On September 18, 2025, 45 local Counselors, Educators,  & Administrators attended a Breakfast & Expo hosted by the MV Apprentice Coordinators Group.  It was held at the Electricians Conference Center 8:00 AM – Noon.

Following a hearty breakfast buffet, David Cox, Dayton Building Trades, started the meeting with a Welcome and overview of the day.  The first presenter was Vince Irvin, who shared information on the Ohio State Apprenticeship Council and its relationship to the apprentice programs affiliated with the building trades.

After a break, the Apprentice Representatives participated in a Coordinators Roundtable.  To start, Mr. Irvin asked questions of the Coordinators who responded with general information on apprenticeship training, e.g. program length, requirements, wage & benefit levels, etc.  To conclude, Educators welcomed the opportunity to ask questions of the Training Program representatives.

After Q&A, the AFL-CIO shared information on a Pre-Apprenticeship class held 3-4 times annually to introduce participants to the building trades; Tommy Renfro & Jeff Schlarmann discussed the Contractors’ role in apprenticeship training as the Employer; and two Apprentices with the Sheet Metal Workers shared testimonials on their apprenticeship journeys.

Before dismissal, Apprentice Coordinators, Apprentices, Contractors, and AFL-CIO manned table-tops to allow the Educators to visit and continue discussion on training program opportunities.  To wrap-up, Tony Stephens, the Apprentice Group Chair thanked all of the Educators for their attendance, and he encouraged them to invite Apprentice Program Representatives to their schools to meet with fellow teachers and students to discuss career opportunities in the Construction Industry through apprenticeship training.  The event concluded with a scholarship drawing with $500 awarded to Kettering High School to support curriculum efforts to inform students of viable career opportunities in the building trades.