As manufacturers across the material handling industry grapple with skilled labor shortages, The Raymond Corporation continues to invest in developing its future workforce through a youth apprenticeship program that has been preparing high school students for careers in advanced manufacturing and engineering for more than 30 years.
This month, Raymond and the Broome-Tioga Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) celebrated the graduation of six seniors from the company’s Youth Apprenticeship Program, a two-year initiative that combines classroom instruction with hands-on experience at Raymond’s headquarters in Greene, New York.
The 2025-26 graduating class includes Kendrick Baucas, John Bergholtz, Steven Bergholtz, Alexander Kehl, Aiden Messina and Andrew Roberts.
Building the Next Generation of Talent
Junior and senior high school students participating in the apprenticeship program spend two years gaining practical experience across multiple business functions, including engineering, manufacturing, finance, marketing and product development. The initiative is part of Raymond’s broader commitment to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education while helping address one of manufacturing’s most persistent challenges: the growing shortage of skilled workers.
“Raymond’s Youth Apprenticeship Program is built to aid in addressing current industry challenges and foster exceptional talent to address the widening skills gap,” said Brian Warner, apprenticeship mentor and manager of product regulatory compliance at The Raymond Corporation. “Having mentored apprentices for the past 10 years, I’ve seen how hands-on experience and exposure to different disciplines can help students discover their interests and future career paths.”
Partnership With Local Schools
The apprenticeship program is operated in partnership with the Broome-Tioga BOCES Schools-to-Careers program, providing students with opportunities to explore careers in advanced manufacturing before graduating from high school.
“The Broome-Tioga BOCES Youth Apprenticeship Program gives young people in our community an invaluable leg up in pursuing meaningful careers, but we can’t create these opportunities without participation from companies like Raymond,” said Melinda Russell, executive director of Schools-to-Careers for Broome-Tioga BOCES. “We appreciate Raymond’s continuing support of the program and its investment in the next generation of technology professionals.”
Investing in the Future Workforce
While many manufacturers continue searching for experienced technicians, engineers, and manufacturing professionals, apprenticeship and cooperative education programs have become an increasingly important strategy for developing future talent.
By exposing students to real-world manufacturing environments before they enter the workforce, companies such as Raymond are helping build a pipeline of skilled employees while giving students practical experience that can shape future education and career decisions.
The Raymond Corporation, a Toyota Group company, manufactures electric forklift trucks and intralogistics solutions for customers throughout North America and global markets.
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