VEGA Americas, Inc. and Sinclair Community College Celebrate Building a Skilled Workforce Through Apprenticeships

Submitted by CATHERINE PETERSEN
Chief of Public Information/President's Office

MASON, OH – In honor of Workforce Development Month, VEGA Americas, Inc., a leading manufacturer of level, switching, and pressure instrumentation, and Sinclair Community College are celebrating 10 apprentices in the Industrial Maintenance Technician (IMT) program.

In August, five apprentices completed the IMT coursework through Sinclair’s Mason campus, while five new apprentices were welcomed into the program. The IMT apprenticeship is a collaborative effort that provides hands-on training at VEGA with Sinclair classroom instruction to develop a skilled workforce for the manufacturing industry. Sinclair’s IMT short-term certificate program provides students with knowledge and skills required for installing, maintaining and troubleshooting modern industrial machinery.

“I am so proud of myself and my fellow apprentices. Each of us gave so much time and energy to get to this point. I want to thank VEGA and Sinclair for giving so much back to us in the form of knowledge, confidence, drive, and the values that make this an incredible place to work,” said Derek Ross, VEGA apprentice.

“This apprenticeship was a great opportunity to not only grow my skills, but to build friendships and reinforce the importance of teamwork and resilience,” added Charles Vogel, VEGA apprentice.

Contributed photo: 2023-2024 VEGA/Sinclair Apprentices (L to R) Kyler Rowe, Lockland; Derek Ross, Loveland; Kevin Bolte, Burlington, KY; Andrew Brown, Cincinnati; Charles Vogel, Cincinnati; Ron Fultz, Manufacturing Manager – VEGA.

The VEGA apprentices completed 10 courses to earn Sinclair’s IMT short-term certificate. Two of the apprentices maintained 4.0 grade point averages (GPA). Overall, the five apprentices had an average 3.6 GPA.

The incoming 2024-2025 apprentices are:

• Shelby Martin – Amelia, OH
• Samuel Parrett – Morrow, OH
• Steven Probst – Batavia, OH
• Makayla Rowe – Amelia, OH
• Simara Sayre – Cincinnati, OH

Apprenticeships offer a unique opportunity for individuals to gain valuable work experience and earn a competitive wage while pursuing education. Sinclair’s Apprenticeship Program, launched in 2018, has grown to include 10 programs in various fields, with a total of 116 active apprentices at 21 regional companies.

The partnership between VEGA and Sinclair is a prime example of how industry and education can collaborate to address workforce needs. By investing in apprenticeships, both organizations are committed to building a strong talent pipeline for the region.

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