Rob Michaelson, P.E., water systems manager at the Manitowoc (Wisconsin) Public Utilities, faced some impending retirements and didn’t know where to find a candidate pool.
His dilemma was not unique: As the retirement tsunami sweeps through the water and wastewater world, finding qualified replacements is a daunting challenge.
Fortunately for Michaelson, Wisconsin offers a Youth Apprenticeship Program, created in 1991 by the state Department of Workforce Development. This school-to-work initiative is designed for high school students who want hands-on learning in an occupational area at a work site along with classroom instruction. Even though the program has expanded significantly since its inception,
