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​​​​​​​Apprenticeship & Training Office (ATO)

The Apprenticeship and Training Office (ATO) within the PA Department of Labor & Industry is responsible for guiding and promoting the expansion and compliance of all Registered Apprenticeship (RA) and Pre-Apprenticeship (Pre-RA) programs across the state.  As the State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA), the ATO is responsible for overseeing the development and registration of all Registered Apprenticeship and Pre-apprenticeship related programs, agreements, policies, and ensures compliance of all registered programs with regulations and standards. The ATO is working to embed a focus on apprenticeships within the state's workforce system and continues to place an emphasis on equal opportunity standards and equitable selection procedures as well as increasing quality assurance and compliance efforts. It supports sponsors with the resources they need to implement high-quality apprenticeship programs, including the PAsmart grant program.

ATO Goals

    • Increase the number of Registered Apprenticeship (RA) opportunities in Pennsylvania.
    • Expand apprenticeship into non-traditional occupations and serve underrepresented populations.
    • Raise awareness about the benefits of Registered Apprenticeship and how to access them.
    • Advocate for apprenticeship as a premier solution to meeting workforce needs.
    • Provide programs the support and resources needed to align with PA standards and practices.
    • Ensure compliance with all regulations, standards, and guidance.

ATO Services

    • Technical Assistance: Assisting any prospective programs build, present for approval, register, and launch their program. Additionally, providing assistance to all currently registered programs to ensure they are able to properly maintain their program, enter data  and actions into the RAPIDS (which require compliance checks and balances) and other tracking systems, and build capacity as needed; ​
    • Strategic Planning and Ecosystem Building: Helping local areas create strategic plans and establish a regional approach to growing apprenticeship, and helping plan and facilitate meetings among partners, employers, training providers as needed; 
    • Knowledge Dissemination, Education, and Advocacy: This includes the creation and distribution of knowledge products specific to the PA processes, policy and standards, sharing of best practices, and continuous advocacy in the form of formal support, representation, and presentations; 
    • Funding Opportunities: Securing, managing, and distributing potential funding opportunities and providing access and information related to federal and state funding opportunities available to support apprenticeship.; 
    • Ensuring Compliance with all PA Regulations, Standards, and Legislation: This includes staff performing ongoing checks and balances and quality assurance measures for everyday program operations as well as conducting formal audits/reviews one year following registration and every 5 years after that for all registered programs.


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Meet the Team

The ATO’s staff of Apprenticeship & Training Representatives (ATRs) helps sponsors develop and register new apprenticeship programs. They provide technical assistance at every step on your journey to adopting this innovative approach to workforce development. View the ATO Region Map (PDF) to see which representative serves you.

ATO Field Division

 

Cristie Dewitt, ATR Supervisor

Drew Grasso, Southeastern ATR

Marshall Palmer, Western ATR

Joseph Bass, Central ATR

Theodore Warholic, Northern ATR

Vacant, Special Project ATR

Jared Young, Special Project ATR

Vacant, Special Project ATR

Jeanette Coleman, Job Seeker Liaison

ATO Pre-Apprenticeship Division
 

Danielle Demirovic, Pre-Apprenticeship Supervisor

Chelsea Lewellen, Pre-Apprenticeship and Training Representative

Brian Jones, Pre-Apprenticeship and Training Representative

Vacant, TBD

Vacant, TBD

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ATO Grants, Statistical Development and Compliance Division

 

Sam Primak, Grants, Statistical Development & Compliance Supervisor

William Miner, Data Specialist

Kathleen Watson, Data Specialist

David Croyle, Western Compliance ATR

Joseph Poland, Eastern Compliance ATR

ATO Administrative Support Division

 

Tara Loew, Director

Vacant, Administrative Officer

Gina Meringer, Clerical Assistant

Allie Harris, Clerical Assistant

Vacant, Contractor Assistance

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If you're not sure who to reach out to, contacting apprenticeship@pa.gov or calling our main office at (717) 787-6997 is a great way to get questions answered or to first express your interest in an apprenticeship. From there, we will ensure we either answer your questions or get you to the correct regional representative.

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Director

 
 

Tara Loew

tloew@pa.gov | 223-231-9944

Oversees all operations and staff related to the Apprenticeship and Training Office.

Clerical Assistant 2

 
 

Gina Meringer

gmeringer@pa.gov | 223-231-9961

Provides administrative support to the Apprenticeship and Training Office, staff, and partners.

Clerical Assistant 2

 
 

Allie Harris

allieharri@pa.gov | 717-787-0761

Provides administrative support to the Apprenticeship and Training Office, staff, and partners.​

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Field Apprenticeship and Training Representative Supervisor

 
 

Cristie DeWitt

cridewitt@pa.gov | 717-649-6864

Performs and supervises the day to day activities of ATR field staff and serves a variety of outreach, promotional, compliance management and technical advisory duties.

Southeastern Region Apprenticeship and​ Training Representative 

 
 

Drew Grasso​

Drgrasso@pa.gov | 267-602-4427





Western Region Apprenticeship and​ Training Representative 

 
 

Marshall Palmer​

Marpalmer@pa.gov | 724-810-6351






Central Region Apprenticeship and​ Training Representative 

 
 

Joseph Bass​

jobass@pa.gov | 717-317-7174


Northern Region Apprenticeship and​ Training Representative 

 
 

Theodore Warholic​

thwarholic@pa.gov | 570-688-7997


Special Project ATR

 
 

Jared Young

jaryoung@pa.gov | 717-781-6823

Provides technical assistance to potential or existing registered nontraditional apprenticeship/pre-apprenticeship and other special project program sponsors.

Job Seeker Liason

 
 

Jeanette Coleman

jeacoleman@pa.gov | 717-836-3050

Provides support to individuals who have expressed interest in Registered Apprenticeship and/or Pre-Apprenticeship. Works closely with program sponsors, regional Apprenticeship and Training Representatives, all Workforce Development Boards, PA CareerLink® facilities, and other organizations serving jobseekers in hopes of creating strategic and efficient pathways to Registered Apprenticeship and Pre-apprenticeship.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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Grants, Compliance, and Stats Development Supervisor

 
 

Sam Primak

sprimak@pa.gov | 717-836-3059

Supervises and guides the activities of all grants, data, statistical, and compliance staff and serves as a lead for all related procedural and policy development.​​​​​

Data Specialist ATR

 
 

William Miner

wiminer@pa.gov | 717-571-2806

Representative in charge of system management and collecting and digitizing data related to grants, programs, or individual participants in all necessary Registered Apprenticeship and Pre-Apprenticeship Systems.



Data Specialist ATR

 
 

Kathleen Watson

katwatson@pa.gov | 717-996-8570

Representative in charge of system management and collecting and digitizing data related to grants, programs, or individual participants in all necessary Registered Apprenticeship and Pre-Apprenticeship Systems.



Western Compliance ATR

 
 

David Croyle

davcroyle@pa.gov | 814-428-5049

Provides compliance and technical assistance to potential or existing registered apprenticeship/pre-apprenticeship program sponsors within the state.​
​

Eastern Compliance ATR

 
 

Joe Poland

jpoland@pa.gov | 610-447-3316

Provides compliance and technical assistance to potential or existing registered apprenticeship/pre-apprenticeship program sponsors within the state.​

Grants, Statistical Development and Special Project Specialist

 
 

Jennifer Grooms

jgrooms@pa.gov | 223-231-9595

Specializes in grants, statistical development, and special projects.

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Pre-Apprenticeship Supervisor

 
 

Danielle Demirovic

ddemirovic@pa.gov | 717-460-4474

Performs and supervises the day-to-day activities of the Pre-Apprenticeship field staff and serves a variety of outreach, promotional, compliance management and technical advisory duties.  

Pre-Apprenticeship and Training Representative

 
 

Chelsea Lewellen

clewellen@pa.gov | 724-434-5627 ext. 3142

Provides technical assistance to potential or existing pre-apprenticeship program sponsors.

Pre-Apprenticeship and Training Representative​

 
 

Brian Jones

jonebr@pa.gov | 717-996-8539

Provides technical assistance to potential or existing pre-apprenticeship program sponsors.​​

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PA Apprenticeship and Training Council (PATC)


In accordance with the Apprenticeship and Training Act of 1961, a State Apprenticeship and Training Council exists in PA as a departmental agency in the Department of Labor and Industry to act as the approving agency of registration for proposed Apprenticeship programs. The Council is committed to promoting excellence in apprenticeship through the establishment and furtherance of standards of apprenticeship and training to safeguard the welfare of apprentices and trainees.  It aims to contribute to a healthy economy by aiding in the development and maintenance of a skilled labor force sufficient in numbers and quality to meet the expanding needs of the Pennsylvania industry and to attract new industries. The specific powers and duties of the Council can be found in Section 4 of the Act (see Resources).   
  
The Council is composed of eleven voting members who are appointed by the Governor, 4 representatives of employees, 4 representatives of employers, 3 representatives of the general public, as well as five ex-officio members who provide key insight and guidance. Their diverse backgrounds and expertise around apprenticeship help them vet programs and provide suggestions for improvements. The Council’s approval of a program certifies that it meets the requirements established by the State, thereby making it eligible for government support.


PATC Meeting Agendas & Notes

You can view prior PATC meeting minutes, view upcoming meeting agendas and review reports on the newly approved apprenticeship programs during those meetings by visiting the Pennsylvania Apprenticeship and Training Council webpage​ on PA CareerLink®.​

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Archived Documents

PA.Accordion - AccordionWP

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Council Members

​Employee Members
 ​Employer Members
 ​Public Members
​Timothy Griffin
Council Co-Chairperson
 ​Lisa Godlewski
Council Chairperson
 Lisa Williams
​Robert Bair
 Barry Kindt
Gregory A. Chambers
William McGee
 Jon O'Brien​
 Cheryl Feldman​

Michael McGraw
 ​

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​Resources 


Important Terms and Abbreviations

ATO - Apprenticeship and Training Office, guides and promotes the expansion of apprenticeship programs across Pennsylvania.

ATR - Apprenticeship Training Representative, staff that assists partners develop and register apprenticeship programs

SAA - State Apprenticeship Agency, oversees the development and approval of apprenticeship programs

PATC - Pennsylvania Apprenticeship and Training Council, approves or denies proposed apprenticeship programs

PA CareerLink® - An initiative to connect Pennsylvanian job-seekers with employers

PAsmart - An initiative to connect Pennsylvanians with resources to work, learn, or train in the state


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