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.
“Eager to Learn, Eager to Work” - Peter Tobin & David Jaeger
Peter Tobin, a Bachelor Apprentice at Zurich North America, left the United States Marines at 22, feeling like he was starting over. Like many veterans, he felt he was behind his peers and needed to catch up. He considered other career paths before he began studying Computer Science at Harper College, just two weeks after leaving the military. He hadn’t known it was possible to have an apprenticeship in the tech field until he came across the Zurich apprenticeship program and knew it would be...
8 Sept 2026
“Learning Doesn’t Stop” - Claudia Uribe & Julio Rodriguez
Claudia Uribe, Youth Career Specialist Project Lead at Lake County Workforce Board, is all about breaking barriers. After getting her degree in psychology, Claudia started working with people with disabilities, teaching young adults career readiness skills. She transitioned into the workforce development space a little over ten years ago, but only just recently participated in an apprenticeship in Youth Development Practitioner, wanting to further her career and advocacy, but wasn’t in a posi...
27 Aug 2026
“You Don’t Need a Perfect Plan” - Ashley Sosa & Craig Schmidt
Ashley Sosa, a Project and Program Management Consultant with Allstate, knows how to “make it work.” Ashley was working in the non-profit sector and knew she wanted more, but wasn’t sure what more was. After getting an email about an apprenticeship opportunity with Allstate, she took a leap of faith and transitioned to Allstate—but she didn’t stop there. Ashley decided to get her bachelor’s and soon her master’s at the same time, balancing a full-time job with a full load of classes. Cr...
3 Aug 2026
"Homework Time for All of Us" - Johana Caballero & Whitney Thompson
Johana Caballero already worked at EduCare West DuPage when she decided to join their apprenticeship to reach her goal of getting her associate’s degree in early childhood. With her two sons, she had to figure out ways to make this new routine work for them. More importantly, Johana had to get comfortable with using the support of her mentors and her family, who were eager to help her on this journey. Now, she has her associate’s and is a Teacher’s Assistant, a testament to her endurance and ...
27 Jul 2026
"K.I.S.S. Principle" - John Hall & Patrick Hall
Patrick Hall didn’t know what he wanted to do when he was in college. He tried accounting before falling into a job with Joliet Junior College, and after almost a decade, he is now the Manager of Work-Based Learning and Outreach. Patrick describes his role as one that “fills his cup,” finding fulfillment in helping students navigate their early career experience. Patrick’s dedication and passion for his work were what led his brother, John Hall, to his role as a Business Service Supervisor at...
13 Jul 2026
"Being the Voice I Didn't Have" - Christina Harms & Steve Lefaver
Christina Harms, a union painter with Mid-Illinois Company, grew up around the trades. Her father was a union laborer and had been on jobsites since she was young, but recalls never seeing a woman on-site. After attending college twice, first for Early Childhood Education, allowing her to run her own day care and take care of her children when they were small, and later for Medical Billing and Coding, which led to an office job. She realized she needed to be doing something with her hands. Sh...
3 Jul 2026
"Find What Clicks" - Jarrod Gayheart & Zackary Thurman
In this episode of The Apprentice Perspective, it’s Ambassador on Ambassador. Jarrod Gayheat, a Service Tech with Birkey’s, talks with Zack Thurman, A Precision Farming Specialist, with Birkey’s. Zack is a 2025 alumni of the Apprentice Ambassador program while Jarrod is a current Apprentice Ambassador. After graduating high school Jarrod worked for a couple different companies before eventually experiencing burnout. He looked up Birkey’s after seeing one of their vehicles that he describes as...
17 Jun 2026
“The Door that I Was Looking For” - Beril Mese & Taylor Black
Beril Mese, a second year Service Analyst apprentice at Allstate, originally studied music. She realized after graduating that the only path forward was academia and knew that wasn’t where she wanted to be. During her twenties she took a series of customer service jobs before pivoting to technology after teaching herself to code during the pandemic. She knew she was on the right path then but ran into a new problem: an oversaturated tech market and no tangible qualifications. So she went back...
3 Jun 2026
"More than Just a Way to Get to Work"—Revolution Workshop & Sheryl Morris
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 to do something about that. In this special episode of Th...
1 May 2026
"Seven Days to Kick-Start Your Career" - Elgin Community College & Danielle Kuglin-Seago
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 Danielle Kuglin-Seago of the College of DuPage to...
27 Apr 2026
"A Slingshot Opportunity" - Gavin Carman & John Barr
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 time but also develop the skills to thrive and become someone ...
20 Apr 2026
"You Have to Be the Catalyst for Yourself" - Sania Kamani & Debra Lawrence
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 cohort. Joining Sania is Debra Lawrence, Director of Business Serv...
10 Mar 2026
"You Belong Where You Are" - John Williams & Andrew Warrington
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) and CEO of UCC Environmental, Andrew Warrington, who reflects...
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