Editor’s Note: April is Colorado Apprenticeship Month, which spotlights apprenticeship programs and shares information with career seekers. This event culminates in National Apprenticeship Week (April 26–May 2, 2026), which highlights the benefits of apprenticeships in developing a highly skilled workforce to meet the talent needs of employers across diverse industries and create pathways for career seekers into in-demand jobs.
After 15 years and three positions at PepsiCo, Thomas Acosta decided to take on a new career challenge.
It began with an email. “PepsiCo was looking for employees to become industrial maintenance apprentices,” Thomas remembers. “The company would train people on the job and pay for them to attend Front Range Community College. They’d already sent one group through the program and were starting a second cohort.”
An Opportunity to Pivot
Thomas had been working as a field service technician since 2016, after earlier roles at PepsiCo in customer service and merchandising. Becoming an apprentice meant stepping away from maintaining and repairing field equipment—think soda fountains, vending machines, beverage coolers—and into the production environment to service the equipment that makes PepsiCo drinks.
The chance to pivot his career and earn a credential intrigued him. “I really like learning new things,” Thomas says. “I thought I’d be crazy not to raise my hand for this.”
Applied Learning—on the Job and in the Classroom
Thomas was one of four PepsiCo employees selected for the industrial maintenance apprenticeship, which began in August 2025.
The cohort splits its time between the PepsiCo plant and FRCC’s Boulder County Campus. Monday through Thursday, they spend mornings inon-the-job training and afternoons at the college’s state-of-the art Center for Integrated Manufacturing—home to FRCC’s advanced manufacturing programs.
Fridays are at the PepsiCo facility, where these student-employees have a full day to apply what they’ve learned about installation, repair and maintenance of production and manufacturing equipment.
Creating a Pipeline of Trained Workers
Over two semesters, the PepsiCo apprentices earn a 28-credit certificate in industrial maintenance that blends classroom lecture and hands-on training.
For Thomas, the apprenticeship is an opportunity to acquire skills, strengthen his career and further his education—without stepping away from work and giving up his income.
For PepsiCo, the program is equally valuable. The company is moving into its new, expanded manufacturing facility near Denver International Airport, bringing employees from different functions to the new site over the rest of the year.
PepsiCo partnered with FRCC in 2024 in anticipation of that transition and growth. It’s investing in advanced production technologies that require skilled maintenance technicians.
Training the Next Generation
At the same time, many workers are approaching retirement, creating a need for employees with the skills to maintain mechanical systems, electrical components and automation. “The maintenance mechanics training us have been in these positions at Pepsi for a long time—between 30 and 50 years,” says Thomas.
“I think that’s the idea behind this apprenticeship model. New maintenance mechanics get their education while they’re immersed in the work, mentored by people doing the job now, so they pick it up faster. It’s an intense schedule but also beneficial.”
A Leader in Workforce Education
Just as PepsiCo’s industrial maintenance apprenticeship addresses the need for more technicians to maintain its modernized production systems, other apprenticeships were born from industry demand.
Front Range Community College’s apprenticeship roots go back to 2019, when the US Department of Labor awarded a $12 million grant to the Colorado Community College System to scale healthcare apprenticeships in fast-growing occupations like medical assisting, sterile processing and pharmacy technology.
Expanding Apprenticeships Into New Fields
After that grant ended, FRCC wove the apprenticeship model into its institutional fabric. The college continued to develop employer partnerships beyond healthcare—in fields such as veterinary sciences, early childhood education, advanced manufacturing, accounting and bookkeeping, and automotive technology.
To date, the college has trained more than 600 apprentices in 22 high-demand occupations across 11 industries, serving about 100 students annually. Front Range currently has 49 employer partners, including several animal hospitals, preschools, medical clinics and hospital systems.
Bridging Workforce Gaps
Sheena Martin, the college’s director of apprenticeships, says FRCC apprenticeships are structured to meet different kinds of workforce needs. “In some cases, employers like PepsiCo use apprenticeships to retrain and upskill their existing employees,” Sheena says. “In others, apprenticeships address broader labor shortages by training talent for in-demand roles.”
Students, she adds, are able to “earn and learn” their way into new careers.
And FRCC continues to establish partnerships with local employers to create additional apprenticeship opportunities.
“We’re open to strengthening existing apprenticeship pathways and developing new ones in industries with demand,” Sheena says. “Our goal is to build strong pipelines that support employers facing hiring shortages while connecting students to real employment options.”
Free Pre-Apprenticeship Workshops
FRCC is one of just 10 community and technical colleges nationwide selected to participate in Jobs for the Future’s Project ACCESS, which aims to expand successful workforce programs that connect learners to paid work-based learning and quality jobs. The program provides the college with $300,000 to strengthen and scale its apprenticeship offerings.
Thanks to this funding, FRCC now offers free pre-apprenticeship workshops to introduce people to high-demand careers before they enter an apprenticeship or enroll in college. Currently, sessions are available in two industries that offer apprenticeships:
- Healthcare—This session introduces participants to careers such as medical assisting and sterile processing. They learn a Basic Life Support certification and complete Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act training.
- Advanced Manufacturing—This session introduces participants to fields that include optics & laser technology, precision machining and industrial maintenance. They engage with industry professionals and earn the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s 10-hour certification.
Built on Lifelong Learning
Once Thomas completes his training and industrial maintenance certificate in May, he’ll officially become a maintenance mechanic. Over time, he’ll advance his rank and responsibilities and earn a higher wage.
“I really appreciate that PepsiCo offered this and the way it’s condensed and structured into the work day,” he says. “I gained an education to better myself, and I get to move into another career.”
Thomas says the experience has changed his mindset about being a student again. In class, he often shares insights from his years in the field with younger and less experienced classmates.
“Long ago, I was afraid to be vulnerable and ask questions,” he says. “That’s a regret I have. None of us has all the answers, and we’re all here to learn.”
A Better Future for His Family
Thomas’s motivation was also deeply personal. His daughter was born shortly after he joined PepsiCo and is now 15, beginning to think about her own path.
“She’s very much why I decided to go for this,” he says. “I’ve always tried to be a great role model for her and reinforce the importance of continuing education, whether that’s a four-year degree or going into the trades.”
For Thomas, his apprenticeship became as much about setting an example for her as it was about his own growth. “I want to teach my daughter to go after things and chase her passions,” he says.
“And I hope to show her that it’s never too late to get an education.”
