Acting U.S. Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling got a firsthand look at how Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) member Whirlpool is building its manufacturing workforce during a visit Monday to the company’s Clyde plant with OMA’s Lindsey Short and Jessica Borza.

The visit also included Luke Harms, Whirlpool’s director of government relations and chair of the OMA Government Affairs Committee, and Kristin Day, an OMA board member and Whirlpool’s vice president of U.S. manufacturing operations. Sonderling toured the production floor, tried several of the same hands-on tasks new workers learn and heard directly from current apprentices and program graduates.

“The average registered apprenticeship, once you graduate, you earn $86,000, which is $20,000 more than going to a traditional four-year college, without any debt,” Sonderling said during the tour.

The visit highlighted the value of introducing students to manufacturing careers earlier and expanding apprenticeships that lead directly to good-paying jobs.

“Whirlpool is showing what works when manufacturers, schools and communities build clear pathways into the industry,” Borza said. “Young people need to see these careers earlier and understand that they can earn, learn and build a lasting career without taking on years of college debt.” 8/4/2026