Harford Apprenticeship Award

The Harford County Electrical Contractors Association and Apprenticeship Program (HCECA) was recently awarded the inaugural 2021 Maryland Apprenticeship Award for its outstanding contributions to apprenticeships in the state of Maryland. The Maryland Department of Labor introduced the Maryland Apprenticeship Awards to recognize exemplary participants in Maryland apprenticeships and to highlight apprenticeship as an outstanding workforce development model.

The award was presented by James Rzepkowski, Assistant Secretary for Workforce Development and Adult Learning, Maryland Department of Labor, in a ceremony at the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council bi-monthly meeting that took place in Baltimore, Maryland. Accepting the award for HCECA was JeanMarie Makres, Executive Director. “We are fortunate to have such strong support for apprenticeship training in Maryland under the leadership of Governor Larry Hogan and through the dedication of the Department of Labor,” said Ms. Makres.

Chris MacLarion, Director of Apprenticeship, Maryland Department of Labor; Brian Cavey, Chairman, Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council; and David McGlone, Deputy Secretary, Maryland Department of Labor, were also in attendance to congratulate award recipients. Representing the team effort, HCECA staff Ronn Blaney, Karen Halsted, Kim Slotnick, and Paula Vogelhut; HCECA retirees Dennis Felts and Bud Hoover; and Harford Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Timothy Sherwood, participated in the awards ceremony. HCECA partner Harford Community College, HCECA board members, instructors, and students were recognized as instrumental to the success of the program. In addition to Outstanding Program, awards were presented in the Apprentice, Business, Mentor/Journeyperson, and Youth Apprenticeship categories.

More than ever, apprenticeships are helping Maryland employers develop a highly-skilled workforce and offer workers an outstanding opportunity to earn while they learn. There are currently 11,498 registered apprentices in the state of Maryland. Registered apprenticeships continue to expand every day in the state.

HCECA, located on the Harford Community College campus in Bel Air, Maryland, has a long-time partnership with the College. In addition to the 2,000 hours per year of on-the-job training, apprentices attend classes on the Harford campus two evenings a week for the four-year program and are dually registered with the College. The program has been training and supporting electrical apprentices for 44 years and has graduated a total of 1,928 electricians.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2022-23 school year. Visit www.hcecamd.org to apply and for more information.

Pictured

Pictured from L to R: Dennis Felts, former HCECA Executive Director; Ronn Blaney, HCECA Training Director and Board Member; Bud Hoover, former HCECA instructor and Board Member; Chris MacLarion, Director of Apprenticeship, Maryland Department of Labor; Brian Cavey, Chairman, Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council; Paula Vogelhut, HCECA Administrative & Technology Assistant; Karen Halsted, HCECA Administrative Assistant; David McGlone, Deputy Secretary, Maryland Department of Labor; Kim Slotnick, HCECA Administrative & Marketing Manager; and JeanMarie Makres, HCECA Executive Director.