WIA – Industry Intermediary
An Industry Intermediary serves as a conduit between employers, industry partners, and the United States Department of Labor to accelerate apprenticeship program development and help broker new sector-based apprenticeship partnerships at the regional and national level. Intermediaries are uniquely positioned to convene employers and other key partners to determine workforce trends and can assist in blending and braiding customized services and incentive funding to grow the demand for new apprenticeship programs.
The technical assistance provided to each participating employer by WIA eases the administrative burden of program startup. Contact WIA to schedule an overview of the employer registration process.
Program Administrators
Jonathan S. Adelstein – Program Sponsor
Jonathan S. Adelstein is the President & CEO of the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA). WIA represents nearly 200 companies devoted to building wireless broadband facilities that connect every corner of America. Since he became President in 2012, over 100 new members have joined the association, the annual wireless infrastructure show has broken participation records, a new association was formed in Europe, and a new nationwide training initiative and WIA PAC were launched. WIA is the principal organization representing the companies that build, design, own and manage telecommunications facilities throughout the world. Its members include carriers, infrastructure providers and professional services firms, with a combined market cap of over $400 billion. Mr. Adelstein served as Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from 2002 to 2009, for which he was twice nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. At the FCC he achieved bipartisan progress on issues including broadband expansion, widening access to the Internet and media diversity.
In 2009, following the FCC, Mr. Adelstein was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate to serve as the Administrator of U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service. There, he oversaw a $60 billion portfolio of rural electric, water, and telecommunications infrastructure loans. He spearheaded the strategic investment of nearly $7 billion under the Recovery Act into rural broadband and water infrastructure, as part of annual budgets of up to $15 billion.
As a member of the Obama Administration, Mr. Adelstein was appointed as a member of the White House National Science and Technology Council, which coordinates science and technology policy across the Federal government, and the White House Business Council, leading Council meetings with business leaders across America.
Previously, Mr. Adelstein held a number of legislative staff positions over 15 years in the U.S. Senate, culminating as a senior policy advisor to the Senate Majority Leader. Mr. Adelstein received an M.A. in History and a B.A., with Distinction, in Political Science from Stanford University. He attended the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and served as a Teaching Fellow in history at Harvard University and a Teaching Assistant at Stanford University. He is a graduate of Phillips Academy, Andover. He was born and raised in Rapid City, South Dakota. An avid musician, he has performed with artists from local garage bands to members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He currently lives with his wife and two children in the Washington, D.C. area.
Brent Weil – Vice President of Workforce Development
As Vice President of Workforce Development, Brent Weil leads WIA’s workforce programs aimed at building a pipeline of qualified workers for the wireless industry. These initiatives include the Telecommunications Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP) and the Telecommunications Education Center (TEC).
Brent brings more than 20 years of experience in workforce development, staffing, public-private partnerships, and education and training solutions. He came to WIA from Argentum, the industry association representing the senior living industry. There, he led initiatives that raised awareness of senior living careers and organized industry leaders around workforce solutions. These efforts led to Argentum’s national sponsorship of a registered apprenticeship for caregivers in assisted living and a $6 million grant to achieve more than 7,200 apprentices nationwide.
Previously, Brent worked for The Manufacturing Institute at the National Association of Manufacturers, where he managed a team focused on industry engagement and educational partnerships and executed a strategic plan to build career pathways into manufacturing. He has also served as vice president of staffing and mid-Atlantic operations for PrimeFlight Aviation Services in Nashville, Tenn., and as manager of national partnerships for the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C.
Brent earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at Stanford University and a master’s degree in education at George Washington University.
When Brent isn’t playing the samba, he is probably fencing for fun and competition.
Deb Bennett – Director of Apprenticeship
Deb Bennett is responsible for the overall administrative operation of TIRAP and compliance with National Standards. She works directly with participating employers to coordinate a wide range of activities related to the registration process. Contact Deb at deb.bennett@wia.org to learn more about TIRAP and the registration process.