Martha Ponge is the Director of National Apprenticeships at NIICA, where she leads the development and execution of apprenticeship programs across the U.S. in strategic industry sectors. She plays a crucial role in NIICA’s GAINS (Growing Apprenticeships in Nanotechnology and Semiconductors) Program under a national contract with the U.S. Department of Labor.
With over 25 years of experience in workforce development, Martha has supported individuals at all career stages in high-tech, high-demand sectors. Before joining NIICA, Martha was the Director of Apprenticeship for the NYS Manufacturer’s Association (MACNY). She was instrumental in establishing MACNY as the first manufacturing association to act as a group sponsor and intermediary for registered apprenticeships in New York. Her efforts expanded MIAP to include seven organizations statewide.
She also served as a Subject Matter Expert for JFF (Jobs for the Future), developing Registered Apprenticeship programs for national manufacturing companies. Martha’s career began as a high school Career and Technical Education teacher, preparing students for engineering careers. She also served as an adult training instructor for BOCES and a tenured faculty member at SUNY Broome County in the Engineering Science Department.
Martha holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from Clarkson University and a Master’s in Vocational and Technical Education. A passionate advocate for workforce development, Martha frequently speaks at national events and supports state and federal workforce development initiatives. Committed to improving the quality of life for all workers, she strives to build equitable and accessible career pathways for individuals regardless of their education or experience. Martha is a longtime resident of Central New York.