Ponca City, OK — Jerry Bakewell & Associates is celebrating the success of its partnership with Pioneer Technology Center’s Apprenticeship Program, highlighting the measurable impact it has made on their team and operations.
According to Kayla Smith of Jerry Bakewell & Associates, the apprenticeship program has strengthened both the quality and efficiency of training within their office. “The biggest impact is the strength and quality of skills gained to apply to the job,” she shared. “The program also decreased the time it took for a team member to learn and become more independent in their position.”
Smith noted significant growth in their apprentice’s confidence and capabilities, crediting Pioneer Tech’s curriculum for providing access to timely, job-specific resources that complemented on-the-job training. “Placing training on a schedule and building on it, gave the apprentice motivation to tackle new responsibilities,” Smith said. “The overlap between classroom instruction and hands-on experience reinforced their learning and empowered them to take on new challenges. Pioneer Tech provided far more training resources than we could have offered in the office alone.”
For other businesses considering the program, Smith offers strong encouragement. “I would absolutely recommend partnering with Pioneer Tech for an apprenticeship. It improves the quality of your workforce and gives both employers and apprentices access to a nearly endless range of training options. It brings so many more resources within reach.”
She also emphasized how well the partnership aligned with her company’s training goals. “The diversified curriculum at Pioneer Tech provided our team with structured, relevant learning—exactly when it was needed. Being able to connect directly with instructors and explore options helped our workforce make faster progress toward competency,” Smith explained. “The instructors brought real-world experience to the classroom, offering our apprentices valuable insight they could immediately apply on the job.”
Smith concluded that the overall partnership with Pioneer Tech exceeded expectations. “The biggest standout for us has been Pioneer Tech’s willingness to meet us on every level. In developing the Accounting Clerk Apprenticeship together, we built a program designed not only to provide employers with well-trained team members but also to ensure those employees gain skills for a lifetime career. It’s a well-rounded program that benefits everyone involved.”
The Pioneer Tech Apprenticeship Program continues to serve as a vital bridge between education and employment, equipping both businesses and apprentices with the tools needed for success. For more information about Pioneer Technology Center’s Apprenticeship Program, call 580-762-8336 or visit pioneertech.edu.
Pictured left to right Kayla Smith, Jerry Bakewell & Associates, Syra Stucky, Allison Rau and Ian Freeman, Apprenticeship Coordinator. These students completed their Accounting Clerk training with Kayla Smith at Jerry Bakewell & Associates.
