Green Bay, Wis.- (July 27, 2007)- First Lady Jessica Doyle is scheduled to visit one of the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce’s Youth Apprenticeship worksites – Aurora BayCare Hospital - on Monday, July 30, at 11:30 a.m. The hospital, located at 2845 Greenbrier Dr., will host Mrs. Doyle until approximately 12 p.m. She is anticipated to meet with a few local students who are enrolled in the Youth Apprenticeship program, which combines academic and technical classroom instruction with mentored on-the-job learning.

"Mrs. Doyle is well aware of the importance of the program in providing students the hands-on learning that makes them more employable in the marketplace," said Melinda Pollen, Youth Apprenticeship program manager. "The visit to Aurora BayCare is especially appropriate due to the marketplace demands for more students in the health services and medical fields."

The Youth Apprenticeship Program accepted 86 students into the program this year, bringing the total to 133 students enrolled in the program. The program’s benefits hinge on employer participation, however, and is in need of more employers to work with students, providing mentoring and training to the future workforce.
"As we know, in the next 10 years, the anticipated retirements of long-term employees in industries around the greater Green Bay area could pose a significant challenge for local businesses," noted Pollen. "This program offers us the opportunity to train the future workforce and fill the potential employment gap."

Participating employers are especially needed for high-demand industries, including the health services field, engineering, information technology/networking, and other viable employment areas of auto collision, auto technology, printing services, drafting and design, logistics business management, cabinetry, construction, welding, manufacturing/machining, industrial equipment technology and financial services.

For more information on the First Lady’s visit or participation in the Youth Apprenticeship Program, please contact Melinda Pollen at 920-593-3407.

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Established in 1882, the mission of the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce is to promote economic and community development. Chamber programs include Advance, Partners in Education, Leadership Green Bay, Brown County Teen Leadership, Current--the Young Professionals Network, Good Government Council, the International Business Development Consortium and the Small Business Council.