John Varian Ladd

John Varian Ladd became Administrator of the Office of Apprenticeship (OA) in January 2008. As OA Administrator, John has responsibility for oversight of the National Registered Apprenticeship System. Prior to his appointment as Administrator, John served as the Deputy Administrator for the Office of National Response and the Director of Regional Management in the Office of Field Operations.

John has been in numerous leadership positions for major ETA initiatives including Workforce Innovations in Regional Economic Development (WIRED), InnovatETA and ETA’s Transformational Forums. John has received numerous awards and honors while at ETA including being selected for the inaugural class of ETA’s Excellence in Leadership Program. John also has extensive experience in ETA’s Regional Offices having spent a number of years in the Boston Regional Office working with workforce development programs in New England.

Peyton Holland 

Peyton Holland is Executive Director of the National Technical Honor Society, a non-profit dedicated to celebrating and empowering students in all areas of career and technical education. Prior to that, he served as the Executive Director of SkillsUSA North Carolina, a non-profit that leads efforts to prepare students for the workforce through the development of personal, workplace and technical skills.

Peyton grew up in rural North Carolina, learning the value of hard work and skill early in life. From the lessons he learned on the farm and at the family sawmill, to the experiences he gained traveling internationally and acquiring a Master’s in Business Administration and Global Innovation Management, Peyton brings a unique perspective to the conversation of education, workforce development and economic growth.

Demystifying Apprenticeship
This workshop will define the basics and benefits of a registered apprenticeship program developed through ApprenticeshipNC. Panelists: Tony Marshall, Innovative Systems Group; Danielle Martini, Three-Way Plumbing Services; Cynthia Bailey, Atrium Health.

You Have an Apprenticeship, Now What?
Now that you have an apprenticeship program, how do you expand into other departments and occupations within your company? Hear from two companies that have done just that. Panelists: Peter Shoun, LC America; Michael Holmes, Egger Wood Products, LLC.

Tailor Made: Using Apprenticeship to Get the Right Fit
Pre-apprenticeship is a recruitment and screening model that gives both the company and the potential apprentice the opportunity to determine the right fit for the apprenticeship. For youth, especially those in high school, it is critical to prepare them for the work environment and ensure that they are prepared for the academic and work-related knowledge needed to successfully enter and complete the apprenticeship. This session will include a discussion with experts in pre-apprenticeship implementation for youth along with practical examples of pre-apprenticeship models in North Carolina. Panelists: Mark Bertoncino, Buhler; Cheryl Cox, NC Department of Public Instruction; Dr. Frank Scuiletti, NC Community College System; Danielle Rose, Forsyth Technical Community College; Cance Caldwell, pre-apprentice.

Questions About Sustaining Your Future Workforce?
Learn how apprenticeship can be an effective strategy for developing a sustainable talent pipeline and hanging on to younger workers in this Q&A with economist Michael Walden of North Carolina State University.

Skills Gap or Opportunity Gap?
Perhaps we can help close the skills gap by focusing more on closing the opportunity gap. Developing and investing in diverse talent can foster innovation, economic growth and community well-being. It has become evident that career exploration is a valuable pre-determinant for the selection of many non-traditional career pathways. We can expand the current talent pipeline by making opportunities accessible to more individuals, creating expansive career options and multiple routes to new careers. Panelists: Darone Dancy, Eastern Carolina Vocational Center; Kevin Robinson, RTriad Enterprises; Joe Rotondi, Forge Greensboro.

Supporting Our Veterans in Apprenticeship
Panelists in this session will talk about the role of pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship in preparing veterans for post-military careers. Panelists: SSG Carla Diggs, U.S. Army; Eric Emde, Watson Electrical Construction Co.

Tariq Bokhari

Tariq has spent his career at the intersection of the financial and technology industries and is a passionate evangelist for the rising tide of Fintech disruption and its power to make positive social impacts. Prior to serving as the Founder of the Carolina Fintech Hub, becoming a Charlotte City Councilman, and launching his own startup companies, Tariq served as the Head of Innovation and Investment for FIS Global, a $9B+ fintech company.

Tariq has built profitable businesses from scratch, designed, and implemented global risk and cybersecurity programs, launched technology accelerator programs, and completed over a dozen acquisitions. He has also held executive positions in Fortune 500 companies such as GE Capital, Wells Fargo, and Wachovia. Tariq has served as a Director on the Board of NC Heroes Fund, Blumenthal Performing Arts, Charlotte Area Fund, Innovate CLT, and the Greater Enrichment Program. Tariq and his wife Krista have 3 children under 8 that love YouTube and esports.