BUILDING A SKILLED WORKFORCE: LOCAL GCA COMPANIES ARE EXAMPLES OF QUALITY APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS

In this space, I’ve shared how your company can start an apprenticeship program and how to pay for it. Apprenticeship is an industry-driven, high-quality career track. Employers develop their workforce, and individual employees obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction, mentorship, and a nationally-recognized NCCER credential.

125 apprenticeships are currently enrolled in the GCA sponsored apprenticeship program under 11 companies. These companies strive to improve the quality of their workforce with on-the-job site and classroom instruction at the GCA Trades Academy.

While many companies excel with their apprenticeship program, I have four examples of local companies who are going above and beyond with the development of their workforce. These GCA member companies serve as outstanding examples for other businesses seeking to establish an apprenticeship program.

My first example is GESI. They joined the apprenticeship program in 2016, and currently have 11 apprentices in the HVAC and electrical fields. I have a good line of communication established with them. They are always asking for status updates, not only with their on the job training hours but also with available GCA Trades Academy classes.

JWS has been in the program since 2010 with nine apprentices in HVAC. They're very good at choosing their apprentices. The apprentices are very active. They submit their reports in a timely manner and also they're really good at going to school and taking classes on time.

Phoenix Pacific has been in the program since 2012. They have 10 apprentices in the Electronic Systems Technician category. The company is very proactive on making sure the apprentices are going to class. The company looks for additional training opportunities on top of apprenticeship.

SE Construction joined the apprenticeship program in 2016. They have eight apprentices in the electrical and HVAC fields. What I appreciate about SE is they invite me to their office to do meetings with their employees about joining the apprenticeship program.

Your company can join the growing community of apprentices in Guam’s construction industry. 125 apprentices are currently employed, getting paid, increasing their skills, and furthering their education.

Guam is fortunate to have a growing number of women in the construction industry. Read on to learn about a couple of talented sisters who are playing their part in the building of Guam.

The Sisters: Meet Grace and Maria Mercado, who decided to pursue their education and careers in engineering. The older of the sisters, Grace, was born in the Philippines and moved to Guam with her family when she was five years old. She later received a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering (2014), then in 2015 completed an emphasis in Geotechnical/Materials Engineering, both from Iowa State University. Maria returned to Guam in 2022 and holds an Engineering-In-Training (EIT/ET) license and certification. She is now a Project Manager for a local contractor.

Maria, the younger sister, also attended college off island, receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from UCLA (2009), and a Masters degree in Biomedical