Going the Extra Mile: Brianna Bouck Achieves Journeyworker Status in Two Trades

Submitted by The Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY) to NIICA

Original contributor of content: Samantha Wessing, Workforce Development Specialist at MACNY

Indium Corporation employee Brianna Bouck has achieved journeyworker status in not just one, but two trades—a milestone that underscores her determination, growth, and commitment to excellence.

Indium, located in the Mohawk Valley, is a strong champion of Registered Apprenticeship. Under MACNY sponsorship, with NIICA serving as an Intermediary through its Growing Apprenticeships in Nanotechnology and Semiconductors (GAINS) program, Indium has launched Registered Apprenticeship programs across five trades at its four locations.

Brianna began her apprenticeship journey in 2022 as part of the Industrial Manufacturing Technician (IMT) cohort. She went on to become the first Indium employee under MACNY sponsorship to earn two journeyworker certificates—one in IMT and another in Quality Assurance Auditor (QAA).

Starting nearly six years ago in Indium’s production department, Brianna advanced through Quality roles (QA Tech I → QA Tech II → Group Leader) before moving into engineering, where she now creates CAD files and ensures customer requirements are met—skills directly strengthened through apprenticeship.

Her path wasn’t always easy. Balancing full-time work, community college coursework, and raising children required perseverance.

“I feel a sense of accomplishment, pride, and satisfaction becoming a journeyworker not just once, but twice. It makes me feel like more of an asset to the company I work for," she said, adding, “The first trade was an awesome experience that made me want to experience it again. I approached this apprenticeship with more confidence than the IMT apprenticeship. I got to take classes that I knew would help me grow and bring more to my team.”

Taking on back-to-back apprenticeships gave her confidence and technical depth, and even when challenges mounted, she didn’t quit. Her perseverance earned her a place on the President’s List for academic excellence.

When asked what advice she would share with others considering a second trade, Brianna said, “Do it. It’s worth it. It’s an opportunity that not everyone is lucky enough to receive and the feeling you get is amazing knowing you accomplished such a big thing.”

This project has been funded, either wholly or in part, with Federal funds from the Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration under Contract number, 1605C2-22-C-006, the contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Labor, nor documents mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement of same by the U.S. Government.