The Apprentice Perspective
Apprenticeships are on the rise in Illinois. These programs help businesses build the high-skill talent they need while offering Illinoisans a pathway to long-term, family-sustaining careers in high-demand fields—often without the need for a four-year degree. The Apprentice Perspective podcast features conversations with apprentices and work-based learning leaders about the impact of apprenticeship on Illinois workers and businesses, as well as emerging innovations in work-based learning across the state. The show highlights the stories of participants in the Apprentice Ambassador Program and recipients of the WBLA Catalysts Initiative. The Apprentice Ambassador Program brings together a yearly cohort of outstanding current or former apprentices representing a wide range of industries and communities across Illinois. During their year in the program, Apprentice Ambassadors serve as guest speakers at business engagement events, sharing how apprenticeship has shaped their careers, supported their families, and strengthened their companies. This podcast brings those stories directly to you. Each episode also features a guest host who is a leader in business, government, or workforce development. The WBLA Catalysts Initiative recognizes innovative and high-quality work-based learning programs across Illinois. Award recipients share their best practices through a toolkit on Illinois WorkNet designed to help scale successful models and turn effective local solutions into statewide standards. Join us to hear the stories of people who chose a nontraditional path to a family-sustaining career—and to explore the future of work-based learning in Illinois. Disclaimer: This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the contractor and does not necessarily reflect the official position of DOL. DOL makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it.
Episodes
Revolution Workshop is a nonprofit out of Chicago that is truly living up to its name. It began as a way to help Black and Brown people, and in particular women, enter construction and earn family-sustaining wages. What they realized was the issue of unemployment for underserved Chicago communities went deeper than just trying to find a job. Many of the clients they worked with had the same hurdle–transportation. So, they set out t...
The WBLA Catalysts Initiative is an award bestowed by the Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship Committee of the IWIB to recognize excellence in work-based learning programming.
Meet the inaugural winners of this award, Elgin Community College (ECC), represented by Dr. Gina De rosier-Cook, Dean of Workforce Development, and Elissa Kojzarek, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Experiential Learning (SPEL). They are joined by Dan...
Gavin Carman, a Second Year Client Services Apprentice at Aon in Bannockburn, Illinois, spent a lot of time thinking while working as a delivery person. At 25, he knew the career path he was on wasn’t sustainable, but he had already tried schooling in a more traditional way. A Google search led him to an apprenticeship, where he found the opportunity he had been searching for, one where he could not only earn and learn at the same ...
Sania Kamani, a Second Year Apprentice in the Claims Admin Department at Zurich North America in Schaumburg, Illinois, set her sights on apprenticeship in high school. Though discouraged at first, through determination and drive she graduated high school with honors and entered the apprenticeship program, where she found community, mentorship, and gained experience. Kamani is a member of the 2026 Illinois Apprentice Ambassador coho...
John Williams, a Senior Analyst at Accenture in Chicago, had to convince his parents that he had a job when he joined a paid apprenticeship at age 19. Little did they know that this position would give him the training, mentorship, and camaraderie he needed to thrive. Williams is a member of the 2026 cohort of Illinois Apprentice Ambassadors. He is joined in conversation by Co-Chair of the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board (IWIB)...
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