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MAX Announces Speaker Lineup for MAX Academy on Mastering Apprenticeships, Presented by Google

April 20, 2026

Apprenticeships are a proven, high-impact workforce strategy that align education with real-world industry needs. By combining paid, hands-on training with structured classroom instruction, apprenticeships create clear pathways to skilled careers while enabling employers to develop talent tailored to their specific workforce demands.

During our next MAX Academy, presented by Google, participants will be led into a comprehensive deep dive into the structure, strategy, and success factors of high-quality apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. Designed for workforce professionals, the Academy will explore the full lifecycle of apprenticeship development—from foundational concepts to measurable outcomes. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the differences and connections between apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships, including how each supports talent pipelines, workforce equity, and industry needs.

Through this MAX Academy, we will learn about the ins and outs of building successful apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs from colleagues with the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) as well as colleagues with technical colleges in metro Atlanta, community-based workforce providers, and employers who have administered successful programs linking job seekers to better career pathways.

Confirmed speakers include:

  • Emily Browning, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist, Delta Community Credit Union
  • Dr. Lewis Burke, Jr., Executive Director of Economic Development, Atlanta Technical College
  • Keren Cadet, Industry Partnerships Manager, CareerRise
  • Quintin DeGroot, Senior Recruiter, DeKalb County School District
  • Lauren Dodson, Vice President of Economic Development, Gwinnett Technical College
  • Jamal Jessie, Manager, Community & Workforce Development, Google
  • Danny Mitchell, Director of Apprenticeships, Technical College System of Georgia – Office of Workforce Development
  • Brandon Ona, Executive Director, Business Engagement, Technical College System of Georgia – Office of Workforce Development
  • Deborah Scott, Executive Director, Georgia STAND-UP
  • Cedric Sheffield, Workforce Development Specialist, Georgia Power
  • Jenny Taylor, Chief Missions Officer + Vice President, Career Services, Goodwill of North Georgia
  • Joshua Williams, Vice President of Economic Development, Georgia Piedmont Technical College

Special thanks to Georgia Power for hosting us at their Corporate HQ.

Click here to register.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Through this MAX Academy, participants will:

  • Explore the key elements of registered and non-registered apprenticeship models, industry alignment, and regulatory considerations.
  • Receive step-by-step guidance for designing and building effective programs.
  • Discover strategies for aligning employers, training providers, WorkSource boards, and community-based organizations.
  • Learn about metrics to track program effectiveness.
  • Hear real-world examples, common pitfalls to avoid, and sustainability strategies.

CREDENTIALED TRAINING

This MAX Academy has been approved by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) as training counting toward continuing education hours (CEUs) for Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRCs). Special thanks to Goodwill of North Georgia for serving as the sponsor with the CRCC for the MAX Academy.

Both the International Association of Workforce Professionals (IAWP) and the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) recognize training programs held through the MAX Academy as relevant training hours for their certification programs. Hours spent attending MAX Academy workshops can count as training hours for earning a Certified Workforce Professional (CWP) credential from IAWP and also as professional development (continuing education) hours for CWP recertification. For NAWDP’s Certified Workforce Development Professional (CWDP), NAWDP will accept MAX Academy training hours toward the professional development hours required for CWDP recertification.

REGISTRATION

Join us for a day of professional growth and networking! The registration fee for this training is $25.00 for MAX members and $45.00 for non-members.

Because we recognize the value of having multiple team members from the same organization participate so concepts and practices may be discussed and reinforced, discounts are available when multiple staff from the same agency register for the workshop as follows:

MAX Members: $25.00 for the first registration and $15.00 for each additional registration from the same organization.

Non-Members: $45.00 for the first registration and $35.00 for each additional registration from the same organization.

Click here to register.

MAX Academy, MAX Matters, Professional Development

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Launched in 2014, the mission of MAX is to advance economic resilience in the Atlanta region by strengthening connections, collaborations, and practices among workforce developers and organizations engaged in workforce development.

Whether you are a service provider, an educational institution, an employer, an intermediary, or funder, MAX is your place to connect into the workforce development community for the metro Atlanta region. Learn more

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