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GERMAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF Commerce, PITTSBURGH Chapter

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  • 13 Apr 2021 11:55 AM | Anonymous










    Left to right: Rachel Mauer (President of the GACC), Ben Krummert (Apprentice of the Year Nominee), Andrew Holup, Mike Swcezyk, Kenneth Castelucci, Dustin Litz, Alex Hernandez, Andrew Johnson, Brice Williams (Apprentice of the Year winner), Chris Hutchins and Lisa Conturo (Apprenticeship Manager at the GACC)

    This year, our 6th annual Ice Gala was held in celebration of the graduation for our first cohort of Mechatronics and Polymer Technician apprentices! The program is a challenging, highly-skilled apprenticeship program, where the apprentices balanced an intense, detailed on the job training at their companies with a college-based Mechatronics and Polymer curriculums. The program includes the German-licensed midterm and final exams, along with the additional testings at the company and college. Our apprentices also had the extra challenge of the pandemic. They persevered and accomplished their journey man certifications along with their CCAC Mechatronics and Polymer Certifications. Each of our now journeymen is moving forward with promotions, Associates Degree, and/or new training of expertise. We are so proud of our apprentices and look forward to their next steps in their careers!

    Our 2020 Graduation Class for Mechatronics and Polymer Technicians:

    • Jacob Carney- Polymer Technician, Ensinger Inc.
    • Kenneth Castelucci- Polymer Technician, VEKA Inc.
    • Zachary Simmons- Mechatronics Technician, VEKA Inc.
    • Paul Covington- Mechatronics Technician, MSA Safety
    • Alexander Hernandez- Mechatronics Technician, Hennecke Inc.
    • Andrew Holup- Mechatronics Technician, rose plastic, l.l.l.p.
    • Christopher Hutchins- Mechatronics Technician, AUMA Actuators Inc.
    • Andrew Johnson- Polymer Technician, VEKA Inc.
    • Jason Jurisic- Polymer Technician, rose plastic, l.l.l.p.
    • Andrew Knez- Mechatronics Technician, Ensinger Inc.
    • Dustin Litz- Polymer Technician, VEKA Inc.
    • Michael Szewczyk- Mechatronics Technician, Hennecke Inc.
    • Grant Weber- Mechatronics Technician, Pleiger Plastics Company

    Congratulations again to our Apprentices! We are so proud of your accomplishments!

    #icegala2021 #icegala #fundraiser #proud #classof2021 #ccac #gaccpit


  • 9 Mar 2021 9:18 AM | Anonymous

    Among PU machinery and plant manufacturers, the Hennecke GROUP enjoys worldwide reputation as being the company with the broadest product range and highest quality. Our expertise and equipment portfolio covers virtually all fields of PU applications. For more than 70 years, Hennecke has been driving innovation in PU technologies that have gained worldwide acceptance and acclaim - in close cooperation with polyurethane processors around the globe.

    Hennecke is currently looking to hire:

    Buyer

  • 16 Jul 2020 12:27 PM | Anonymous

    Our Greensburg Salem Pre-Apprenticeship students have been hard at work! Check out this amazing video showcasing their Pre- Apprenticeship in Sales Engineering with Leybold Vacuum USA and how they rose to the challenge during the COVID-19 shutdown!


  • 15 Jun 2020 1:22 PM | Anonymous


    We are happy to welcome our newest member Herkules USA in our German-American business community. Herkules USA specializes in manufacturing new roll grinders and new roll lathes, and in the modernization of older machines. Herkules USA can offer a wide range of machine modernizations, from electrical and control upgrades to complete machine manufacturing.

    Currently looking for a job?

    Check out Herkules' job posting in their Sales & Communications Department

    and apply today!


  • 28 May 2020 10:22 AM | Anonymous

    Great news involving the GACC's apprenticeship / workforce development programs:

    The Pennsylvania Dept. of Labor & Industry just officially announced that our Pittsburgh chamber has been awarded a PA Smart Registered Apprenticeship Grant in the amount of $250,000!

    The grant recognizes the GACC PIT's outstanding efforts in addressing skills gaps in southwestern Pennsylvania advanced manufacturing workforce through the dual apprenticeship program.

    Read more about the grant objectives in the newest issue of the GA Trade Magazine:


    GA Trade Q2 2020 interactive.pdf

  • 5 Feb 2020 10:06 AM | Anonymous

          At their fifth annual Ice Gala, held at the Energy Innovation Center on January 25th, the German American Chamber of Commerce Inc. (GACC), Pittsburgh Chapter recognized the Apprentice of the Year Recipients for 2020. The Apprentice of the Year Award is an accolade given to an apprentice who demonstrates extraordinary skills and abilities inside and outside the classroom.

    The company’s trainers and the college partner instructors from the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) had the opportunity to provide feedback on the apprentice’s work ethic, training progress, talent, and leadership skills. The nominations were reviewed and scored by a panel of four judges representing education, government, and industry:


    • Jackie Foor (Director of Organizational Advancement, The Consortium of Public Education); 
    • Carol Kilko (Deputy Secretary - Office of Business Financing, PA Department of Community and Economic Development); 
    • John Tkach (Director of Projects, Keystone Development Partnership); and 
    • Callan Wilcox (Vice President, Commercial Banking Executive, Bank of America).

    With the accumulation of the four judges’ scores, the result was an exact tie between two outstanding apprentices.

    The German American Chamber of Commerce, Pittsburgh would like to congratulate the Apprentice of the Year winners: Andrew Knez, Ensinger Inc. and Jacob Graleski, Impact Guard, LLC.

                    When asked about Mr. Knez, Ensinger’s trainer commented, “Andrew is as very dependable, self-motivated, and always willing to be the first to step forward for new challenges. He contributes with true balance across all disciplines: electrical, mechanical, and fabrication.” Justin Starr, Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC)’s Mechatronics Instructor and GACC Pittsburgh’s college education partner, remarked, “Andrew is one of the most efficient students in class, which is evident through his ability to delegate and keep tasks on schedule.”

                    At Impact Guard, Mr. Graleski’s company trainer commented, “Jacob is continually researching information and studying the appropriate manuals and schematics to improve his knowledge and skills. Specifically, he has made an impact by simplifying procedures to cut time on repairs and to help save money on orders.” Christopher Quick, CCAC’s Mechatronics Instructor for the GACC Pittsburgh’s second Mechatronics class, remarked, “Jacob demonstrates multiple solutions to a question instead of stopping with the first solution that comes to mind.”

                    The Ice Gala is an annual fundraising event for the GACC Pittsburgh’s Apprenticeship and Pre-apprenticeship programs. The Apprenticeship Programs are an innovative and industry-led approach, benchmarked on the German Dual Education System, customized for the region, and registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. The programs are the gold standard of a practical educational model developed in conjunction with technology leaders. The GACC Pittsburgh’s Ice Gala provides a platform to celebrate the success and partnership between the apprentices, companies, and educational partners. At the college level of the program, the GACC Pittsburgh’s partnership with CCAC helped develop innovative, work-force and college credited degrees for the Mechatronics, Polymer Technician, Sales Engineer, and CAD/CAM Programmer apprenticeship programs.

    The GACC Pittsburgh works closely with CCAC, other key partners, companies, and local high schools to ensure industry-led and relevant curriculum, aligned also with the German-based programs and certifications.

    Our top 7 nominees
    (from left to right: 
    Jacob Graleski (Impact Guard), Andrew Knez (Ensinger), Jacob Carney (Ensinger), Alexander Holup (rose plastic), Rachel Mauer (GACC Pittsburgh), Lisa Conturo (GACC Pittsburgh), Dustin Litz (Veka Inc.), Christopher Hutchins (AUMA) and Taylor Coulter (Veka Inc.).

  • 4 Feb 2020 12:58 PM | Anonymous

    A huge thanks to everyone who attended our Grimm's Fairy Tales themed Ice Gala on Saturday the 25th at the Energy Innovation Center Pittsburgh!

    We welcomed 225 guests (our biggest crowd yet!) and enjoyed eating, drinking, and celebrating the German-American business relationship. We heard from amazing guest speakers, gave out the Apprentice of the Year #award to not only one but two of our very talented Apprentices.

    Always a highlight are our enchanting ice sculptures, which our guests enjoyed during the after party with hot #glühwein and DJ in the Ice Room.

    The proceeds raised will go on to support to grow our Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship programs. Your support let's us continue our mission of providing debt-free college education and hands-on On-The-Job training to local students to build a strong and competitive #workforce in our region -- again, thank you!

    Have fun scrolling through our photo galleries and feel free to like, tag and share them!

      

    #gaccpit #icegala #icegala2020 #fundraiser #galaevent #gala #pittsburghevent #apprenticeshipprogram #apprentices #workforcedevelopment

  • 12 Dec 2019 10:55 AM | Anonymous

    We had another great Lunch & Learn event sponsored from the American Council on Germany​ in the Burgh. Markus Meckel, former member of the Deutscher Bundestag​ visited Pittsburgh and talked about growing up in East Germany and the current political landscape in Germany

    All this in the authentic setting of Max's Allegheny Tavern​ with great German food and decoration (our favorite was the Kuckucksuhr ).




  • 3 Dec 2019 10:52 AM | Anonymous

    Look who got featured in the newest issue of the #German #American TRADE Magazine. Check out the link and read about the 5th Annual East Coast Industry Forum we hosted a little over a month ago and other cool features about German-American #business and #trade relationships.

    https://www.gaccny.com/…/p…/GA_Trade_Q4_2019_interactive.pdf

    #gaccpit #ecif #ecif2019 #artificialintelligence #ai #pittsburghai #technology #industry40 #roboburgh

      


  • 4 Nov 2019 11:23 AM | Anonymous


    The scholarship of the GABC a division of the GACC, Pittsburgh Chapter and in partnership with the Pittsburgh Rotary Club Foundation is intended to benefit collegiate-level students from Western PA who demonstrate academic excellence and strong interest in German-American business affairs and culture, and who plan to further their studies through study abroad at an accredited institution of higher learning in Germany.

     This program will award a one-time scholarship of $2,500 to a candidate chosen by the GABC?Pittsburgh Scholarship Selection Committee.

    Submission Deadline: November 15th 2019.

    Apply Now



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