Stronger Together: Inside the Career WayZ Youth Apprenticeship Revolution
November 10, 2025
Recently, something powerful happened at the Lake of the Ozarks. The Registered Youth Apprenticeship Leadership Conference brought together the most impactful educators, workforce leaders, and industry champions in Missouri —the individuals building real, working pipelines between classrooms and careers. Great job organizing and leading us, Linda Stinson, Director of Career Pathways, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. This wasn’t a “sit and listen” event. This was where the trailblazer leaders of Missouri’s apprenticeship program stepped up, shared their playbooks, and advanced the future of youth apprenticeship.
Career WayZ Youth Apprenticeship Accelerator Team Panel
Our Career WayZ Team of Experts led the wrap-up of an extraordinary gathering of RYA leaders. Founder and Owner Cynthia Walker moderated, and attendees gained an inside look at the impact of our “Stronger Together” employer-driven model, which is reshaping how Missouri accelerates the youth workforce pipeline. Our employers (representing our 15 employer partners and growing) and experts shared insights on how to best engage with employers and met our training experts, Lori and Dan Shows. We were especially grateful to have Lori Bonnot of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, who shared her insights and resources to best support the RYA initiative. To give the RYA family a final send-off, Dan Fitter discussed the economic impact our apprentices have on just one county in Missouri. An employer-coached and supported program has allowed us to accelerate the educational, economic, and community impact by 'Mobilizing Tomorrow's Workforce, TODAY!
Panelists included:
Denise Nickles, SHRM-SCP – Trinity Products | Human Resource Manager
Lori Bonnot – Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry | Director of Workforce/Grants Brian Crouse
Patrick Brown Andy McHaffie – FT. ZUMWALT R-II SCHOOL DISTRICT | Apprenticeship Coordinator & WBL Facilitator
Dan Fitter – St. Charles County Economic Development Executive Committee Immediate Past Chair | Quest Specialty Products (Owner, Retired)
Lori Shows Dan Shows – Shows Coaching, LLC | Team Dynamics & Leadership Strategist | Co-Founder, Shows Coaching Leadership Training
When school administrators support and engage in the RYA program, there is a faster and stronger momentum. Thank you, Dr. Brandon Russell, Dr. Pat Brown, and Tyler Abernathy for your continued collaboration and vision.
A Dream Team of Apprenticeship Leaders
This year’s conference lineup truly was a dream team of trailblazers who have been paving the way for years:
Keith Davis - Recognized for his accomplishment of being the FIRST program in the state to register in 2016, with the leadership of Oscar Carter, Lebanon CTC
Julie Carter – Director of Workforce Development
Dr. Roger Barnes – DESE CTE Coordinator
Linda Stinson – Director of Missouri Career Pathways | DESE Career Pathway Counselors & RYA Consultants
Dr. Brandon Russell – ACTE National President & Director at Columbia Area Career Center
Donna Brake – Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development Manager of Apprenticeship and Work-Based Learning (the real OG in the room)
Yvonne Wright – Former DHEWD, now leading Youth with Disabilities initiatives at National Disability Institute
I was especially proud to hear from my former colleagues in Washington, MO — Philip King, Director at the School District of Washington Four Rivers Career Center , and Katelyn Huber, MBA, Business Connection Coordinator. During COVID, I had the privilege of launching this program alongside their outstanding staff and employers. Since then, they’ve taken it to new heights, becoming the first in the state in active RYA apprentices. They’ve proven what can happen when a Superintendent & community leaders see the need to prepare students for careers while under the school's wing. Aaron Griesheimer, Amanda Griesheimer, Annie Wieland.
Trailblazers & Insider Success Stories
Real leaders sharing best practices and practical boots on the ground processes — the educators and coordinators who are building the pipeline every single day.
Ashley Clift of @Bolivar High School — a pioneer and advocate for teacher apprenticeships.
Brandon Bradshaw, Career WayZ Cohort 1 apprentice coordinator, apprentice— soon to complete his U.S. DOL apprenticeship. A passionate CTE instructor whose students are thriving.
Dr. Patrick Brown & Andy McHaffie — Missouri’s first Career WayZ U.S. DOL Journeymen Apprenticeship Coordinator, presenting on scaling their program and employer engagement. Their work is a gold-standard model of the Career WayZ Youth Apprenticeship Accelerator.
@Christina Waggoner of Hillyard Technical Center (Career WayZ Journeyman) and her Director, Chris Gagnon — partners since 2018, they’ve built a model program working hand-in-hand with their local and state St. Joseph (Mo.) Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce. St. Joseph School District
BROOKE BROCKMAN - Our newest addition to the Career WayZ lineup. Apprenticeship Coordinator - Wentzville School District
Why This Event Mattered
This wasn’t theory. It was a challenge to take action.
✅ Put students on paid career paths — not sidelines
✅ Equip employers with skilled, ready talent
✅ Connect communities through collaboration, not competition
This is what workforce transformation looks like when the whole team shows up. If you were there, thank you for showing up, leading, and building alongside us. Our Career WayZ employers, experts, and special guests felt the warm Missouri welcome. I hope this becomes an annual RYA family tradition! Thank you DESE for having us!
Brandon Russell, Bryan Davis, Chris Seyer, Mark Seyer, Andrea Rumfelt, Angel Lebak, DM, SHRM-SCP, Chance Henke, Vannette Gilbert, Megan Plantz, Denise Nickles, SHRM-SCP, Megan Morris, MSHRM, Samuel Meyer
Schedule a consultation here: https://careerwayz.org/contact
Follow Career WayZ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/career-wayz-missouri/
Follow Cynthia Walker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-walker-46b8087a/
