INDIANAPOLIS – 26 July 2023 – EmployIndy, Marion County’s Workforce Development Board, is thrilled to announce that Ken Clark has accepted the position of executive vice president, finance and operations where he will lead all aspects of the organization's financial, administrative, operational and human resources strategy, systems and protocols. In this role, his leadership will drive the organization towards operational excellence in service of EmployIndy's strategic goals and efforts to serve underrepresented residents with transformational workforce development services that advance economic mobility. 

“With Ken’s track record of optimizing financial performance, building high-performing teams and driving operational efficiencies, we’re excited to have him join the team and contribute to our important mission and vision,” said Marie Mackintosh, president and CEO of EmployIndy. Ken comes to EmployIndy from the City of Indianapolis & Marion County, where he spent over 3 years as the city controller and director of the office of finance and management. Ken has tremendous experience leading IT operations and finance in his previous roles, most notably chief information officer and chief financial officer at the Information Services Agency (ISA), including running IT strategy and operations that support the city’s departments as well as leading the restructure of the IT expense and revenue models. Ken’s work at the ISA earned the city and himself the Mira Award for Corporate Innovator of the Year and the IBJ’s CTO of the Year award in 2018. 

“I am excited to continue supporting the City of Indianapolis in this new role with EmployIndy. Witnessing EmployIndy grow their services and support our community through the economic turmoil of the pandemic and subsequent recovery has inspired me,” said Clark. “I look forward to furthering their vision of preparing Marion County residents for the workforce to secure livable wages and grow in careers while meeting employer demand for talent.” 

Clark joins the organization shortly after the announcement of its 2023-2025 Strategic Plan, grounded in four primary interventions: Career-Connected Learning, Coaching and Training, Talent Connection, and Job Quality. This plan will serve as the guiding commitment to Marion County while EmployIndy continues to be responsive to the evolving education, training, and career needs of the ecosystem as its workforce leader and intermediary.

Participating students throughout Central Indiana sign a certificate of acceptance as they begin their three-year apprenticeship journey.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind (July 15, 2023) – EmployIndy and Ascend Indiana proudly introduced the third cohort of students and employers participating in the Modern Apprenticeship Program (MAP) at the 2023 Modern Apprenticeship Signing Day event. Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett was on hand Saturday, July 15, recognizing the 34 Marion County rising high school juniors who have accepted positions with 20 local employer partners. Those students were able to meet their new employers and be publicly recognized during the 2023 Modern Apprenticeship Signing Day event at Shortridge High School.

MAP is the highest-caliber experience offered through Talent Bound, EmployIndy’s career-connected learning continuum. This three-year program connects Marion County high school students with local employers, providing a path toward discovering passions and developing skills to help them thrive in growing and in-demand industries, including healthcare, information technology, education, business operations, financial services, and more.

“The Modern Apprenticeship Program has placed nearly 112 youth apprentices to date, with the goal of connecting 5,000 apprentices to employers by 2030.” says Marie Mackintosh, President and CEO of EmployIndy. “We are so excited to watch cohort three and each apprentice as they enter into this next chapter of their personal and professional life.”

This third cohort of 34 apprentices were chosen from over 462 applicants to participate in MAP. Beginning their junior year of high school, apprentices split their time between the classroom and the workplace—earning their high school diploma, as well as an hourly income, college credits, industry certifications and credentials, and first-hand, relevant job experience—multiplying their options after graduation.

“As educators, we work hard to encourage the early college experience,” said IPS Deputy Superintendent Andrew Strope.“Through MAP, we can take this commitment a step further by providing an associate degree and real-world experience with a local, quality employer, which can be a life-changing opportunity.”

As a talent strategy, MAP helps employers tap into diverse talent pools—building strong talent pipelines to meet both short- and long-term staffing needs. The program creates a structure for employers to be part of workforce solutions while removing barriers, so all Marion County students have equitable access to career-ready training and jobs in high-demand fields.

“Our Modern Apprenticeship Signing Day event marks the beginning of the apprentice-employer journey as the students sign a formal certificate of acceptance for their positions,” says Mackintosh. “As part of this commitment, the employer will mentor and support the student as they navigate an in-demand role within their respective organization.”

EmployIndy, Marion County’s workforce development board, and Ascend Indiana, the talent and workforce development initiative of Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), actively support the apprentices, employers, and general programmatic outcomes for Modern Apprenticeship.

To learn more about Modern Apprenticeship (MAP), visit www.indymodernapprenticeship.com.

Congratulations to the third cohort of Modern Apprenticeship students and employer partners:

1.Edward Webster, Arsenal Tech High School, 100 Black Men

2.Gift Akintomide, Ben Davis University High School, AES

3.Cameron Morris, George Washington High School, Arcamed

4.Jaida Okello, North Central High School, Ascend Indiana

5.Chrystan McNeal, Purdue Polytechnic HS-North, Ascension

6.Lah'Mya Kelly, North Central High School, Ascension

7.Denise Uwanjeneza, Ben Davis High School, Ascension

8.Sandrine Ishimwe, Ben Davis University High School, Ascension

9.Daniela Rojo-Vazquez, Ben Davis University High School, Ascension

10.Nayouna Maximilien, George Washington High School, AYS

11.Alexis Sammy, North Central High School, Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP)

12.Ben Klein, North Central High School, Conexus Indiana

13.LeNiya Williams, Pike High School, EmployIndy

14.Darriana Carrington, Pike High School, EmployIndy

15.Friztjeena Jean, GEO Academies, GEO Next Gen High School

16.Caitlynn Faulkner, Ben Davis University High School, Indianapolis Airport Authority

17.Faith Ajibola, Pike High School, Indianapolis Airport Authority

18.Liliana Valdez, Ben Davis University High School, Ivy Tech

19.Jonathan Rodriguez-Aguilar, Ben Davis University High School, Ivy Tech

20.Olumuyiwa Akinbobola, Pike High School, Ivy Tech

21.Andrea Perez, Pike High School, Ivy Tech

22.Kayleigh Reyes, Pike High School, Ivy Tech

23.Brandon Zepada, Ben Davis University High School, Ivy Tech

24.Luis Cazares, Arsenal Tech High School, Lenex Steel

25.Atlantis Lynch, North Central High School, Lutheran Child and Family Services (LCFS)

26.Confidence Korrie, Purdue Polytechnic High School-Englewood, Lutheran Child and Family Services (LCFS)

27.Jasmine Gettis, Pike High School, Mattison

28.Natasha Borel, North Central High School, Marion County Commission on Youth (MCCOY)

29.Matthew Barthauer, Purdue Polytechnic High School-North, Plastic Recycling, Inc.

30.Kyla Epps, Beech Grove High School, RATP Dev

31.Jaylen Hill, North Central High School, Roche

32.Lynae Gude, North Central High School, Roche

33.Atziri Reyes, North Central High School, Roche

34.Da'Naya Freeman, Ben Davis University High School, United Way of Central Indiana