Domarion (left) with Dave Martin, co-owner of D&D Electric, LLC.
Apprenticeship and Special Grants Coordinator Erica Travelstead reports on her customer. “Domarion enrolled in the Apprenticeship Illinois program in July 2024. Domarion was an employer referral from D & D Electric, LLC in Harrisburg, Illinois. D & D Electric sponsor their own Registered Apprenticeship Program for solar panel installers and hired Domarion for one of their apprenticeship spots,” Erica explains.
“We provided tools for Domarion through our Apprenticeship Intermediary grant, and provided an On-the-Job Training and other supportive services through the QUEST grant,” Erica adds.
Domarion is thankful for the training opportunity. “When I graduated from high school, D & D hired me on with little to no experience, developed me, and now I can do anything on a home solar, everything on a solar farm, basically. It really means a lot. Being young and being from where I’m from, you really don’t have a lot of job opportunities. D & D offered me an opportunity to really make some good money and get some good experience,” Domarion says.
Domarion offers advice to those considering enrolling in an Apprenticeship Program, “[Apprenticeship is] a great opportunity… stick with it and you’ll get more job opportunities and won’t be so replaceable. Apprenticeship makes you more valuable to your employer.”