Meet our expert!
Stuart Bass is Principal at Progress Worx and a subject matter expert for US Department of Labor-funded programs, including Jobs For the Future Improving Diversity and Equity in Apprenticeships for Manufacturing (IDEA-M) Links to an external site., and the National Innovation Hub for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in Registered Apprenticeship Links to an external site.. Progress Worx is also a partner with the AFL-CIO Working for America Institute Links to an external site. for the USDOL-funded Partnership to Advance Manufacturing Apprenticeship (PAMA) and previously with the Next Gen: Industrial Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship project. Stu provides train-the-trainer workshops for mentors through the International Transportation Learning Center Links to an external site., funded by the Federal Transit Administration. He has delivered his one-day program to public transit agencies across the US. His mentor workshop content is included in the JFF online course, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in Mentorship for Registered Apprenticeship Links to an external site..
Before starting Progress Worx in 2020, Stu was the founding director of Keystone Development Partnership Links to an external site., a non-profit formed by the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO in 2005. He managed grants from the PA Department of Labor and Industry to develop and expand Industry Partnerships statewide and maintained contracts with PA Local Workforce Development Boards. While supporting the PA Apprenticeship and Training Office, he designed the KDP Registered Apprenticeship Navigator Program Links to an external site., which was registered as an apprenticeship in 2020. The National Association of State Workforce Agencies awarded the PA Department of Labor & Industry their Pinnacle for Business Development Award for funding the program startup.
With a Master of Science in Organization Development and Knowledge Management, he has over 20 years of helping industry stakeholders and intermediaries to form partnerships essential for apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs to succeed. Living in Philadelphia, Stu was a certified structural welder at the Southeastern PA Transportation Authority (SEPTA) as a Transport Workers Union member. During his tenure at SEPTA, he served as a Business Agent under six Local 234 administrations. He helped start the statewide Keystone Transit Career Ladder Partnership, where he served as the coordinator. He also was an Ironworker as a certified structural welder and a machine operator, member of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union.