The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) recognized outstanding employers, apprentices and partners during the 2026 Expanding Talent through Registered Apprenticeship (ExTRA) Awards Breakfast on April 29.
Hosted at IALR during National Apprenticeship Week, the ExTRA Awards Breakfast celebrated the organizations and individuals advancing Registered Apprenticeship as a workforce solution across Southern Virginia. In addition to award distribution, the event included speakers and a panel on best practices, mentorship and career impact emerging from the region’s growing apprenticeship ecosystem.
“The ExTRA Awards showcase what is possible when employers, educators and workforce partners work together to create meaningful career opportunities,” said Natori Neal, Apprenticeship Coordinator II at IALR. “It’s inspiring to see how registered apprenticeship continues to transform lives, strengthen businesses and support long-term economic growth in Southern Virginia.”
Celebrating partnership and opportunity
The event opened with welcoming remarks from Jessie Vernon, IALR’s Director of Employer Engagement and Experiential Learning, who emphasized apprenticeship as a powerful strategy for building reliable talent pipelines while providing apprentices with access to high-quality careers.
“We’re proud to come together during National Apprenticeship Week to celebrate the employers, apprentices and partners who are making registered apprenticeship work across our region,” Vernon said.
Linda Green, Vice President of Economic Development at IALR and Executive Director of the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance, delivered keynote remarks highlighting apprenticeship as both a workforce and economic development strategy. Green shared personal stories and regional examples to illustrate how earn-while-you-learn pathways help individuals build sustainable careers while meeting employers’ evolving workforce needs.
“More and more, apprenticeship isn’t just a workforce strategy. It’s a business strategy. Companies that invest in apprenticeships are better positioned to compete, grow and build a reliable workforce for the long term.” – Linda Green, Vice President of Economic Development, IALR; Executive Director, Southern Virginia Regional Alliance
Panel Highlights Best Practices for Mentoring Apprentices
A panel discussion followed, focused on mentorship as a cornerstone of success with any registered apprenticeship program. Panelists represented construction, information technology and emergency services. They shared insights on developing strong mentoring relationships, balancing technical and soft skills, supporting apprentices through challenges and adapting training models in rapidly changing industries.
Panelists included Joshua Arnold of Spitzer Inc., David Dujardin of Mass Ascent, and Ray Mason of the Charlotte County Rescue Squad. Speakers consistently emphasized patience, communication, repetition, safety and intentional relationship-building as essential to apprentice retention and completion.
National research discussed during the session reinforced that apprenticeships supported by strong mentorship achieve higher completion rates, improved retention and greater employer return on investment.
2026 ExTRA Award Recipients
IALR proudly recognized a group of extraordinary apprentices whose dedication, performance and potential exemplify the impact of registered apprenticeship across multiple industries.
The 2026 Extraordinary Apprentices Award recipients include:
Tyler Sturm, Youth Welder Apprentice, Lawless Welding & Fabrications
Tyler has demonstrated exceptional dedication by stepping up for every task with a positive attitude and strong work ethic. He takes pride in his work, continuously improves his skills and shows a clear commitment to growing his welding career. His willingness to learn and support others makes him a valuable team member.
Malachi Conway, Youth Automotive Service Technician Apprentice, Bisbee Honda
Malachi has completed all of his online training while consistently seeking new learning opportunities each day. He supports technicians and advisors, balances his schoolwork and brings a positive attitude to the workplace, even de-escalating challenges when parts are delayed or incorrect.
Franklin “Trey” Duncan, Youth Automotive Service Technician Apprentice, Bisbee Honda
Trey is excelling in the automotive service department while balancing school and athletics, demonstrating exceptional commitment and work ethic as a youth apprentice.
Austin Jones, Youth Automotive Service Technician Apprentice, Bisbee Honda
Austin continues to excel in the service department while balancing school and baseball, showing maturity and dedication well beyond his years.
Caden Lightbourne, Electrician Apprentice, Spitzer Inc.
Caden excels in both the classroom and the field, asking thoughtful questions and demonstrating a strong desire to learn and grow as an electrician.
Grace Dujardin, Digital Marketing Apprentice, Mass Ascent
Grace has shown exceptional on-the-job performance by earning key certifications and applying them to strengthen the company’s online brand presence. She demonstrates leadership, initiative and ownership across social media strategy, video production and trade event promotion.
Owen Wood, Software Developer Apprentice, Kegerreis Digital Marketing
Owen has demonstrated exceptional ingenuity and dedication in developing enterprise-level, scalable business solutions. His analytical thinking, collaboration skills and optimistic problem-solving approach mark him as a future leader.
Completion of a registered apprenticeship is a significant milestone, resulting in a nationally recognized credential for apprentices and reflecting a long-term investment of time, mentorship and resources by employers.
Employers recognized for apprenticeship completions since the 2024 awards include:
- Comfort Systems USA Mid-Atlantic – Plumber Apprenticeship
- Daniel Builders – Carpenter Apprenticeship
- Kegerreis Digital Marketing – Software Developer Apprenticeship
- Southside Mechanical Services – Plumber Apprenticeship
- Charlotte County Rescue Squad- three Emergency Medical Technician Apprenticeship completions
- Owens-Illinois – Industrial Maintenance Mechanic and Mold Maker Apprenticeships (nine total completions, including two within the past year)
- Danville Life Saving Crew – 16 Emergency Medical Technician Apprenticeship completions since 2024
- Reynolds Consumer Products: Presto – Seven completions in 2025 and 26 total completions since launching a Virginia registered apprenticeship
Recognizing employers that consistently provide exceptional support, guidance and opportunity to apprentices:
Southside Mechanical Services
Since 2022, Southside Mechanical Services has demonstrated outstanding commitment to apprenticeship, scaling its program alongside company growth and proving that strong apprenticeship programs are achievable for small businesses.
Kegerreis Digital Marketing
Kegerreis Digital Marketing recruits talent from diverse backgrounds, successfully transitions interns into apprentices and provides strong mentorship and multiple occupational pathways that allow apprentices to truly learn while they earn.
Charlotte County Rescue Squad
Charlotte County Rescue Squad successfully launched Virginia’s second Emergency Medical Technician apprenticeship program, supporting four apprentices in its inaugural year while expanding workforce opportunities in rural emergency services.
Red Oak Construction
Red Oak Construction has demonstrated a strong commitment to employee development through the strategic use of registered apprenticeship programs to upskill incumbent heavy equipment operators, supporting internal career advancement and addressing critical workforce needs
Reynolds Consumer Products: Presto
Reynolds Consumer Products: Presto has shown a strong commitment to professional growth, skill-building and long-term career advancement for apprentices.
Spitzer Inc.
Spitzer Inc. has shown sustained leadership and dedication to apprenticeship expansion, workforce development and increased awareness of the construction trades in support of ExTRA’s mission.
Bisbee Honda
Bisbee Honda is recognized for its continued dedication to youth apprenticeships and early-career exposure. This commitment is especially meaningful as Parts & Service Director Chris Graham began his own automotive journey through Danville Public Schools and remains invested in creating similar opportunities for today’s students.
Mass Ascent
In its first year of participation, Mass Ascent intentionally integrated registered apprenticeship into its workforce strategy, securing resources, following best practices and providing strong support that has helped its apprentices grow and succeed.
These awards recognized employers for leadership, innovation, mentorship, youth engagement and commitment to incorporating registered apprenticeship into long-term workforce strategies.
Advancing Apprenticeship Across Southern Virginia
IALR is approved by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement (Virginia Works) Division of Registered Apprenticeship as a state apprenticeship intermediary. Through the ExTRA program, IALR provides employers across the GO Virginia Region 3 with stakeholder education, technical assistance, access to grant funding, connections to talent and participation in an apprenticeship consortium.
From 2022 to the present, ExTRA has supported the registration of more than 45 apprenticeship program occupations and 170 apprentices, with many additional programs in development across construction, healthcare, manufacturing, early childhood education, information technology and other sectors.
The ExTRA program is funded through a grant from the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission. It is part of IALR’s Advanced Learning division, which focuses on creating pipelines of dependable talent to support economic transformation.
“Our work is not done,” Neal said. “We still have opportunities to develop, scale and innovate to meet employers’ workforce needs.”
About IALR
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves Virginia as a regional catalyst for economic transformation with applied research, advanced learning, manufacturing advancement, conference center services and economic development efforts. IALR’s major footprint focuses on Southern Virginia, including the counties of Patrick, Henry, Franklin, Pittsylvania, Halifax and Mecklenburg and the cities of Martinsville and Danville.
