Episode 21

full
Published on:

10th Aug 2026

How Manufacturers Can Attract Gen Z Talent Through Apprenticeships with 2026 Apprentice of the Year Sarah Morgan

Why do so many manufacturers struggle to attract younger workers while companies with strong apprenticeship programs have candidates lining up?

In this episode of The Manufacturers Network Podcast, Lisa Ryan sits down with Sarah Morgan, Toolmaking Apprentice at R&D Leverage (an Adler Company) and the 2026 Apprentice of the Year recognized by the Mold Technologies Division.

Sarah shares how a high school manufacturing tour changed the direction of her career, why apprenticeships are one of manufacturing's strongest recruiting tools, and what employers can do differently to attract, train, and retain the next generation of skilled trades professionals.

Whether you're a manufacturing executive, HR leader, plant manager, educator, or parent exploring career options, this conversation offers practical insights into workforce development, mentorship, and succession planning.

In This Episode You'll Learn

  • Why high school manufacturing tours influence career decisions
  • How apprenticeship programs help solve the skilled labor shortage
  • What Gen Z employees look for in manufacturing employers
  • Why visibility and outreach matter more than ever for recruiting
  • The importance of mentorship and knowledge transfer before experienced employees retire
  • How reverse mentoring strengthens relationships between experienced workers and younger employees
  • Why manufacturing careers offer multiple career paths without requiring a traditional four-year degree
  • How tuition reimbursement and continuous learning improve employee retention
  • Ways manufacturers can partner with local schools to build future talent pipelines

Key Topics Discussed

  • Manufacturing apprenticeships
  • Workforce development
  • Skilled trades careers
  • Toolmaking
  • Plastic injection mold manufacturing
  • Manufacturing career pathways
  • Employee development
  • Succession planning
  • Knowledge transfer
  • Reverse mentoring
  • High school career exploration
  • Manufacturing education
  • Recruiting younger workers
  • Gen Z workforce
  • Manufacturing leadership
  • Employee retention
  • Manufacturing workforce shortages

Memorable Quotes

"We'll teach you if you don't know."
"Recognition doesn't have to be a big thing. People notice when you care."
"There are so many different jobs in manufacturing. You can find your niche."
"I'm learning something new every day."

Why This Conversation Matters

Manufacturing companies across North America are facing an aging workforce, increasing retirements, and a growing shortage of skilled workers. Sarah's story demonstrates that attracting younger talent isn't simply about higher wages or better technology. It's about visibility, mentorship, career pathways, and creating opportunities for people who may never have considered manufacturing.

Her experience also highlights the importance of structured apprenticeship programs, partnerships with schools, and transferring critical institutional knowledge before experienced employees retire.

About Sarah Morgan

Sarah Morgan is a Toolmaking Apprentice at R&D Leverage, an Adler Company, and the recipient of the 2026 Apprentice of the Year Award from the Mold Technologies Division. She is currently completing her Toolmaking degree while working full-time and serves on her local ITEC advisory board, helping strengthen partnerships between manufacturers and schools.

Connect

Learn more about R&D Leverage:

https://www.rdleverage.com

Connect with Lisa Ryan:

https://www.LisaRyanSpeaks.com

Learn more about Smart Plant: Aligning AI, Automation, and People

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H2FVPZZ5

Listen to more episodes of The Manufacturers Network Podcast:

https://www.manufacturers-network.com/

Recommended For

  • Manufacturing CEOs
  • Plant Managers
  • HR Professionals
  • Operations Leaders
  • Manufacturing Executives
  • Workforce Development Professionals
  • Technical Education Leaders
  • Career and Technical Education (CTE) Instructors
  • Apprenticeship Coordinators
  • Manufacturing Association Leaders
  • Students exploring manufacturing careers
  • Parents and educators
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About the Podcast

The Manufacturers Network
Real conversations with leaders in manufacturing, automation, and workforce retention.
The Manufacturers’ Network is where manufacturing leaders, plant managers, and industry innovators come to talk straight about what’s working and what’s not, on the shop floor and beyond.

Each week, host Lisa Ryan sits down with people who live and breathe this business: operations executives, HR directors, engineers, and founders who are building stronger teams and smarter systems in the face of nonstop change.

Listeners gain real-world insights on:
• Employee retention and workforce engagement
• Automation, AI, and the future of skilled trades
• Supply chain and operations leadership
• Safety, sustainability, and company culture that lasts

If you’re tired of generic “leadership talk” and want practical conversations from people who get it, this podcast is for you.

New episodes drop every Monday and are short enough for your commute, sharp enough to shape your week.

Subscribe and be part of the conversation that’s connecting manufacturers across industries, one story at a time.

About your host

Profile picture for Lisa Ryan

Lisa Ryan

As a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), an award-winning speaker and author of ten books, Lisa Ryan, CSP, works with her clients to develop employee and client engagement initiatives and strategies that keep their top talent and best clients from becoming someone else’s.
Lisa’s expertise includes: strengthening workplace culture, improving employee engagement, increasing customer retention, and initiating gratitude strategies (“Grategies”) for personal and professional benefit. Lisa’s participants enjoy her high energy, enthusiastic delivery and quick wit and they leave the session with ideas they are committed to acting on immediately to make positive workplace culture changes.
Lisa costars in two films with other experts including Jack Canfield of “Chicken Soup for the Soul.” She is the Past-President of the National Speakers Association, Ohio Chapter and holds an MBA from Cleveland State University.

Relevant Experience

• Keynote, breakout or workshop speaker at more than 100 national and international conferences
• Thirteen years of industrial marketing and sales experience, including seven years in the welding industry – and yes, she does weld
• Host of “Elevate Your Engagement Levels: What You Need to Know” on the Elite Expert Network and the C-Suite Network
• Creator of “The Seven Mistakes Managers Make to Crush Company Culture” video series
• Best-selling author of ten books, including “Manufacturing Engagement: 98 Proven Strategies to Attract and Retain Your Industry’s Top Talent”
• Award-winning speaker