Elevated Leaders Apprenticeship Program - Building the Leaders of Tomorrow through Elevated Engravings

My name is Armando Araiza, and I am a Family Leader. I stand before you today not just as a business owner, but as a passionate advocate for the future of our community. I'm here to talk about a critical need, a powerful solution, and a vision for a stronger Eagle County.

Our community faces a challenge: a gap between the high-level roles available and the skilled individuals to fill them. We're seeing adults, the backbone of our families, leave after the age of 30, seeking opportunities elsewhere, because they can't find jobs that support a family living wage. This isn't just a statistic; it's about our neighbors, our friends, and the very fabric of our community.

But I believe we have the power to change this narrative. That's why I'm proud to introduce you to Elevated Leaders.

Elevated Leaders is an apprenticeship program within my company, Elevated Engravings, designed to cultivate the leaders of tomorrow, today. It's more than just a job; it's a pathway. We provide our youth with the opportunity to gain valuable skill sets – communication, leadership, and core values like integrity and accountability – through real-world experience. Our business environment serves as a training ground, preparing them for future careers and empowering them to become the high-level leaders our community desperately needs.

Elevated Leaders is not only addressing a workforce shortage; we're investing in our youth, strengthening families, and ensuring the long-term prosperity of Eagle County. We want to create a community where our young adults can thrive, build careers, and raise their own families.

To make this vision a reality, we are building a strong coalition of partners.

• We're working with Mountain Youth for crucial data metrics on youth demographics, ensuring our program is targeted and effective.
• Career Wise and the Vail Valley Partnership will be providing invaluable assistance with apprenticeship design and navigating the relevant regulations, while hold us accountable to successful youth development.
• SOS Outreach Will help us instill essential core values in our apprenticeship curriculum.
• FLTI (Family Leadership Training Institute) has equipped me with the leadership awareness to instill in our progam and make this project a reality.
• ELEVAR will provide key curriculum guidance and structure for the curriculum we create.
• And the Eagle Valley Community Foundation will provide the network and collaboration we need to make our passion project a success.

These partnerships all share the same mission and values as Elevated Leaders. They will be vital because they bring diverse expertise and resources to the table, ensuring the program's success and sustainability

Success will be measured in many ways. When we see Elevated Leaders graduates leading with integrity, driving positive change, and becoming role models in our community. Second, when graduates continue to seek education and continuous learning. Lastly, when we see the demographic of families increase within our community, a clear sign that young people are finding sustainable careers and choosing to build their lives here.

My time with FLTI has been transformative. It's taught me the importance of self-awareness, of leading with intellect over emotion, and the power of collaboration and coalition-building. These are the principles that guide Elevated Leaders.

Looking ahead, my focus is clear: continued professional development, the successful execution of the Elevated Leaders program, and the continued building of the coalition that will ensure its long-term success. I am committed to making this program a model for youth leadership development in our community.

Elevated Leaders is more than an apprenticeship; it's an investment in our future. It's a commitment to our youth, our families, and the enduring prosperity of Eagle County. I would love your support in elevating our community, one leader at a time. Thank you."