Local company receives presidential award Program for apprentices celebrated
President Donald Trump has recognized the success of a local company's apprenticeship program.
White House officials announced in a news release Thursday that Oberg Industries is one of nine companies to receive the Pledge to America's Workers Presidential Award.
Oberg, a manufacturer of precision components and tooling, has two plants in Buffalo Township and headquarters in Freeport.
Oberg joins lofty company in receiving the award, as Lockheed Martin Corp. and Volkswagen Group of America are fellow awardees.
The Pledge to America's Workers initiative is aimed at increasing the private sector's role in training American workers for American jobs, according to commerce.gov.
The award recognizes companies' commitment to providing training and education for workers.
“On behalf of the president, I am honored to award nine extraordinary organizations the Pledge to America's Workers Award for their commitment to the exceptionalism of the American worker and for their steadfast resolve to equip their employees with the tools to succeed in the jobs of today and tomorrow,” said Ivanka Trump, adviser to the president.
Ken Eck, marketing and communications manager for Oberg Industries, said the paid apprenticeship program at the company was instituted by company founder Don Oberg in the 1950s and registered with the state in the 1970s so graduating apprentices could have certification in their field.
Eck said Oberg offers 15 different programs in the newly renovated and updated apprentice training center in Freeport.
Oberg now has about 60 apprentices enrolled in three- to four-year programs. More than 1,000 apprentices have graduated from the Oberg programs since the 1970s.
Apprentices receive their journey papers at graduation, meaning they can go anywhere to pursue a career, but 78% remain at Oberg, Eck said.
“So there is some loyalty there on their part because we've made an investment in them and their training,” he said.
Some employees who have graduated from the Oberg apprenticeship program have worked at the company for 35 years, Eck said.
While no representatives from the company were able to make the trip to Washington, D.C., to accept the presidential award, company officials are thrilled to be named a winner.
“It's a great honor and recognition for our long-standing apprenticeship program and workforce development,” Eck said.
He said Oberg Industries applied for the award in part because the company hosted Vice President Mike Pence earlier this year at its Buffalo Township manufacturing plants.
Eck said the company will receive a trophy at some point to commemorate the award.
“It was very nice to be recognized,” he said.
Other winners were Associated Builders and Contractors, National Retail Federation, Northrop Grumman Corp., Textron Inc., and Zurich North America.
The current slate of winners is the first for the award, which was created by the Trump administration in 2018.
