The Director’s Chair

FIRST OF ALL, be sure to read this month’s Q & A with National Public Radio correspondent Andrea Hsu, the reporter who came to Little Rock earlier this year and ended up producing two NPR pieces on apprenticeships and Arkansas’ prominent role in helping make this alternative hiring strategy the national success that it has become (links at the end of the Q & A). The NPR coverage has given both the State of Arkansas and Apprenticely a bit of well-deserved recognition, and we’re feeling the result of that in the increased number of “technical assistance” inquiries we’re getting from around the country.

Couple this heightened awareness with the Department of Labor’s new “pay for performance” incentives for Registered Apprenticeships across a number of industry sectors, and I think we’ll soon see an impressive number of new entrants using apprenticeships to custom build the particular workforces they need. Apprenticeships are a sound strategy guaranteeing solid outcomes, and we give the DOL high praise for the new grant model.

In other news, I am personally testing that old chestnut of a theorem, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” I’m four weeks into a 14-week A.I. training program, and I’m finding “prompting exercises” to be great fun and the almost-instant results nothing short of amazing. ChatGPT has played the roles of Executive Coach for efficiency improvements; renowned Marketing Guru with deep experience in Web Design (and suggestions for our website); and an experienced Funding Consultant with a goal of sustainability. All for $20 a month. New Best Friend. More reports to follow.

–Bill Yoder
Executive Director