Apex Athlete Alliance
WORKFORCE
PATHWAY
INITIATIVE
Where Elite Training Meets Academic and Career Opportunity
Apex Athlete Alliance is building a NJDOL GAINS-aligned Registered Apprenticeship pathway that places participants into real, paid IT Support Specialist roles with New Jersey employers.
A Real Pathway to Paid AI Careers
From the Field to the Future
Our IT / AI Workforce Specialist Apprenticeship Program is a NJDOL GAINS-aligned Registered Apprenticeship designed to place New Jersey residents aged 18 and older into paid, full-time IT Support Specialist positions with local employers. This is not a classroom-only program. Apprentices are hired as W-2 employees from Day One, earning competitive wages while receiving structured on-the-job training and related technical instruction from accredited partners.
This is not a classroom-only program. Apprentices are hired as W-2 employees from Day One, earning competitive wages while receiving structured on-the-job training and related technical instruction from accredited partners.
The Role
What Is an IT Support Specialist?
An IT Support Specialist is the front line of technology in any organization. They keep systems running, solve technical problems, and ensure employees can do their work. It's a high-demand, high-growth role that requires problem-solving, communication, and technical skill.
Key Responsibilities
Where They Work
Program Overview
A Real Pathway to Paid IT Careers
The IT / AI Workforce Specialist Apprenticeship Program is a NJDOL GAINS-aligned Registered Apprenticeship designed to place New Jersey residents aged 18 and older into paid, full-time IT Support Specialist positions with local employers.
This is not a classroom-only program. Apprentices are hired as W-2 employees from Day One, earning competitive wages while receiving structured on-the-job training and related technical instruction from accredited partners.
Registered Apprenticeship (RA) in progress with NJDOL
18+ participants only
Cohort size: 25–30 apprentices
Paid On-the-Job Training + Related Technical Instruction
Multi-employer model anchored by MSP partners across New Jersey
Why This Program Works
Four Pillars of Success
Paid Employment from Day One
Participants are hired as W-2 employees earning $18/hour or more.
Real Job Training
Hands-on IT support experience with real employers.
Industry-Aligned Skills
Training includes IT fundamentals plus AI and automation tools.
Career Growth Pathway
Help Desk → IT Specialist → Systems → Cybersecurity → AI-enabled roles.
What We Provide
Elite Development + Academic + Workforce Training
Elite Athletic Training
Academic & Mentorship Support
Workforce Pathway Program
Why It Matters
Not Every Athlete Goes Pro And Every Athlete Needs a Future
Only a small percentage of student-athletes will play professionally, but every athlete deserves the opportunity to succeed long after the final game, season, or scholarship opportunity ends.
For many athletes, leaving competitive sports can create serious emotional and mental health challenges tied to identity loss, loss of structure, depression, anxiety, and uncertainty about the future. Research has shown that former athletes can experience significantly higher rates of anxiety and depression during career transitions, particularly when sports have been their primary identity for most of their lives.
The Workforce Pathway Initiative was created to help athletes build purpose beyond the scoreboard. Apex Athlete Alliance provides career training, mentorship, leadership development, and workforce pathways designed to help athletes successfully transition into college, careers, entrepreneurship, and life after sports.
Our goal is to develop athletes who are prepared for success on the field, in the classroom, in the workplace, and in life. We believe the discipline, resilience, teamwork, and leadership developed through sports can become the foundation for long-term personal, professional, and mental well-being.
At Apex, the mission is bigger than sports. It’s about helping athletes build a future with confidence, structure, purpose, and opportunity.
Corporate Partnership
Connecting Athletes to Opportunity
Apex Athlete Alliance works with business leaders, colleges, and community partners to create real opportunities for student-athletes.
Through internships, mentorship, and workforce training, our athletes learn how to transfer the same work ethic they use in sports into professional success.
This program prepares young men and women to become leaders in their communities and in the workforce.
Career Readiness
Mentorship Network
Professional Growth
Job Placement
GAINS / Workforce Initiative
Workforce Development & Apprenticeship Programs
The Workforce Pathway Initiative is part of our larger effort to build apprenticeship, workforce, and career training opportunities for student-athletes.
Our programs connect sports training with real-world career pathways in business, coaching, education, fitness, and skilled trades.
We are working with community partners, educational institutions, and workforce development agencies to create a model where athletics becomes a gateway to lifelong opportunity.
Training Model
OJT + Related Technical Instruction
On-the-Job Training (OJT)
Related Technical Instruction (RTI)
Delivered via Coursera and NJ-based partners including Rutgers, Montclair State, and NJ community colleges.
Life Skills & Retention
Mandatory Life Skills Training
Every apprentice participates in structured life skills sessions designed to improve retention, attendance, and long-term career success.
Asaf Kahanov
Financial stability and reliability
Jim Clipp
Communication and client management
David Reda
Accountability and ownership
Dan Mesopotanesse
Workplace conduct and de-escalation
Dr. Sherry Bhagan-Bruno
Health and performance
These sessions are mandatory and designed to improve retention, attendance, and long-term success.
Employer Partnership
Built for New Jersey Small Businesses
Apex operates a multi-employer apprenticeship model, partnering with Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and other NJ employers to place apprentices into real jobs.
CURRENT FOCUS: BERGEN COUNTY MSP NETWORK
Power Solution
Business Machine Technologies (BMT)
Integrated Computer Services (ICS)
Listed as examples of target employer types, not confirmed commitments.
Outcomes
Measurable Results That Matter
25–30
Apprentices Placed
80%+
Retention Target
Job-Ready
IT Support Professionals
Certifications
& Wage Growth Pathway
Employer
Satisfaction & Repeat Hiring
Eligibility
Who Should Apply?
18+ New Jersey residents
Student-athletes transitioning to the workforce
Individuals interested in IT careers
No prior experience required
Start Your Career in IT Today
Join the next cohort and begin your path to a rewarding IT career with paid training from Day One.