About the Joint Michigan Apprentice Program

The Joint Michigan Apprentice Program (JMAP), a U.S. Department of Labor-certified program, is sponsored by Wolverine Power Cooperative and IBEW Local 876.

Housed at the Wolverine Training Center in Lake City, Michigan, the program is committed to producing safe, high-quality journeymen through exceptional, state-of-the-art apprenticeship training.

The Joint Michigan Apprentice Program features segmented training labs and field instructions performed at a single location in northern Lower Michigan.

For classroom, lab and field training, Wolverine Power Cooperative partners with Northwest Lineman College (NLC), an industry-leading educational institution that provides pre-apprentice, apprentice and journey-level training for hundreds of companies throughout the United States and internationally. Graduates of NLC are highly regarded in the power delivery industry.

The Joint Michigan Apprentice Program is proudly certified by the U.S. Department of Labor. Click the links below to review standards of Apprenticeship.

Wolverine Representatives

  • Tom Sobeck, CEO, Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op
  • Eric Baker, President/CEO, Wolverine Power Cooperative
  • Rob Shelley, Grand Haven Board of Light & Power, Distribution & Engineering Manager

IBEW Representatives

  • Sean Egan, Deputy Director of Labor for the State of Michigan / IBEW Local 876 former General Counsel
  • Mel Crawford, Business Manager, IBEW Local 876
  • Craig Edmonds, Great Lakes Energy, Lineman and IBEW Union Steward

  • Matt Monroe, Safety Specialist, Wolverine Power Cooperative
  • Joe McElroy, Director of Safety, Michigan Electric Cooperative Association
  • Kady Gracik, Loss Control Specialist, Great Lakes Energy
  • Chris Vallier, Utility Lineman, HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Co-op
  • Bill Compeau, Utility Lineman, Presque Isle Electric & Gas
  • Rich Crane, Assistant Business Manager, IBEW Local 876

Program History

Serving Michigan Cooperatives and Municipals for nearly 40 years

  • 1983 – Program founded between Wolverine Power Cooperative and IBEW Local 876
  • 1999 – Program management sponsor transitioned from Wolverine Power Cooperative to Great Lakes Energy
  • 2017 – Joint Michigan Apprentice Program (JMAP) established by Wolverine Power Cooperative and IBEW Local 876 with new curriculum standards
  • 2017 – Wolverine purchases former Baker College facilities in Lake City for JMAP training grounds

Program Overview

Curriculum Provider: Northwest Lineman College

Year 1
Climbing, working in elevated positions, safety and rescue.

Year 2
Transformers, protective grounding, test equipment, safety and rescue.

Year 3
Simulated hot (energized) work, safety and rescue.

Year 4
Electrical equipment (regulators, reclosers, capacitors, transformers), safety and rescue.

Training Facility

 

Classes are held at the Wolverine Training Center

  • Address: 4800 S. Morey Road, Lake City, MI 49651
  • Single site tailored for utility training
  • Centrally located near Cadillac, Michigan
  • 30,000 square foot building with 7 classrooms and 2 large indoor training areas
  • Four unique lineman training areas on the grounds and room for expansion

Interested in touring the Wolverine Training Center? Click here to fill out a request form.