tony Robinson, MAPP Membership Director, MAPP Association
  • Randy Sible, General Manager KEIND, Kimball Medical Solutions
  • Crispin Taylor, President & CEO, INDEX Corporation 
  • Marissa Ulrich, Program Manager, IMPACT/Leadership & Cultural Development, Patrick Industries 
  • Toby Walsman, Program Coordinator, Batesville Tool & Die., Inc.
  • Josh Wilber, Director of Human Resources, Grote Industries

State and Intermediary Partners

  • Tony Denhart, Executive Vice President, Workforce and Talent, Indiana Economic Development Corporation
  • Michi McClaine, Vice President of Talent Development, Regional Opportunity Initiatives
  • Matt Mindrum, President & CEO, Indy Chamber
  • Richard Paulk, Commissioner, Indiana Dept. of Workforce Development
  • David Rosenberg, Secretary of Commerce, Indiana Economic Development Corporation
  • Vanessa Green Sinders, President & CEO, Indiana Chamber of Commerce
  • Jay Styles, Senior VP, Partnerships and Talent Connections, EmployIndy

Committee Staffing

  • Alex Maggos, Senior Manager, Consulting, Ascend Indiana
  • Kate Pangallo, Sr. Director, Talent & Strategic Partnerships, Indy Chamber

Co-Chairs

  • Dan Funston, Superintendent, Concord Community Schools
  • Kent Kramer, President & CEO, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana

Districts or Charter School Network Members

  • Andy Allen, High School Principal, Batesville Community School Corporation
  • Adam Barton, High School Principal, Eastern Hancock Community School Corporation
  • Tara Bishop, Superintendent, Perry Central Community Schools
  • Dr. Jeff Butts, Superintendent, MSD Wayne Township
  • Rebecca Daugherty-Saunders, District Director of College and Career Readiness, MSD Wayne Township
  • Betsy Delgado, Senior Vice President and Chief Mission and Education Officer, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana
  • Jody French, Jr./Sr. High School Principal, Perry Central Community Schools
  • Dr. David Hoffert, Superintendent, Warsaw Community Schools
  • Andrea Huff, Superintendent, Barr-Reeve Community Schools
  • Dr. Aleesia Johnson, Superintendent, Indianapolis Public Schools
  • Dr. Lisa Kendall, Assistant Superintendent, Concord Community Schools
  • Paul Ketcham, Superintendent, Batesville Community School Corporation
  • Melissa Kissling, College and Connections Career Manager, Warsaw Community Schools
  • Robert McDermott, Assistant Superintendent, Duneland School Corporation
  • Chip Pettit, Superintendent, Duneland School Corporation
  • Dr. George Philhower, Superintendent, Eastern Hancock Community School Corporation
  • Tim Pletcher, High School Principal, Baugo Community Schools
  • Byron Sanders, Superintendent, Baugo Community Schools
  • Dr. Keanna Warren, CEO, Purdue Polytechnic High Schools
  • B.J. Watts, OptIN Executive Director, Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation

State and Intermediary Partners

  • Beth Bray, Program Officer, Education Program, Walton Family Foundation
  • Jason Callahan, Assistant Secretary of Student Pathways and Opportunities, Indiana Department of Education
  • Erika Seydel Cheney, VP, K-12, Career-Connected Learning, EmployIndy
  • Todd Hurst, Executive Director, Institute for Workforce Excellence, Indiana Chamber of Commerce
  • Sarah Koontz, Director of CareerWise Youth Apprenticeships, CareerWise Elkhart County
  • Dr. Katie Lash, VP for K-14 and Strategic Initiatives, Ivy Tech Community College

Committee Staffing

  • Alex Maggos, Senior Manager, Consulting, Ascend Indiana

Co-Chairs

  • Sue Ellspermann, President, Ivy Tech Community College
  • Ken Britt, COO & Chancellor, Marian University

Higher Education Institutions

  • Melissa Beckwith, Chief Strategy Officer, Butler University
  • Daniel Castro -Lacouture, Dean, Purdue Polytechnic Institute
  • Molly Dodge, Senior VP, Workforce and Careers, Ivy Tech Community College
  • Sean Huddleston, President, Martin University
  • Dottie King, President & CEO, Independent Colleges of Indiana
  • Andrew Kocher, Vice President of Corporate and Community Partnerships, University of Indianapolis
  • Leah Nellis, PhD, Vice Chancellor for Innovation and Special Projects; Strategic Lead for Academic Initiatives, IU Office of School Partnerships; Professor of Education, Indiana University
  • Dr. Lori Pence, Associate Provost for K-12 Programs & Partnerships, Vincennes University

State and Intermediary Partners

  • Dr. Michelle Ashcraft, Senior Associate Commissioner and Chief Program Officer, Indiana Commission for Higher Education
  • Jason Bearce, VP, Education & Workforce Development, Indiana Chamber of Commerce
  • Betsy Revell, Sr. Vice President, Career-Connected Learning, EmployIndy
  • Brian Wiebe, President & CEO, Horizon Education Alliance

Committee Staffing

  • Alex Maggos, Senior Manager of Consulting, Ascend Indiana

Co-Chairs

  • Representative Bob Behning, Chair, House Education Committee, Indiana House District 91
  • Senator Jeff Raatz, Chair, Education and Career Development Committee, Indiana Senate District 27

Representatives/Senators

  • Senator Andrea Hunley, Indiana Senate District 46
  • Representative, Julie McGuire Indiana House District 93
  • Representative, Vernon Smith, Indiana House District 14

State, Corporate and Intermediary Partners

  • Jason Bearce, Vice President, Education & Workforce Development, Indiana Chamber of Commerce
  • Susan Brock-Williams, Associate Vice President, State Government Affairs, Eli Lilly & Company
  • David Buyze, Director of Policy and Special Programs, Indiana Department of Education
  • Miranda Cripe, CareerWise Elkhart County Partnership Manager, Horizon Education Alliance
  • Whitney Ertel, Executive Director, Governor’s Workforce Cabinet
  • Josh Garrison, Senior Associate Commissioner and Chief of Staff, Indiana Commission for Higher Education
  • Taylor Hughes, Vice President, Policy & Strategy, Indy Chamber
  • Danny Kelley, Policy Director, Indiana House Republicans
  • Marie Mackintosh, President & CEO, EmployIndy
  • Tina Peterson, President & CEO, Regional Opportunity Initiative Betsy Wiley, President & CEO, Institute for Quality Education

Committee Staffing

  • Alex Maggos, Senior Manager of Consulting, Ascend Indiana

RESOURCES AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Below, you’ll find additional information about CEMETS iLab Indiana and the modern youth apprenticeship system. For more information about the iLab, contact iLab@RMFF.org.