The nation’s largest Coca-Cola bottler, Central Piedmont Community College, and the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance® are collaborating to foster economic mobility.
Coke Consolidated is funding up to 30 apprenticeships at Central Piedmont Community College to spur interest in high-demand positions in manufacturing, equipment repair and logistics at its Charlotte-area facilities.
Qualified applicants will receive financial support for career certificates in fields such as HVAC repair and manufacturing, while gaining experience through part-time positions at Coke Consolidated. The application process will begin in early 2023.
“These scholarships exemplify our commitment to empowering the next generation of diverse servant leaders,” Dave Katz, president and chief operating officer at Coke Consolidated, said. “We’re looking for talented candidates who want to grow their skill sets and their careers.”
“Coke Consolidated is dedicated to providing opportunities for new and existing teammates to continuously learn and grow,” Brent Tollison, a senior vice president at Coke Consolidated and member of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance Board of Trustees, said. “We want to invest in people and to provide the resources and encouragement they need to achieve their goals. These aren’t job opportunities. These are career opportunities.”
Coke Consolidated is committed to workforce development and economic opportunity in the communities it serves. Applicants selected for an apprenticeship will have ongoing training and leadership development opportunities, as part of their employment experience.
Central Piedmont’s credentialing programs are flexible and designed to meet the needs of students who also are working part-time. Coke Consolidated’s apprenticeship program targets the more than 65% of adults in the region who don’t have a bachelor’s degree.
“Central Piedmont is pleased and proud to partner with Coke Consolidated to offer students a pathway to invaluable work experience and rewarding, high-demand careers in manufacturing,” Kandi Deitemeyer, Central Piedmont president, said. “We are eager to open the program, and we thank Coke Consolidated for their support and collaboration.”
Coke Consolidated is working with the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance (CLT Alliance) to highlight opportunities in the manufacturing sector and to promote scholarships for interested applicants. The Charlotte Region is home to more than 3,600 manufacturing companies, which together employ more 145,000 people. 7,500 new manufacturing jobs have been announced in the region since 2020, according to the CLT Alliance.
“Manufacturing is integral in the Charlotte Region, and the industry and next generation of talent are poised to shape our future economy,” Janet LaBar, CLT Alliance president and CEO, said. “We applaud Coke Consolidated’s commitment to strengthening our workforce and believe collaborations like this will strengthen our pipeline, enrich our economy, and provide a pathway to opportunity for our region’s residents.”
Coca-Cola Consolidated currently has open positions in the Charlotte area, including many technical jobs. Learn more by visiting Careers.CokeConsolidated.com.
