TECH | 2017 19 REGIONAL TRAINING (continued) the finalization of the first year of our Apprenticeship Training Program now available online at NTCA University,” said Bart Bettiga, NTCA’s executive director, “we will start to develop strategies to begin to full scale apprenticeship train- ing launched in multiple markets. The online education will be used in conjunc- tion with training in the field, so we will look to partner with NTCA members in their local area(s) to begin to offer these training opportunities. “Simultaneously,” he explained, “we will continue to develop additional apprenticeship training courses for the finisher and tile installer curricula. We hope to finish the second year of the curriculum by the end of 2017.” NTCA also has a grant application with the Texas Workforce Commission and several other apprentice- ship projects in development. Erin Albrecht, COO and operations manager of J&R Tile in San Antonio, Tex., said the company’s apprenticeship at J&R Tile is struc- tured though the Dept. of Labor. “We partner with Texas Workforce Commission through our local work- force solutions through DOL’s Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act. “There are targeted youth populations eager for careers that can be subsidized for intensive training,” she explained, “and the funding and recruiting is pro- vided with this federal program.” The apprenticeship consists of an outline of related instruction and a work process schedule. “We structure our work process schedule aligned through the appren- ticeship modules for related instruction, and there is great flow and foundational base of knowledge that can be built and processed through the hand-on com- ponents. “In 2017, we are in a unique situation with the resources available,” she added. “The younger genera- tion of applicants is very comfortable with technology, and are extremely engaged in the work process when transitioned to our training center or field training after completing the appropriate modules aligning to the knowledge/skills. We have a large poster on the wall with Apprentice 1,2,3,4 - Journeyman 1,2,3,4, CTI, ACT 1,2,3,4,5,6, and so on, with names of staff on the ladder for wage increases to show you ‘earned it.’” The NTCA staff has done a tremendous job to support their program, she noted, and “has set up our company for success by constant support. Becky Serbin has the new hires set up before they begin their first day of orientation, and is also so responsive and supportive.” The program has an 80% passing requirement for quiz- zes, so the apprentices have to actually “earn their way” before learning the next skill or application, said Albrecht. “We can also focus and/or reteach the areas of weak- ness. Paired with a TCNA Handbook at orientation, these modules have our apprentices learning the foundational knowledge most of our current staff had to learn after they had been in the field, which can be quite powerful. Learning to navigate through the TCNA Handbook from day one, and aligning/referencing modules that are inter- active, tie together a well-rounded professional, and cer- tainly a highly qualified, educated, entry-level employee trained correctly from the inception. “We’ve actually found,” she concluded, “in our com- pany’s culture, that we prefer apprenticeship appli- cants to have zero experience in tile and stone so they are learning correct methods and standards.” Bart Bettiga Erin Albrecht (l.) with Coverings Ambassador Alena Capra (c.) and designer Nikki Vegas at the 2017 Coverings Installation Design Showcase. Paired with a TCNA Handbook at ori- entation,these modules have appren- tices learning the foundational knowl- edge most current staff had to learn after they had been in the field. ” “