A black Sharpie marker — a humble, tactile tool emblematic of decisiveness — was president Trump’s instrument of choice on April 23 as he signed seven new executive orders.  

Among them, one stands out as a seismic shift in how the U.S. prepares its workforce: a bold federal commitment to scale up registered apprenticeships and reset the skills agenda. 

A growing wave of senior high school students is ditching dead-end casual jobs for more promising opportunities. They are earning while learning in real workplaces that could shape their careers—and they’re not looking back.

Whether you’re hiring or hoping to be hired, one principle has shaped my career: Character matters more than credentials. In a world of quick hires and automated screening, judgment still counts.

This small company successfully established a U.S. Department of Labor-approved Registered Apprenticeship program for wind turbine technicians within a year.

How do you develop a Registered Apprenticeship program for your business—and possibly industry—that secures official approval within a year? 

Air Force Veteran Jeremy McKelvain of Safety Technology USA (STL) has done just that and may well be steering the wind turbine energy sector to new heights.