When Abigail Ortiz first heard about the Modern Apprenticeship Program (MAP) in her high school personal finance class, she didn’t know it would change her life. At the time, she was navigating a world turned upside down by the pandemic—remote learning, uncertainty, and constant adjustments. But that same environment taught her something valuable: adaptability.
That willingness to embrace change became a defining theme in Abigail’s story.
What is the Modern Apprenticeship Program?
MAP is an innovative 2–3 year program for Central Indiana high school students that combines paid, hands-on work experience with college credit and professional skill development. Students work about 15–20 hours per week while completing high school, gaining real-world experience and industry-recognized credentials in fields like business, IT, and advanced manufacturing.
For employers, MAP is a long-term investment in talent development. Companies gain early access to motivated students, shape their skills to meet business needs, and build a pipeline of future employees.
Finding the Right Fit Through Connection
When Abigail applied for MAP, she had options. She received offers from both AES Indiana and the City of Indianapolis. What made her choose AES? A human connection.
“What really made me choose AES Indiana was the initial connection I had with my supervisor,” Abigail says. “She was welcoming and warm and made me feel like I was going to be supported throughout the whole apprenticeship.”
That sense of support gave Abigail the confidence to dive into real-world business challenges.
“I had the chance to support a lot of different work at AES, but the most important part was being exposed to a real-world business environment,” she explains. “I got to see how things operate on a day-to-day basis.”
Through these experiences, Abigail developed critical soft skills—initiative, time management, empathy—and learned how to communicate professionally and juggle multiple priorities.
Why Employers Choose MAP
MAP helps employers tap into diverse talent pools—building strong talent pipelines to meet both short- and long-term staffing needs.
“The standout feature of the program is its practicality. Apprentices begin contributing immediately, and by the time they graduate, they are fully integrated into our culture and processes,” says Lauren Hutto, Manager, Global Collaborations at AES. “This makes it a strategic investment in all our futures.”
Employers who partner with MAP see measurable benefits:
Stronger Workforce Pipeline: Apprentices start contributing immediately while preparing for long-term roles.
High Retention: 91% of apprentices stay with their employer after completing the program.
Positive ROI: For every $1 invested, employers see an average return of $1.47.
Flexibility: Apprentices can work in-person, remote, or hybrid, contributing ~20 hours weekly.
Community Impact: Companies help build a stronger local workforce ecosystem.
The Ripple Effect of Opportunity
For Abigail, the impact of this apprenticeship didn’t stop at workplace skills. It opened doors Abigail never imagined.
“The program helped me build emotional intelligence, professional confidence, and leadership skills,” she says. “It also helped me earn a full-ride scholarship to the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.”
Today, Abigail is a junior at IU, planning to explore careers in bilingual communications and community impact work. While she’s considering returning to AES, she’s also open to joining other companies in Indianapolis who share a commitment to investing in the future of students like herself.
Why This Matters
Abigail’s story is proof that flexibility and innovation in workforce development create life-changing opportunities for individuals as well as measurable results for businesses. By piloting creative solutions like the Modern Apprenticeship Program, EmployIndy is helping build a confident and resilient workforce.
Want to learn how your organization can benefit from innovative workforce strategies? Message us at [email protected] to explore partnership opportunities.
On Thursday afternoon, over 70 local employers, workforce leaders, and education partners gathered at Lucas Oil Stadium for Untapped, a panel and networking event designed to help local employers tackle their workforce challenges through proven work-based learning (WBL) strategies and apprenticeship-tailored solutions. Powered by EmployIndy and Ascend Indiana, the event featured panel discussions and breakout sessions designed to highlight real-world strategies tailored to the Indy region, empowering employers to confidently integrate work-based learning into their talent pipelines—and unlock the full potential of the next generation workforce.
“We’re thrilled to help bring together our city’s workforce leaders in effort to network, learn and collaborate as we work to grow the work-based learning movement in our region,” says Marie Mackintosh, EmployIndy’s President + CEO. “We believe in the power of WBL and apprenticeships to not only help employers develop the next generation of talent but also shift their current workplace culture in new and valuable ways.”
Talent experts from EmployIndy, Ascend Indiana, Indy Chamber, Aracamed, and the Indianapolis Airport Authority provided insights and guidance on topics like unlocking the power of WBL, launching and scaling WBL programs, preparing participants for success, integrating inclusivity, and more.
As students face increasing challenges in preparing for meaningful and sustainable careers, and employers express concern about the lack of skilled and diverse workers who can meet their evolving demands, EmployIndy is working to connect youth with real-world work experiences that align with emerging economic trends to fill these gaps. Last year, 48,220 WBL and career-connected learning activities were facilitated or supported by EmployIndy, including 142 Modern Apprenticeship Program (MAP) youth apprentices at 12 Marion County high schools. Additionally, 599 employers delivered career exploration, engagement, and experience activities to Marion County K–12 and postsecondary students.
What We Heard from Employers
Throughout the event, several key themes emerged from our conversations with employers:
Start small, learn, try, learn again.
Hope is not a strategy. To stand out and fill talent gaps, you have to take initiative.
Intermediary partners can help growth, but internal champions and flexibility will make it stick.
WBL transforms teams from task managers into talent mentors.
Success isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing the right things with the right partners.
What’s Next
This conversation was just the beginning. Coming soon, we’ll host a series of small roundtable events focused on key topics such as legal considerations, student preparation, and managing WBL programs as they grow.
And the momentum is strong—100% of employers who responded to our follow-up survey said they would recommend Untapped to others. We’re excited to continue the conversation and build on this energy at our next event. Please be on the lookout for future communications from EmployIndy about our next event.
To get connected to WBL resources and learn how this talent strategy can take your organization to the next level, reach out to [email protected].
“MAP is like a Willy Wonka golden ticket that employers just have to cash in,” says Chad Smith, Chief Personnel Officer at Plastic Recycling, Inc. “The high quality and character of the applicants we have seen just blew my mind. The focus and maturity of the students we interviewed have been really impressive.”
Modern Apprenticeship combines on-the-job learning with paid employment, college credit, and the prospect of earning industry credentials. Not only does the program give students a unique ability to multiply their options after high school, but it also allows employers to tap into diverse pools of young talent and invest in building quality talent pipelines.
In the fall of 2020, EmployIndy partnered with Ascend Indiana to launch Modern Apprenticeship, also known as MAP, a three-year program that offers many pathways to success by ensuring Marion County high school students have the requisite skills they need to thrive in the growing 21st-century industries like financial services, business operations, healthcare, and information technology. Over 30 employers from Marion County participate in the Modern Apprenticeship program, including Plastic Recycling, which has offered four Youth Apprentices for Cohort II.
Plastic Recycling, Inc. was established in 1988 as the need for quality and economic methods of plastic recycling continued to grow. The company sought to not only benefit the environment but invest in premier customer services as well. Today, Plastic Recycling, Inc. retains the same principles of focusing and committing to excellence as the founders used when launching the company almost four decades ago.
Chad Smith, Chief Personnel Officer at Plastic Recycling, has participated in Modern Apprenticeship since its launch. Smith indicated that the program provided Plastic Recycling with the opportunity to expand its external partnerships while investing in local youth. The company was thrilled to connect with Marion County schools as a source of qualified talent.
“We have extended 2 offers for Maintenance Tech through the Modern Apprenticeship program which is a position in high demand yet low supply of qualified workers,” says Smith. “We have had difficulty finding individuals with experience or expertise in the area. I see MAP as a way to grow our own and meet our talent needs.”
Plastic Recycling currently processes 100 million pounds a year of recycled materials a year and is looking to grow to 400 million pounds of recycled materials to keep out of landfills. But, the organization needs to develop team members to scale its capacity to that extent. Along with the Maintenance Tech positions, Plastic Recycling is also hiring Youth Apprentices for an HR Associate and Manufacturing Tech.
Is your organization looking to invest in its short- and long–term talent strategies? Connect with the Business Partnerships team at EmployIndy to find out how you can get involved with programs like Modern Apprenticeship.
Two-and-a-half years after the world shut down for Covid-19, and well into what has become known as The Great Resignation, as well as the trend of “quiet quitting,” many employers and even whole industries are scrambling to figure out how to close historical and new talent gaps.
Meanwhile, Chief Personnel Officer at Indianapolis’s Plastic Recycling, Chad Smith, is a military veteran, and it is that background that shaped his conviction that focusing on leadership development and recruiting a diverse workforce can produce the kind of creative thinking that leads to innovation at a company like the one he works for, which he says has “grown from a mom-and-pop business to a much larger operation.
Smith’s words are backed up by Plastic Recycling’s participation from the employer side in an Advanced Manufacturing program that EmployIndy and PACE have partnered together on to help “opportunity youth”—18-to-24-year-olds—get on a career pathway. Participants in the program earn an ADVA credential and are placed in a short-term work experience at a local employer before hopefully beginning full-time work in what can become a career. Six program participants recently visited Plastic Recycling early on in the course for what EmployIndy’s Talent Bound program calls a “talent tour.”
It’s not Talent Bound’s only connection to Plastic Recycling. The company is also a participant in the second cohort of the Modern Apprenticeship Program, which provides high school students from Marion County high schools with the opportunity for a paid, three-year apprenticeship in an industry they’re interested in, and which provides area employers an opportunity to build some of their own diverse talent.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled with our three apprentices so far,” Smith said. He also mentioned that Plastic Recycling was so impressed with the candidates for those positions that the process of narrowing them down was quite difficult.
Plastic Recycling’s participation and partnership with EmployIndy is off to an enthusiastic and promising start, but putting on an Advanced Manufacturing program requires more than one employer, and Peerless Pump also hosted the program’s participants for a talent tour.
“The Talent Bound program offers us a unique avenue for providing people with exposure to our company, as well as a different way to connect with talent,” said Peerless Pump’s Human Resources Director, Tammy Poulson.
Peerless Pump produces products that contribute to water cleanliness around the world, and Poulson mentioned that the company is coming up on a big 100th anniversary of doing business, for which there will, of course, be a big celebration for its employees.
Like Plastic Recycling, the fall Advanced Manufacturing program is not Peerless Pump’s only connection to EmployIndy. The Marion County company was recently approved for a Next Level Jobs Employer Training Grant, which will provide a number of current employees and new hires the opportunity to upskill via a Machinist Advancement program. As a workforce development board, EmployIndy is one of the state entities that distributes this funding.
Is your business interested in learning more about one of the opportunities highlighted above or exploring a partnership with EmployIndy? You can reach out to our Business Partnerships team via [email protected] to begin strengthening your talent pipeline today.
EmployIndy’s Modern Apprenticeship Program (MAP) offers an avenue for employers to build their own employment talent—especially in areas where they might be having a hard time finding qualified enough candidates for needed positions—and for young talent and future workforce to gain access to high-demand career areas.
Apprentices are supported throughout the program by EmployIndy Youth Apprenticeship Managers (YAMs) and participating businesses by Account Managers on EmployIndy’s Business Partnership team.
EmployIndy recently sat down with Joy Coates, Markle Foundation’s Senior Manager of National Delivery Partnerships, to learn more about how the experience of a cohort one apprentice, Fatoumata, has been progressing. Fatoumata is now a senior at Pike High School, and part of Coates’ role includes supervision over Fatoumata’s apprenticeship experience.
Markle, which been focused on workforce development since 2013, is working to expand access to quality jobs for all Americans.
“We’re always looking for ways to make a lasting impact,” Coates said, with MAP apparently fitting that bill for cohort one and again for cohort two.
Coates mentioned that Fatoumata’s role as a project coordinator “may be more complicated than the average apprenticeship,” and emphasized the need for intentionality in trying to connect tasks like business writing, “tactical” projects, and which meetings to include Fatoumata in on. Through this apprenticeship, she has honed her occupational and foundational skills and gained valuable work experience that will hopefully support Fatoumata in her goal of becoming an immigration lawyer in the future.
“Fatoumata has always been willing to learn,” Coates said, and it doesn’t hurt that Coates has a coaching background herself. Coates admitted that her apprentice is, by nature, a reserved person and that one of the initial challenges was in working with her to feel comfortable enough to speak up, especially when she needed help.
It should be noted that these dynamics can be true about new employees anywhere, but that’s even more reason to pay attention to the experience of a high school student who may be facing her first meaningful professional experience. Coates cautioned that this is not the same as assuming a high school student doesn’t know anything, which of course they do, even in their initial nervousness.
As evidence that the program is working for both her organization and for its apprentice, Coates emphasized Fatoumata’s increasing “self-agency.” A great example of this, Coates notes, is how Fatoumata has become more confident in building relationships and taking on new projects with different team members.
Part of the initial design of a MAP experience involves the creation of competencies that will drive the skill development of an apprentice, and Coates has witnessed Fatoumata “scaffolding” in the right direction and even holding herself accountable to the framework.
Coates is optimistic that this growth in Fatoumata will pay dividends in the future, and that by completion of the program, Sylla may just be ready to take the lead on small projects herself.
EmployIndy is currently recruiting for its third cohort of businesses who want to be involved in MAP; interested parties can reach out to Wendy Parker, Senior Business Development Manager for Modern Apprenticeship, at [email protected].
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.
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
This week, EmployIndy is celebrating National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) to showcase the successes and value of apprenticeships for building new career pathways that address both the talent shortages that continue to challenge businesses across Central Indiana and the desire from workers for more options for obtaining good jobs.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, NAW is a nationwide celebration taking place from November 17-23, 2024, where employers, industry representatives, labor organizations, community-based organizations, workforce partners, educational institutions, and federal, state, and local government agencies host events to showcase the successes and value of Registered Apprenticeships for strengthening our economy by developing a highly skilled workforce to meet industry needs, creating pathways for career seekers to catapult into good jobs, and advancing racial and gender equity.
As Marion County’s workforce intermediary, EmployIndy plays a key role in supporting the apprenticeship movement for job seekers and employers in Indianapolis. Through our Modern Apprenticeship Program (MAP), we’ve placed 142 youth apprentices with 46 local employers, providing a strategic solution for employers to close the skills gap while developing a workforce prepared to meet future demands. For the student, MAP helps them gain hands-on job experience and an opportunity to earn money, college credit, and professional connections in growing fields such as business, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and information technology (IT), resulting in more options when deciding what comes next after high school.
EmployIndy also supports pre-apprenticeship programs that puts individuals on a path to financial stability in trades like construction. Through YouthBuild Indy, EmployIndy offers young people the opportunity to obtain industry certifications, develop job readiness skills, receive adult basic education preparation, and hands-on paid work experiences. A graduate of the program, Anthony Parish, was recently nationally recognized by YouthBuild USA for his outstanding leadership through service.
EmployIndy and our network of Community-Based Organizations (CBO) also help job seekers identify and take advantage of unique pathways to good jobs including pre-apprenticeship programs like Indiana Plan which provides construction training to minorities and disadvantaged workers in Indiana. This summer, Joseph Webster, a job seeker struggling with housing insecurity and transportation barriers, benefitted from our connections within the workforce ecosystem. After obtaining his OSHA 30 certification through EmployIndy CBO partners Key2Work and RecycleForce, Webster was referred by EmployIndy to Indiana Plan where he became a standout member of his training cohort and ultimately secured an apprenticeship with Central Midwest Carpenters.
EmployIndy’s leadership in the apprenticeship space extends through our role as a convener of apprenticeship stakeholders as well. In September, Indianapolis hosted the 2024 National Youth Apprenticeship Summit. Alongside our partners CareerWise USA and PAYA, who organized the conference, EmployIndy helped highlight the importance of collaboration between intermediaries, like us, who are key to scaling youth apprenticeships. We also led site visits at several of our MAP employers to give summit attendees a look into the workplaces where our youth apprentices are making a real impact.
Additionally, to maximize the reach of National Apprenticeship Week and call upon partner organizations and apprenticeship stakeholders throughout Central Indiana to recognize the value of Registered Apprenticeship, Mayor Joe Hogsett and the City of Indianapolis have partnered with EmployIndy to recognize National Apprenticeship Week in Indianapolis through an official mayoral proclamation.
We encourage you to join us this week in celebrating the recent growth and impact of apprenticeships in Marion County while looking forward to the progress ahead.
EmployIndy is proud to celebrate our partnership with OneAmerica Financial, a company demonstrating its commitment to workforce equity and economic mobility. Having recently been certified through EmployIndy’s Good Wages Initiative (GWI), OneAmerica has pledged to provide competitive wages that support the financial stability of their employees. By committing to paying at least $18 per hour and offering health insurance benefits that promote long-term career growth, they are setting a strong example for employers across Indianapolis.
“We believe every OneAmerica Financial associate should have a path to achieve financial certainty through a career that enables their overall success,” said J. Scott Davison, chairman, president, and CEO of OneAmerica Financial. “Our vision is to build financial security for today and generations to come, which applies to our associates as much as our customers.”
Beyond their commitment to fair wages, OneAmerica is also partnering with EmployIndy’s Modern Apprenticeship Program (MAP) to take a proactive approach in addressing their talent pipeline needs through youth apprenticeship. Having hired five apprentices to date, two of which have completed the program, they provide students, like Zion Peterson, with hands-on experience in financial services while they complete their high school education. By fostering early career pathways, OneAmerica is not only equipping young professionals with valuable skills, mentorship, and opportunities for long-term success, they’re finding a strategic solution to close the skills gap and co-develop their next generation of workers.
“The partnership between OneAmerica and EmployIndy is invaluable, as it exemplifies a shared commitment to supporting a quality workforce and economic mobility,” said Jay Styles, Senior Vice President of Partnerships and Talent Connections at EmployIndy. “By providing competitive wages and fostering early career pathways, OneAmerica is setting a powerful example for other employers and creating meaningful opportunities for the community.”
To learn how your company can partner with EmployIndy to build workforce equity and economic mobility in our city, send us a note at [email protected] to get the conversation started.
For Abigail, the impact of this apprenticeship didn’t stop at workplace skills. It opened doors Abigail never imagined.