Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg were in Pella Thursday to meet with Pella High School students and graduates participating in the apprenticeship program at a roundtable discussion. Reynolds and Gregg asked questions of apprenticeship participants currently working for Vermeer Corporation, and the pair received updates about the expansion of the program to other community businesses, including Central College, Pella Corporation, Weiler, Co-Line, and PPI. Reynolds said after the interactive event she was excited about the future of apprenticeships, and that Pella is the first non-metro community to embrace the program and set an example for the rest of Iowa. The following students talked to the Governor and Lt. Governor about their role with Vermeer during the meeting:

Wesley Heuschkel
Carson Reynolds
Tyler Sterk
Hunter Tooley
Rebekkah Weers
Charles VanderVelden
Landon Toom
Hunter Kephart

Sterk and Kephart both say they’ve had a positive experience working for Vermeer through three months of the apprenticeship, and appreciated the chance to speak with the governor about the program.