Working Together to Build a Future Workforce
Manufacturing, Education, and the Dept. of Labor Combine Forces
BERLIN, Conn. – Ariel Cuellar completed his Toolmaker Apprenticeship at Sirois Tool Co., Inc. in Berlin, CT. At a celebratory lunch held in his honor on May 8, Cuellar received his Certificate of Apprenticeship from the State of Connecticut. Also present were Alan Ortner, President of Sirois Tool, and Michael Hood, Manufacturing Department Head at Vinal Technical High School.
Ariel, who is from Portland CT, began his career in manufacturing at Vinal Technical High School, where he earned his high school diploma. With the help of Vinal Technical High School, Sirois Tool’s Apprenticeship Program, and the Connecticut Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship Training, Cuellar obtained high-quality training that is helping to reduce the skilled workforce shortage.
This is the result of Connecticut Manufacturers, the Connecticut Department of Labor, and public education working together to build CT’s future workforce. These three organizations helped to provide the technical assistance, training, and mentoring to prepare a new apprentice in the manufacturing industry.
Sirois Tool set up and championed the Apprenticeship Program several years ago with the help of Keri Lamontagne of the Connecticut Labor Department’s Office of Apprenticeship Training. As a qualified manufacturer willing to take on the responsibilities of apprenticeship program sponsorship, Sirois Tool works with the Connecticut Department of Labor to develop new apprentice opportunities in the face of the nation’s critical skilled workforce shortage.
The combined efforts of classroom instruction, on-the-job training, and government support is a proven strategy to help manufacturers prepare skilled workers in a successful apprenticeship program. Sirois Tool will continue to support new apprentices and to promote building the future workforce through program sponsorship in the Connecticut Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship Training.
Contact: Alan Ortner, Sirois Tool President
Phone: 860-828-5327
info@siroistool.com
www.siroistool.com
