In June of 2017, Holly Hutchinson, who serves as the Project Director for the American Apprenticeship Initiative (AAI) at the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County (UWBEC), had the honor of presenting Jeff Iorio, an apprentice at Optimax, with a special congratulatory gift. This gesture was in recognition of his significant achievement as he became the first apprentice at Optimax to be on the verge of receiving grant funding from the U.S. Department of Labor. This funding was specifically allocated to support Optimax’s Precision Optics Manufacturing (POM) program, which is dedicated to advancing the skills and expertise of apprentices in the field of precision optics. The grant represents a substantial investment in the future of the industry and highlights the importance of fostering talent through structured apprenticeship programs.