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NRA CEO takes seat at Trump's Apprenticeship 'task force'

October 16, 2017

The National Restaurant Association and its President and CEO Dawn Sweeney has landed a place at the table of the newly formed Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion under the U.S. Department of Labor and President Donald Trump.

Trump issued an executive order to form the 20-member body under the direction of U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. The idea behind the group is to "help more Americans obtain relevant skills and family-sustaining jobs," a labor department release said, by giving apprentices "paid, relevant workplace experiences to develop job skills."

The members of the Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion will provide varied perspectives to help guide the Administration's strategy on growing apprenticeship programs nationwide, Acosta said in the release.

The group's mission is to identify strategies to promote apprenticeships, especially in areas where current programs don't meet the need. Sweeney said the NRA was glad to be represented on the body.

"We look forward to streamlining and expanding the apprenticeship program to open additional pathways to achieve the American Dream," Sweeney said.

National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation recently received nearly $2 million from the Department of Labor to create and enroll at least 450 individuals in such programs.

The task force is chaired by Acostawith vice-chairs including U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. Members include:

1. Michael Bellaman, president and CEO, Associated Builders and Contractors
2. Joshua Bolten, president and CEO, Business Roundtable
3. Walter Bumphus, president and CEO, American Association of Community Colleges
4. Wesley Bush, Chairman, CEO and president, Northrup Grumman
5. The Honorable Dennis Daugaard, governor, South Dakota
6. Emily Stover DeRocco, founder and CEO, E3 Engage Educate Employ
7. Cari Dominguez, director, Manpower Inc.
8. Thomas J. Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
9. Montez King, executive director, National Institute for Metalworking Skills
10. Andrew Liveris, chairman and CEO, Dow Chemical Company
11. Katherine Lugar, president and CEO, American Hotel and Lodging Association
12. Douglas J. McCarron, General President, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America
13. Sean McGarvey, president, North America's Building Trades Unions
14. Marc H. Morial, CEO, National Urban League
15. John Ratzenberger, workforce training advocate
16. The Honorable Kim Reynolds, governor, Iowa
17. Mark B. Rosenberg, Board of Directors, Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities
18. Joseph Sellers Jr., General President, International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers
19. Dawn Sweeney, President and CEO, National Restaurant Association
20. Jay Timmons, President and CEO, National Association of Manufacturers