News: Microelectronics
5 March 2024
Wolfspeed launches New York Semiconductor Registered Apprenticeship Program with support from National Institute of Innovation and Technology
The National Institute for Innovation and Technology (NIIT) and the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) has applauded Wolfspeed Inc of Durham, NC, USA — which makes silicon carbide (SiC) materials and power semiconductor devices — for the establishment of its New York Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP). As part of its role in the USA’s semiconductor talent pipeline development, the Institute serves as the USDOL’s national Intermediary responsible for expanding Registered Apprenticeships (RAs) throughout the semiconductor and nanotechnology industry supply chains.
Facilitated by the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY) through the Institute’s Growing Apprenticeships in Nanotechnology and Semiconductor (GAINS) program, Wolfspeed’s program will provide opportunities for workers that are looking to expand their skills and build a career in the semiconductor and advanced manufacturing industry.
“We commend Wolfspeed for championing domestic semiconductor manufacturing with the establishment of its Registered Apprenticeship at their Mohawk Valley Fab,” says the Institute’s president & CEO Mike Russo. “As the USDOL Intermediary dedicated to expanding Registered Apprenticeships throughout the semiconductor and nanotechnology-related supply chains, we’re thrilled to offer technical support and subject-matter expertise to Wolfspeed through our GAINS program,” he adds. “Registered Apprenticeships provide individuals from all backgrounds with the chance to obtain high-quality jobs and vital skills through a learn-and-earn framework, presenting a significant opportunity for Americans exploring career and educational pathways.”
The GAINS Program equips individuals in Wolfspeed’s RAP with crucial skills for career advancement. Employers and apprentices alike benefit from the Institute’s resources, including the National Talent Hub – an interactive online platform facilitating skills assessments, educational and career planning, professional development support, training progress tracking, and program administration assistance. These initiatives align curriculum, cultivate regional talent pipelines and foster a dynamic workforce.
“Our GAINS program is scalable and extends to all participating employers’ sites across the USA. However, we work closely with regional partners to implement our program effectively,” says the Institute’s national apprenticeship director Martha Ponge. “In New York specifically, I’d like to thank Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) for providing the Required Technical Instruction for the program and to MACNY for serving as a group sponsor.”
Earlier in March, Wolfspeed celebrated the official signing of Aaron Albright as the first apprentice in the Mohawk Valley program. Albright has been with Wolfspeed for the past 18 months, initially starting on the materials handling team before advancing to the manufacturing technician team. In January, he transitioned into his current role as an equipment apprentice.
Albright and future Wolfspeed apprentices will complete a 16-month program for placement in the company’s Equipment Technician career pathway in an industrial manufacturing technician role. The RAP involves 2700 hours of on-the-job training and 216 hours of college instruction provided by MVCC.
“We are committed to making the next generation aware of the incredible career opportunities in the semiconductor industry and broader STEM fields,” says Wolfspeed’s chief human resources officer Margaret Chadwick. “Our New York RAP will simultaneously train up-and-coming industry professionals while helping us develop our workforce and reach capacity expansion goals at our Mohawk Valley Fab,” she adds. “We are excited to work with our apprentices, building out the semiconductor industry here in the USA, and we’re grateful for collaborators like the Institute, MACNY and MVCC who help to make these advancements possible.”
