Lucinda Curry of Clay County has been named director of Apprenticeship Works, the National Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship Program. Curry previously served as director of Workforce & Recruiting Development at the Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing (RCBI), where she’s been employed since 2008.
RCBI received a $4.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor in late 2015 to replicate its apprenticeship program across the country. Curry was instrumental in creating the RCBI model, which involves collaborating with industry recognized partners across the United States to help bridge the skills gap in American manufacturing.
Curry will lead a team of project managers and trainers who will work with businesses, educational institutions and workforce development agencies to train at least 1,000 apprentices and 415 pre-apprentices. The goal is to create a higher skilled, more productive workforce and encourage women, disadvantaged youth and returning military personnel to consider careers in more than a dozen advanced manufacturing occupations – including 3D Printing, composites fabrication and robotics technology.
“Lucinda Curry’s pivotal role in creating our model apprenticeship program and her creative approach to workforce development make her the ideal candidate to lead Apprenticeship Works,” said RCBI Director & CEO Charlotte Weber. “She’s demonstrated the ability to forge partnerships, engage businesses and identify workforce needs on a national level.”
In addition to her extensive workforce development experience, Curry has more than 15 years in high education enrollment and admissions. A graduate of South Charleston High School, she earned a bachelor’s of science degree in organizational leadership management and development, and is pursuing her master’s degree in leadership studies from Marshall University.
To learn more about Apprenticeship Works, contact Curry at 800.469.7224.
