• Contact
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
  • Login
Oklahoma Business Voice
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Aerospace
    • Childcare
    • Education
    • Energy & Environment
    • Federal
    • Film & Television Industry
    • Finance
    • Health Care
    • Innovation
    • Issues Affecting Oklahomans
    • OBV One-on-One
    • Opinion
    • Politics & Elections
    • Taxes & Budget
    • Tribal
    • Workforce Development
    Hand of a person casting a vote into the ballot box during elections

    New Oklahoma law sets less election days, counts on strong voter presence

    Courtney Warmington, Dustin Hilliary, Steven Taylor and Mitch Adwon. From Oklahoma State Regents of Higher Education

    Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education elect board leaders

    Beautiful sunset cloudy sky from aerial view. Airplane view above clouds

    Oklahoma Aerospace $353 million airport construction investment takes off

    Emerging Aviation Technology Center

    Choctaw Nation opens aviation tech research facility in SE Oklahoma

  • Sign UpNEW
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise With Us!
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Aerospace
    • Childcare
    • Education
    • Energy & Environment
    • Federal
    • Film & Television Industry
    • Finance
    • Health Care
    • Innovation
    • Issues Affecting Oklahomans
    • OBV One-on-One
    • Opinion
    • Politics & Elections
    • Taxes & Budget
    • Tribal
    • Workforce Development
    Hand of a person casting a vote into the ballot box during elections

    New Oklahoma law sets less election days, counts on strong voter presence

    Courtney Warmington, Dustin Hilliary, Steven Taylor and Mitch Adwon. From Oklahoma State Regents of Higher Education

    Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education elect board leaders

    Beautiful sunset cloudy sky from aerial view. Airplane view above clouds

    Oklahoma Aerospace $353 million airport construction investment takes off

    Emerging Aviation Technology Center

    Choctaw Nation opens aviation tech research facility in SE Oklahoma

  • Sign UpNEW
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise With Us!
No Result
View All Result
Oklahoma Business Voice
No Result
View All Result
Home News
GF Central Plastics is launching an apprenticeship program that will help build Oklahoma's workforce.

GF Central Plastics is launching an apprenticeship program that will help build Oklahoma's workforce.

GF Central Plastics launches apprentice program in Oklahoma

Brent Skarky by Brent Skarky
April 20, 2023
in News, Workforce Development
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

SHAWNEE, Okla. (OBV) – A large Oklahoma pipe manufacturer is taking steps to try to solve the workforce problems that are facing most businesses in our country.  

“It’s a challenge. I think it’s the biggest challenge we face here in the United States. (It’s the) single biggest issue we have, not just with the skilled trades, but all the way up to engineers and accountants,” said Bryan Lucas, president of Georg Fischer Central Plastics. 

The numbers back him up. According to the State Chamber Research Foundation, 62 percent of business owners in Oklahoma say workforce is the biggest challenge they face. That’s why companies like GF Central Plastics in Shawnee are taking matters into their own hands, literally. 

“I think that manufacturers all over the state and country realize now that the talent that they need does not exist in the youth of today and is not being created in a proper way. They recognize that it doesn’t exist and they need to go out and make the talent themselves,” said Stewart Harrison of Harrison Consulting.  

Recently officials with Georg Fischer Central Plastics put their signature on paper to partner with the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance and the U.S. Department of Labor to offer a Registered Apprenticeship Program for maintenance technicians. The certified program will train technicians in areas like electrical, welding, pneumatics, robotics and machining. 

“They see this as a tool to train their internal staff but also as a recruitment tool,” said Sharon Harrison of the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance.  

“This is a really cool opportunity for us.  Being able to grow our workforce and give them opportunities to be able to do things that they may not have been able to do otherwise. It’s really what you want you want to do as a major manufacturer, is to have those opportunities for your people,” said Lucas. 

Officials say, studies show 94 percent of apprentices, nationally, stay at least two years after training. That’s a game changer for a pipe manufacturing industry leader like GF Central Plastics. With the average age of their skilled workforce getting close to 60, the program could be their key to success for decades to come. 

“When they are making an investment to train someone, they want to know that person is going to stay for a while. With apprenticeships, the numbers say that they do stay,” said Stewart Harrison. 

“We are specifically seeing with a lot of Gen Z workers, those 18-24, that they want to earn and learn. With a registered apprenticeship program, they are earning a livable wage.  We are seeing very nice starting hourly wages within our apprenticeship programs,” said Sharon Harrison.  

All candidates for the GF Central Plastics apprenticeship program must be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma or equivalent.   

To learn more about the program visit, www.gfps.com/en-us/products-solutions/brands/central-plastics.html.

Tags: Georg Fischer Central PlasticsGF Central PlasticsOklahomaShawneeWorkforce
ShareTweetShare
Previous Post

Bill to expedite CDL testing on fast track to Gov. Stitt’s desk after passing Oklahoma Senate

Next Post

Oklahoma Gov. Stitt unveils education reform compromise plan

Related Posts

Hand of a person casting a vote into the ballot box during elections
News

New Oklahoma law sets less election days, counts on strong voter presence

July 8, 2025
Courtney Warmington, Dustin Hilliary, Steven Taylor and Mitch Adwon. From Oklahoma State Regents of Higher Education
Education

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education elect board leaders

July 8, 2025
Beautiful sunset cloudy sky from aerial view. Airplane view above clouds
Aerospace

Oklahoma Aerospace $353 million airport construction investment takes off

July 8, 2025
Emerging Aviation Technology Center
Aerospace

Choctaw Nation opens aviation tech research facility in SE Oklahoma

July 7, 2025
Oklahoma Coliseum, photo from City of Oklahoma City
News

MAPS 4-funded OG&E Coliseum now open in Oklahoma City

July 7, 2025
Governor Kevin Stitt
News

Oklahoma City lawyers sue Gov. Stitt over business courts

July 3, 2025
Next Post
Gov. Kevin Stitt

Oklahoma Gov. Stitt unveils education reform compromise plan

Oklahoma Business Voice

© 2023 Oklahoma State Chamber.
Powered by High Five Media.
Privacy Policy

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • News
  • Sign Up
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise With Us!

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sign Up
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise With Us!

© 2023 Oklahoma State Chamber.
Powered by High Five Media.
Privacy Policy

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.