Tim Lampkin has been selected as a consultant to coordinate a regional apprenticeship program involving A-B Tech, Blue Ridge, Haywood, Isothermal and Southwestern community colleges. Specifically, his charge is to organize industry and educators to create a regional apprenticeship collaborative which will strengthen the areas workforce for the foreseeable future.
Lampkin came to Asheville in 2005 to pursue a career with the Asheville Chamber of Commerce. During his 13-year tenure with the chamber he served as the Director of Sales for the Asheville Convention and Visitors Center and later became the Director of Business Expansion and Retention. In this economic development role, he also headed up the chamber's workforce development efforts and is a past fellow of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives Fellowship for Education & Talent Development.
He has extensive business contacts in Western North Carolina and a sincere passion to better connect businesses, education, and the rising workforce. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee School of Business and graduated with honors.
The apprenticeship effort is funded by a grant administered by ApprenticeshipNC and is focused on creating an industry collaborative to promote and implement apprenticeships in a variety of industries. Right now, WNC has a shortage of skilled workers in manufacturing, hospitality, and healthcare. In many areas of the state and country, collaborative apprenticeship programs are successful in attracting and training a skilled workforce. In North Carolina there are successful collaboratives in the Triangle, Greensboro, Charlotte and Gastonia, and other communities as well.
“The key to a successful program is industry leadership. It is imperative the program is led by our local business leaders," Lampkin said. “For students, an apprenticeship can be a great career start. Apprenticeship programs offer an associate degree or credential, on the job experience, a continually increasing wage, and a Journeyman certification. Best of all, students won’t leave college with a pile of debt. In most cases, educational costs are covered by grants or the sponsoring company.”
A strong workforce is critical to our region's long-term economic success. The people of Western North Carolina are famous for their work ethic and ingenuity, they are problems solvers by trade or birth, it is hard to say, according to Lampkin.
A high profile, apprenticeship collaborative will help the region's youth find the career and education combination that best suits their individual strengths. It is a win for industry, our region, and the students seeking the next or first career step. Lampkin is working with industry, educational leaders, and regional business associations to get the program started. A strong regional collaborative can be a significant part of the solution to our area's workforce needs.
“U.S. manufacturers need workers, but are reporting serious gaps in worker’s skills,” said Kevin Kimrey, Economic and Workforce Development Director at A-B Tech. “Many economic and workforce development professionals, educators, federal and state government entities, and European-based companies have suggested apprenticeship programs as a possible solution. Many European-based companies, where apprenticeship is prevalent, have located in the United States in recent years, and many, particularly automotive manufacturers, have located in the Southeast.”