Owen Smith

Owen is a certified DACUM facilitator, bringing 15 years of experience with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development developing apprenticeships and serving as a Senior Policy Analyst.

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As he led 20 statewide industry advisory committees, he collaborated with WIDS and the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) on program development and review, producing many significant “firsts,” including: new registered apprenticeships in agriculture, arboriculture, and healthcare; collaborations with the German Federal Ministry on best practices for assessing on-the-job learning; and Wisconsin’s first registered apprenticeships for WTCS associate degrees. Several of these programs were adopted nationally by the U.S. Department of Labor.

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Inspired by his earliest encounters with WIDS, Owen earned certifications in DACUM Facilitation and Systematic Curriculum and Instructional Design from Ohio State University, as well as a Master of Science in Life Sciences Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is also a certified yoga and meditation instructor.