RTMA in the News

The Rochester Technology & Manufacturing Association (RTMA) announced it has received a gift from Canandaigua National Bank to support the Association’s sponsorship of the New York State Registered Apprenticeship Program. Canandaigua Bank awarded the RTMA $5,000 to support apprentices throughout the greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region. Canandaigua National Bank chose the RTMA because the apprenticeship program aligns with the bank’s community development pillar by suppo

The RTMA partnered with NextCorps, Monroe County Economic Development, MCUNY APEX Accelerator, and the Submarine Industrial Base on the second annual Workforce Development Summit. The event featured the RTMA's Registered Apprenticeship, Pre-Apprenticeship, and Youth Programs. The Association showcased the Real Life Rosies and Advance 2 Apprenticeship pre-apprenticeship programs and its sponsorship of the NYS Registered Apprenticeship Program. "The pipeline is open and we ar

Dozens of attendees from more than 15 manufacturing companies attended a Symposium on Artificial Intelligence (AI) hosted by the RTMA in collaboration with the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Topics included the impact of AI on advanced manufacturing, adopting and leading with AI from a workforce and organizational perspective, and a demonstration of AI’s impact in the workplace. The RTMA and RIT are partnering on a future, exclusive training program on how AI impact

Spencerport, NY – The Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association (RTMA) and Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES Center for Workforce Development (CWD) today celebrated the graduation of the latest cohort of the Real Life Rosies © Pre-Apprenticeship Program, supporting the Finger Lakes manufacturing industry. Eleven participants successfully completed the six-week, 72-hour training program, earning the Certified Manufacturing Associate (CMfgA) credential through Tooling U-SME. Re

Rochester, NY — The Rochester Technology & Manufacturing Association (RTMA) is proud to be a part of the Hello Rochester digital magazine, part of the Hello Nation program. Hello Nation was launched in partnership with the City of Rochester and US Conference of Mayors with CGI. The national platform promotes the region and showcases local industry experts. The RTMA contributed by discussing how the association is working with members, educators and the community to build the

Rochester, NY — The Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association (RTMA), in partnership with Monroe Community College (MCC), celebrated the spring graduation of the Real Life Rosies © (RLR) Pre‑Apprenticeship Program at the Finger Lakes Workforce Development Center in Rochester. Eleven students completed the intensive 72‑hour workforce training program designed to prepare individuals for careers in advanced manufacturing and registered apprenticeships. The curriculum in

The Orleans Niagara BOCES in Medina recently celebrated its 7th annual Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Signing Day. Eight students from the school’s Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering program are earning on-the-job experience through paid co-ops in machining at local advanced manufacturing companies. Throughout the last several years, FLYAP has connected dozens of ON BOCES seniors to paid co-ops at several advanced manufacturing companies in the region. Students also rec

The Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program (FLYAP) recently held its 7th annual “Signing Day” at Monroe #2 BOCES in Spencerport. Twelve students from the school’s manufacturing programs are earning on-the-job experience through paid co-ops at local advanced manufacturing companies. These students range from its advanced manufacturing and engineering, welding and HVAC programs. Since its inception, FLYAP has connected more than 825 students to nearly 150 businesses througho

Rochester - The Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association (RTMA) and Monroe Community College (MCC) today celebrated the second graduation for the Advance 2 Apprenticeship (A2A) Pre-Apprenticeship Program at the Finger Lakes Workforce Development Center (FWD Center) in Rochester. Twelve participants completed the four-week, 72-hour training program which included the Certified Manufacturing Associate (CMfgA) credential through Tooling U-SME, OSHA-10, soft skills and

Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association workforce development partner MACNY celebrated recent graduates of its Advance 2 Apprenticeship® and Real Life Rosies® direct-entry pre-apprenticeship programs with a recent ceremony for the Onondaga Community College cohort, along with milestone events in Rochester and Binghamton, highlighting the programs’ expanding impact across New York State. The celebrations honored program graduates and recognized employer partners who

Batavia – The Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program (FLYAP) held its 6 th annual “Signing Day” Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at Genesee Community College’s BEST Center in Batavia. More than 45 students from the school’s electromechanical programs are earning on-the-job experience through paid co-ops at 11 local advanced manufacturing companies. “Team FLYAP is excited to again partner with the students, instructors and administration at the Genesee Valley BOCES in Batavia

Spencerport – The Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association (RTMA) and Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES Center for Workforce Development (CWD) today celebrated its first-ever graduation for the Real Life Rosies © Pre-Apprenticeship Program. Fourteen participants completed the six-week, 72-hour training program which included the Certified Manufacturing Associate (CMfgA) credential through Tooling U-SME. Real Life Rosies Rochester Class of 2025 “BOCES 2 CWD is thrilled to hav

The Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association (RTMA), Monroe Community College (MCC) today celebrated its first-ever graduation for the Advance 2 Apprenticeship Pre-Apprenticeship Program at the Finger Lakes Workforce Development Center (FWD Center) in Rochester. Fourteen participants completed the four-week, 72-hour training program which included the Certified Manufacturing Associate (CMfgA) credential through Tooling U-SME. “The RTMA is proud to graduate the fir

Rochester – The Rochester Technology & Manufacturing Association is preparing for a leadership transition with the upcoming retirement of longtime Executive Director Bob Coyne, who will step down on April 1, 2026. Succeeding him will be the RTMA’s current Director of Workforce Development, Rich Turner. The RTMA Board of Directors named Coyne its second Executive Director in January 2021 after serving the Association as its Workforce Development Director from 2018 to 2020. P

The event saw an impressive turnout, with more than 120 students and chaperones attending our Women in Manufacturing Summit. Throughout the day, students participated in an engaging Q&A session with our moderator and panelists, gaining meaningful insight into career opportunities within the manufacturing industry. Students with our panelist. The Women in Manufacturing Summit is presented by the Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program. One of the missions for the Finger Lake

Rochester – Students and educators from nearly 50 schools across the city of Rochester, Monroe County and Finger Lakes region attended the 4 th annual ROC With Your Hands career exploration event today at the Rochester Community Sports Complex. The event is the region’s largest single-day event of its kind in the region. ROC With Your Hands is organized by the Rochester Technology & Manufacturing Association (RTMA) in partnership with the city of Rochester, Monroe County,

The RTMA kicked off its first ever Real Life Rosies training program this week at the Monroe 2 BOCES Center for Workforce Development in Spencerport. Participants will receive free training to prepare them for careers and apprenticeships in advanced manufacturing. Inaugural class of the Real Life Rosies The program also provides participants with supportive services, tools and materials and incentives. Real Life Rosies and its sister program, Advance 2 Apprenticeship, is pr

Batavia – The Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association, the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership, Genesee Community College and Genesee County Economic Development Center today celebrated graduates from the 5 th annual Genesee Valley Mechatronics Pre-Apprenticeship Boot Camp. Participants received six weeks of free classroom instruction at the Genesee Valley BOCES in Batavia, paired with paid on-the-job experience at a local advanced manufacturing company. Oxbo

Rochester – Seven participants graduated Thursday from the Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association’s (RTMA) inaugural Monroe County Advanced Manufacturing Pre-Apprenticeship Program. The six-week program matched participants with employers in the city of Rochester and Monroe County while participating in classroom training at the Finger Lakes Workforce Development Center (FWD Center) at Monroe Community College. The pre-apprenticeship program provides participant

Batavia – The Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association and workforce development partners from the GLOW Region (Genesee, Livingston, Orleans & Wyoming counties) Thursday celebrated graduates from the first-ever Genesee Valley Welding Pre-Apprenticeship Boot Camp. Participants received six weeks of free classroom instruction at the Genesee Valley BOCES in Batavia, paired with paid on-the-job experience at a local advanced manufacturing company. Oxbo, Graham and Gor