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LBW Announces Apprenticeship with Covington Gin

May 27, 2022

Covington Gin Company, Inc. has become an employer partner in LBW Community College's registered diesel mechanic apprenticeship through the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship (AOA).

"Registered apprenticeships are an extremely valuable tool for our communities to take advantage of,” said LBW Director of Workforce Chad Sutton.

“Registered apprenticeships offer students a training plan that has been vetted by the industry, and what better way for a student to learn than to be on the job mastering competencies?”

A second-year diesel mechanics student at LBW, Blake Brown will be working for Covington Gin performing mechanical duties related to his diesel mechanics apprenticeship.

"What we are training Blake on here is not just diesel mechanic, it goes into other areas that conform to the type of equipment we have," said Covington Gin Operations Manager, Lamar Partain.

“This is the first time we have participated in an apprentice program, and we are really glad that it’s available.”

“One of the advantages of having a registered apprenticeship program is that each employer gets to set up the unique, on-the-job training that nobody else may know how to do, but it’s backed up by the foundational training that the college can provide,” said AOA Director, Josh Laney.

“Ultimately our goal is to make sure that companies like yours are able to capitalize on the individualized training it takes.”

“Industry has the opportunity to create a pipeline of talent by supporting our AOA registered apprenticeships at LBW.  What better way is there for the industry to support our students and school while building their next generation of industry leaders," added LBW Director of Workforce Chad Sutton.

For more information about LBW’s apprenticeship program, contact Chad Sutton at csutton@lbwcc.edu.

Pictured from left to right: AOA Director Josh Laney, AOA Statewide Project Manager Meredith Smith, LBW Director of Workforce Development Chad Sutton, LBW President Dr. Brock Kelley, Diesel Mechanic Apprentice Blake Brown, Covington Gin Operations Manager Lamar Partain, and Covington Gin Manager Jim Wells.