On February 5-6, WFSDallas’ Senior Innovation Manager, Lynn Hoffman, and Innovation Specialist, Ike Bogard, attended the 2nd Annual Apprenticeship for America (AFA) Summit in Washington, D.C. The event brought together over 262 apprenticeship stakeholders to explore the latest developments in practice, policy, and research.
The Summit featured a series of breakout sessions on key topics, including:
- The evolving roles of intermediaries
- Apprenticeship recruitment and pipeline development
- Sustainability and scaling
- State and regional policy and practice
- Community colleges and apprenticeship integration
- Degrees and apprenticeship pathways
- Sector-specific strategies
- Advancing equitable access and success in apprenticeships
- Youth apprenticeship initiatives
DFW Apprenticeship Accelerator Featured on National Stage
Hoffman was a featured co-presenter in the session “Regional Approaches to Increase and Improve Apprenticeship,” which examined how regional labor markets and community partnerships drive apprenticeship expansion. The session highlighted how organizing people, data, and institutions can accelerate apprenticeship adoption and economic growth.
Using Dallas and the Bay Area as case studies, the session explored strategies to enhance apprenticeship opportunities at both the regional and national levels. Hoffman shared insights from the DFW Apprenticeship Accelerator, a collaborative initiative designed to support employer adoption of Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) and build sustainable talent pipelines.
Panel Presenters:
- Lynn Hoffman, Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas
- John Dunn, California Community Colleges
- Mala Thakur, National Association of Workforce Boards
About Apprenticeships for America
Apprenticeships for America (AFA) is dedicated to unlocking the full potential of apprenticeships as a driver of economic prosperity. AFA advocates for expanded apprenticeship funding, the growth of Registered Apprenticeship Programs, and increased public awareness of these transformative career pathways.
To learn more about AFA, visit https://apprenticeshipsforamerica.org.
