News
ATTAIN Facilities and Elevator/Escalator Maintenance Meeting
Posted October 2024
On September 17, TWC held a virtual American Transit Training and Apprenticeship Innovators Network (ATTAIN) meeting on registered apprenticeships for maintenance occupations in transit, which highlighted two individual apprenticeship programs at Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT). The meeting brought together ATTAIN members and anyone interested in starting or expanding an apprenticeship program.
Senior Policy Analyst Karitsa Holdzkom opened the meeting with a presentation outlining available TWC resources and the steps needed to develop and implement an apprenticeship program and register it with the relevant office of apprenticeship. BART’s Superintendent for Elevator/Escalator Vince Bevilacqua and Operations Training Supervisor Jeff Gon discussed the elevator/escalator maintenance apprenticeship registered jointly with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 1021, highlighting key apprenticeship program outcomes, such as BART workers access to career pathways and a now fully staffed and certified maintenance department.
PRT’s Training Support Administrator Alex Kumnik and Assistant Director of Bus and Rail Training Michael Siegel, along with ATU Local 85 President, Ross Nicotero, discussed the building maintenance apprenticeship’s impacts, with President Nicotero emphasizing the benefits to his members in entry-level positions and its alignment with industry best practices and the priorities of the international union. Alex and Michael provided a detailed breakdown of the apprenticeship’s costs, the positive return on investment, and the grant funding available from their county that will further offset some of the costs of the program. Senior Advisor for Workforce Development and Technology Jason Macumber facilitated a panel discussion with the presenters to underscore some of the lessons learned, followed by audience questions, feedback, and a valuable exchange of ideas.
If you missed the live meeting, the recording and presentation slides are available in TWC’s Resource Center.
For more information about apprenticeship and future ATTAIN meetings, contact Karitsa Holdzkom at kholdzkom@transportcenter.org.
