Northshore Technical Community College Announces Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship with Laitram and Intralox

LACOMBE, La.- Northshore Technical Community College (NTCC) is proud to announce a new Advanced Manufacturing apprenticeship opportunity made possible through a partnership with Laitram and its affiliated company, Intralox, continuing a shared commitment to workforce development in the region. 

Through this opportunity, Evelyn Kimball and Isaac Fairburn have been selected as Advanced Manufacturing apprentices. Both apprentices will be employed at Intralox’s Hammond location while attending classes at NTCC’s Lacombe Campus. They are enrolled in NTCC’s Advanced Manufacturing program, which will culminate in an associate degree along with multiple industry-based certifications. 

In addition to gaining hands-on industry experience and earning an hourly wage, both apprentices will have their tuition fully funded, allowing them to complete their education while building real-world technical skills in a high-demand field. 

This apprenticeship opportunity builds upon the foundation of the former Greater New Orleans Mechatronics & Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship Program, an innovative workforce initiative that brought together Laitram, McCormick, Elmer Chocolate, Delgado Community College, Northshore Technical Community College, and Nunez Community College. The program addressed talent shortages in advanced manufacturing by teaching the fundamentals of mechatronics—a multidisciplinary field combining mechanics, electronics, computer science, and manufacturing. 

Following the conclusion of the mechatronics apprenticeship program, Laitram chose to continue supporting workforce development independently. This commitment directly resulted in the opportunity for Kimball and Fairburn to become Advanced Manufacturing apprentices through NTCC, with employment provided through Intralox. 

Northshore Technical Community College is grateful for the continued partnership with Laitram and Intralox and their shared dedication to investing in students, strengthening the regional workforce, and creating meaningful career pathways in advanced manufacturing.