In celebration of National Apprenticeship Awareness Week, Chamber President and CEO Richard Perez attended the groundbreaking announcement of Digital Creative Institute’s (DCI) digital marketing apprenticeship. The program is the first of its kind in the U.S. registered officially though the U.S. Department of Labor and the Texas Workforce Commission.
DCI CEO and founder Brad Voeller kicked-off the event by championing apprenticeships as winning models because of the dynamic business-context environments in which apprentices learn. The DCI apprenticeship contains elements of cutting-edge digital marketing practices, practical training, and cultivating the mindset young people need to be successful and competitive in the marketing field.
Texas Workforce Commission Apprenticeship Representative Ann Pham thanked DCI for answering the call to build apprenticeship programs and applauded the digital marketing program as a long-term solution for skills in-demand by employers. Pham also read a proclamation from Governor Greg Abbott praising the program.
Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, a notable champion of apprenticeships, described DCI’s program as a way for young people to learn critical skills without incurring college debt. David Snowden, SVP of Communications for ARGO Insurance, highlighted the high value of apprentices in the DCI program learning from the best professionals in the digital marketing field. For businesses, Snowden described the benefit is access to bright, new talent trained to meet business needs.
Troy Johnson, U.S. Department of Labor Apprenticeship and Training Representative, wrapped up the announcement by delivering praise of the program from the federal level. Johnson spoke to the long history of apprenticeship success in manufacturing and trades. Stating “earning while you learn is an effective model,” that leads to high-paying jobs in demand fields.
Aurora Geis, DCI, issued a call to action for businesses to join the apprenticeship movement for the sake of providing viable options for our community to acquire the comprehensive skills needed to move our economy forward. She challenged the city to set a goal for developing apprenticeship programs. Currently, there are 35 programs with 2,000 apprenticeships in the area.
For more information about the DCI Digital Marketing Internship program, visit: https://digitalcreativeinstitute.com/apply/
