LYNN – GE Aerospace has pledged a $1 million investment to expand the Advanced Manufacturing Training Expansion Program (AMTEP), reinforcing its commitment to workforce development in the region. The announcement, made at the Ronald Arthur Beckett Machine Center at Lynn Vocational Technical Institute, brought together industry leaders, public officials, students, and program graduates to highlight the program’s growing impact.
Lynn Mayor Jared C. Nicholson opened the event by emphasizing how investments like this help align workforce training with industry needs. “We have a growing population here in Lynn, and that’s a strength — but also a responsibility. We need to support residents in gaining the skills to access high-quality jobs,” he said.
That mission is exactly what AMTEP aims to accomplish. Meghan Thurlow, GE Aerospace’s global head of public affairs and president of the GE Aerospace Foundation, announced the company’s financial commitment. “We are proud to invest $1 million in AMTEP to ensure this critical training program continues through 2027,” she said. “This was an easy decision to make given AMTEP’s proven track record — over 600 individuals trained, an 83% job placement rate, and a strong network of employers ready to hire its graduates.”
For students, the investment represents opportunity. Senior Ronald Manana, who has spent four years in Lynn Tech’s precision machining program, credited his teachers for giving him a foundation for success. “I’ve had one of the best opportunities at this school,” he said. “My instructors, Michael Leoni and Michael Pickering, have shown me what it means to be a machinist and given me the skills I need. I hope this investment helps the adult program grow even more and show people what this career is all about.”
Younger students also saw the event as a window into their future. Freshman Bryan Belloso Gonzalez described his excitement about the field’s possibilities. “There are so many different directions you can go,” he said. “I was just speaking with a GE Aerospace engineer who works on plane engines the size of a truck — that’s the kind of thing that makes me excited for my future.”
Congressman Seth Moulton took the stage to stress the need for more vocational education opportunities. “Too many communities are shutting out opportunities for vocational education when we should be expanding them,” he said. “We have students lining up for these programs, and we need to meet that demand. This is about investing in the future of manufacturing, our economy, and, most importantly, hard working people.”
The numbers show that investment pays off. Ed O’Sullivan, executive director of MassHire North Shore Workforce Board and AMTEP Steering Committee member, pointed to the program’s results. “Graduates can earn 25% more per hour than their pre-training jobs,” he noted, celebrating the 40 students who recently completed the program.
One of those success stories is Diana Lora, now a quality engineer at Hansen Engineering. She described how AMTEP transformed her career trajectory. “This program didn’t just teach me skills — it restored my confidence,” she said. “I had struggled to find the right path despite my degree. AMTEP gave me not just training, but the connections and opportunities I needed to get my career started.”
The event concluded with John McCarron, GE Aerospace’s Lynn site leader, reinforcing the significance of investing in workforce training. “Programs like these are essential for the future of skilled labor and economic growth,” he said.
With this $1 million investment, AMTEP will continue expanding opportunities for students and adult learners alike, strengthening the workforce pipeline in Lynn and beyond.
