About Apprenticely
Changing Lives. Transforming Workforce.
Growing & Advancing the Workforce Through Registered Apprenticeship
Apprenticely, formerly the Arkansas Center for Data Sciences (ACDS), is a 501(c)3 nonprofit connecting employers with career seekers to help them attract, train, and retain top talent while also contributing to the growth of their industry and local economy. We do this through Work-Based-Learning internships, Registered Apprenticeships, and Pre-Apprenticeship training—at no cost to the employer or the career seeker.
We have helped over 250 employers transition to an additional staffing strategy—a supplemental way of finding talent to fill the positions they’ve been struggling to find candidates for. We’ve also equipped over 2,400 career seekers of all backgrounds with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to start successful careers and fill in-demand jobs available in their area.
Apprenticely is a nonprofit working to solve a two-fold problem:
- More people than ever are seeking careers but don’t have access to the training or experience they need to be successful.
- Employers are struggling to find talent with the technical and business skills to fill their open positions.
Download the 2025 Annual Report here:
Mission, Vision, and Values
Apprenticely Mission:
Implement innovative programs, foster strategic relationships, and strengthen educational pathways to bridge the skills gap between employers and talent.
Apprenticely Vision:
A vibrant, growing workforce across multiple industries is fueled by the Registered Apprenticeship model where a broad pipeline of talent is equipped to fill the workforce needs of employers.
CORNERSTONE Values:
People First
Integrity
Trusted Steward
Equity
Innovation
Meet Our Team
Our team is passionate about helping career seekers gain relevant workforce skills in top companies while supporting the employers who hire and train them.
Board of Directors
Michael Preston
CEO, CDI Contractors
Charles Morgan
Chairman, First Orion
Tom Reilley
CEO, Highland Pellets
Warren Stephens
Chairman, Stephens, Inc
Kenny Kinley
Technology Executive
Crystal Kohanke
HR Executive, Arkansas Children's Hospital
Tim McKenna
HR Executive, Simmons Bank
Blue Ribbon Commission
In 2017, former Governor Asa Hutchinson established the Blue Ribbon Commission to report on the Economic Competitiveness of Arkansas in Data Analytics and Computing (the “Commission”). The Commission, co-led by prominent industry leaders, consists of representatives from several top companies in Arkansas utilizing data analytics and computing in various industries. The Commission’s goal was to devise a plan for Arkansas to capitalize on the burgeoning data analytics and computing market, projected to reach a value of nearly $100 billion. The Commission acknowledged the significance of data analytics and computing in transforming the business landscape and saw it as vital for the state’s economic growth and job creation. Since then, they have continued to collaborate with existing companies to help them adopt data analytics and computing, making Arkansas a formidable player in the global market. The success of the Commission’s endeavors relies on the combination of short-term actions and a long-lasting public-private partnership.