Nation’s First Ever Registered Apprenticeship in Government Business Development Approved by State of Maryland
OST Global Solutions Approved Sponsor of Apprenticeship; Women, Minorities, and Veterans Targeted

By MARC BRAILOV
OST Global Solutions, Inc.

Rockville, Md. (November 17, 2019)—As our country mark[ed] National Apprenticeship Week, the nation’s first ever registered apprenticeship in government business development has been approved by the state of Maryland.  OST Global Solutions, Inc. (OST), based in Rockville, MD, will be the approved sponsor of the Apprenticeship program, which will prioritize accepting women, minorities, and veterans as candidates from Maryland employers. 

Engendering a larger pool of highly trained business development professionals to help Maryland government contractors win a greater share of federal contracts more consistently is the impetus behind the new program.

Maryland a Nationwide Leader in Registered Apprenticeships

Maryland has been a nationwide leader in apprenticeship programs, with nearly 11,000 apprentices currently earning and learning in various occupations across the state. This has been in line with the federal policy of making apprenticeship programs a priority—recognizing the need to empower more industries and professions to embrace registered apprenticeship opportunities.

“OST’s new registered apprenticeship program in government business development helps ensure that Maryland remains a trailblazer in creating innovative and non-traditional programs that expand professional opportunities for Maryland workers,” said Christopher MacLarion, Director of Apprenticeship and Training with  the Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning at the Maryland Department of Labor.

Apprenticeships are an earn-and-learn opportunity where individuals receive salaries and acquire the skills relevant to their chosen career.

Administering of New Apprenticeship Program

OST will administer the Apprenticeship program in support of Maryland businesses, tens of thousands of which are government contractors.

“We’re extremely happy that now we’ll be able to help address the void in the profession of government business development,” said OST’s CEO Olessia Smotrova. “Large businesses often have their own ‘universities’, but mid-tier and small businesses usually have little more than on-the-job training with a few seminars here and there. This Apprenticeship will offer a systematic way to develop skilled business development professionals to help state businesses gain new contracts with the nation’s largest customer—the government.”

The new Apprenticeship will cover 160 hours in the fields of business development (pipeline development, opportunity qualification), capture (positioning to win contracts prior to issuance of a formal solicitation for bid), and proposal development. The Apprenticeship will combine education that OST’s Bid & Proposal Academy provides with hands-on professional work and mentorship at the employer companies.

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Governor Hogan Celebrates Grand Opening of Universities at Shady Grove Biomedical and Engineering Facility
$175 Million Educational Building in Rockville Will Help Expand STEM Degree Programs

By SHAREESE CHURCHILL
Maryland Governor’s Press Office

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (November 7, 2019)—[In November,] Governor Larry Hogan celebrated the grand opening of the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Education Facility. The governor was joined by University System of Maryland Chancellor Robert Caret, USM Board of Regents Chair Linda Gooden, university presidents from around the state, and local elected officials, business and community leaders, faculty, university staff and students.

“I want to congratulate everyone who has been involved in this exciting achievement for the Universities at Shady Grove, for the University System of Maryland, and for our entire state,” said Governor Hogan. “For 5 years, the top priority of my administration has been education, and we are proud to have delivered more than $162 million to support the very important project that we are celebrating here today.”

The new Biomedical Science and Engineering Education Facility will provide USG with the opportunity to expand educational offerings and degrees in the STEM fields, including new programs in life sciences, cybersecurity, and engineering. The building will house 20 teaching laboratories, 2 lecture halls, and 12 active learning classrooms, along with an innovation and entrepreneurship center where students and mentors will partner with local businesses. It will also house a community dental clinic, where faculty-supervised students from the School of Dentistry can provide comprehensive dental care to the community.

Established in 2000, USG combines the resources and the tools of nine public Maryland universities to provide high-quality and affordable educational opportunities. This innovative partnership provides 80 upper-level undergraduate, graduate degree, and certificate programs at one central campus location in Montgomery County.

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