Silgan Employee Completes Center for Workforce Development Apprenticeship

Silgan Plastics’ Casey Thornton recently completed an Industrial Maintenance Technician apprenticeship through the East Central College Center for Workforce Development (CWD), providing a significant boost to his training and career path.

Thornton, who has been employed at Silgan in Union for nearly 10 years, seized the opportunity when the manufacturer sought additional maintenance personnel. The apprenticeship, offered through the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) apprenticeship program and coordinated by ECC’s CWD, played a crucial role in advancing Thornton’s career and enhancing his understanding of industrial processes.

Reflecting on his experience, Thornton said he acquired valuable basic maintenance tech skills early in the program, which laid a solid foundation for his career. “I was able to apply the different philosophies taught in the courses at work and expand upon them there,” he added. “I also learned to better collaborate with other people on projects I am involved in.”

Thornton highly recommends the program to anyone seeking to advance in the industrial maintenance field. He praised the program’s flexibility, which allowed him to balance work, family, and education seamlessly.

Thornton is the second employee at Silgan to complete the apprenticeship, and according to Silgan officials, participants have shown accelerated progress toward becoming qualified mechanics, increased engagement, a positive attitude, and readiness to take on challenging tasks.

Melissa Richards, ECC’s CWD Apprenticeship and Business Training Coordinator, emphasized the impact of DOL-registered apprenticeship programs, which span over 1,000 occupations and continue to expand.

“Our focus extends beyond technical apprenticeships; we’re expanding into healthcare and information technology fields,” she said. “Every dollar invested in an apprenticeship yields approximately $1.50 in return on investment for employers.”

ECC’s CWD is committed to delivering industry-leading training solutions to meet both national and local needs. For more information about apprenticeship programs, contact ECC’s CWD at Training@eastcentral.edu or 636-649-5800.