German American Apprenticeship Conference 2022

The German American Chamber of Commerce Apprenticeship Conference and Award will be held in Atlanta, GA on November 10. Sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the conference program will focus on workforce development strategies and key projects. A high point of the event will be the GACC Apprenticeship Award ceremony during which one company will be honored for their leadership and innovation in workforce development excellence in their implementation of a German-certified apprenticeship program in the US. The award honors their investment in education and the creation of valuable career pathways.

Target audience: educators (technical college representatives, high school college and career academies); manufacturers (C suite, HR, plant managers); economic developers; political stakeholders.

Preliminary Agenda
8:00 am – Registration and Breakfast
9:00 am- Welcome Remarks

• Matthias Hoffmann, President & CEO, GACC South
• Dr Melanie Moltmann, Consul General, German Consulate General Atlanta
• Alexander Hochradel, German Federal Ministry of Education and Research

9:30 am- Morning Keynote

9:45 am- Workforce of the Future: How does apprenticeship training prepare employees for present and future manufacturing challenges?

• Panelist: Larry Alford, Ga Tech/GA Manufacturing Extension Partnership

10:30 am – Coffee Break
10:45 am- In Conversation: Mentor + Apprentice

11:00 am- Cluster Cooperation: Technical Colleges, Employers and Intermediaries

• Panelist: Mark Whitlock, CEO, Central Education Center

12:00 am- Lunch Keynote & German American Apprenticeship Award Presentation

1:30 pm- Foreign Direct Investment: How can communities foster local programs to develop a skilled workforce?

• Panelist: Justin Haight, Industry Partnerships Manager, United Way of Greater Atlanta
• Panelist: Manuele D’Aversa, CEO & General Manager, Linde + Wiemann

2:30 pm- Beyond Manufacturing: Piloting German-style Apprenticeships in diverse occupations

• Panelist: Astrid Friedrich, HWK Süd Thüringen
• Panelist: Thomas Dedek, HWK Süd Thüringen
• Panelist: Lutz Kallnbach, HWK Süd Thüringen

Moderated by: Matthew Allen, Director of Careers & Education, German American Chamber of Commerce

3:15 am – End of Official Conference Program
3:20 pm – Networking & Coffee
4:00 pm – Conference End

Keynote Speaker:

Melanie Moltmann, Consul General at German Consulate General in Atlanta

Confirmed Speakers: 

Workforce of the Future

–Larry Alford, Region Manager, Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership

Preparing for FDI

–Justin Haight, Industry Partnerships Manager, United Way of Greater Atlanta

–Manuele D’Aversa, CEO, & General Manager,  Linde + Wiemann