Grand River Brewery Recognized for Commitment to Michigan Workers through Registered Apprenticeship Programs

The entrance to Grand River Brewery in Downtown Jackson.  Photo by Bart Hawley, JTV.

(April 29, 2022 4:33 PM) The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) Office of Apprenticeship in Michigan recognized Veritas Wineries LLC, owner and operator of Grand River Brewery for their commitment to benefitting the state’s current and future workforce through the use of Registered Apprenticeship.

The Registered Apprenticeship Celebration Event, a part of Michigan’s new “Race to Talent with Registered Apprenticeship” campaign, celebrated employers, sponsors and program intermediaries for their leadership in using this training model to develop highly-skilled workers in Michigan.

Justin Dalenberg, CEO at Grand River Brewery and Doll n Burgers said he started the apprenticeship program to add expert training for his workforce.  “I wanted to improve our internal training while also providing an opportunity for our teams to gain valuable training that is accredited that can translate into their future, “ Dalenberg said.

Dalenberg told JTV his company currently has three certified apprenticeship programs, Line Cook, Kitchen Manager, and Restaurant Manager.  Currently, Grand River Brewery has about 12 people enrolled and working on their apprenticeships. Dalenberg said, “When they are completed they will turn around and train the next group of apprentices so we are starting a perpetual system of training and growth.”

Since 2019, LEO has received more than $27 million in USDOL funding to support Michigan’s State Apprenticeship Expansion efforts.

“Registered Apprenticeship plays an important role in developing and preparing Michigan’s future workforce, so it’s entirely appropriate and fitting that we recognize those who are leaders in this effort,” said Stephanie Beckhorn, Director of LEO’s Office of Employment and Training. “The opportunities created through Registered Apprenticeship are now available through a variety of fields that are crucial to Michigan’s future, including construction, energy, healthcare, information technology, manufacturing and mobility.”

Russ Davis, State Director of the USDOL Office of Apprenticeship in Michigan, welcomed and congratulated representatives from spotlight organizations who stressed the importance of Registered Apprenticeships for both themselves and their apprentices.

“The USDOL Apprenticeship Program has helped us revise our employee training programs to ensure we are providing the most thorough, meaningful training possible,” said Reanne Asbury, Human Resources Manager for Grand River Brewery which plans to expand its program to 45 registered apprentices in 2022. “This not only helps us retain our employees, but it also provides them with the skills they need to advance their careers.”

Justin Dalenberg, his wife Roberta Dalenberg and their companies own and operate Grand River Brewery in Jackson and Marshall, Doll n Burgers in Jackson and Tecumseh, Veritas in Jackson and Manchester Market in Manchester.

Dalenberg said the program is fairly new and the company impact is yet to be determined, but,  “the desired outcome is a stronger, more united team that is expertly trained and proud of what they are doing and where they are doing,”  he said. 

Other employers recognized for their commitment to Registered Apprenticeship included Precision Plumbing & Heating Systems of Traverse City, Medbio of Clinton Township and Pontiac-based Williams International.  Industry Intermediaries GST Michigan Works! and the Workforce Intelligence Network (WIN) were also honored for their efforts to assist employers in determining skill needs and workforce trends.

The event also provided an opportunity to highlight the benefits realized by employers who utilize Registered Apprenticeship to recruit and train Veterans, transitioning military members and eligible family members for new employment opportunities. Veterans are disciplined team players who can strengthen any employer’s business, and GI Bill-approved organizations that want to hire Veterans can provide an added incentive to those who have existing GI Bill benefits.

Registered Apprenticeships are industry-driven, high-quality career training programs in which employers develop and prepare Michigan’s future workforce. Apprentices gain paid work experience, related classroom instruction and a national industry-recognized credential upon program completion. The programs help employers begin an immediate transfer of knowledge from current to future high value workers. Workers get a paycheck from day one while they build the right skills in a new career.

For more information on Registered Apprenticeship in Michigan, visit Michigan.gov/Apprenticeship.