Success Stories

Before starting the M2K program, Hunter studied Mechatronics Engineering at Kennesaw State University in Georgia. After two years, he left school.  Hunter remembered M2K from high school. He was on the BotsIQ team at the Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy and was introduced to the program there…

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Neil Ashbaugh named new president and CEO of New Century Careers

Neil Ashbaugh is the new president and CEO of New Century Careers. Neil, formerly NCC’s director of services, succeeds Paul Anselmo who retired recently after two decades of service to NCC and the region’s manufacturing sector.

Hired by NCC in 2016, Neil has managed a broad range of programs including apprenticeship, production, sales, marketing, business development, corporate training and talent development, and workforce development and has taken the lead in establishing two initiatives from inception, the Group Non-Joint Apprenticeship Program and the New Century Job Shop, opened in 2019.

He has provided day-to-day management of programming and operations and managed apprenticeship related instruction for the Pittsburgh Chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA).

“Neil has twenty-three years’ experience in manufacturing –from the shop floor to HR and technical training management,” said Greg Chambers, NCC Board chair and director of corporate compliance at Oberg Industries. “He can relate to all facets of NCC’s work, having completed a formal apprenticeship program, working for years operating metalworking machines, developing corporate marketing and forecasting strategies, and building strong customer relationships,” he added. “Neil has the compassion, competence and leadership skills to help people and strengthen the metalworking industry in this region into the future.”

Earning a bachelor’s degree from Clarion University, Neil learned the manufacturing trade through a four-year state and federally-recognized apprenticeship and became a journeyman grinder.

Hired by Oberg Industries, Inc. in Freeport, PA in 1993, initially as a journeyman grinder, he later held corporate positions there in sales and marketing and management positions of increasing responsibility in training and talent development, government projects and new product development.

“Knowing that technologies and the requirements of manufacturers change, we will continue NCC’s 20-year legacy, working closely with our broad network of 90 partner companies, along with fellow workforce agencies, and elected local, state and national leaders to deploy new training techniques to meet evolving industry needs,” Neil said.
Those efforts are already well underway, he noted. Through a partnership with Catalyst Connection, CCAC, and Tooling-U/SME, and funded by a grant from the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute, a Manufacturing USA Institute, NCC developed a new two-year registered apprenticeship for robotics technicians. “This exciting venture comes at a time when this job role is growing in demand by area manufacturers using robotics and automation solutions to meet their customers’ needs,” he added.

A Butler County resident, Neil has been a board member of the Tri-County Workforce Investment Board (WIB), past chair of the Butler County Manufacturing Consortium Industry Partnership and the Center Township Planning Committee, and co-founder of the Technology Academy of Moraine Trails, BSA, and has held leadership roles in community service organizations, including the Butler Lion’s Club and the Blind Association of Butler.

Congratulations to Paul Anselmo on his Retirement!

New Century Careers extends congratulations and appreciation to Paul Anselmo, who will retire after two decades of service to the manufacturing sector, effective February 29, 2020.

Paul co-founded non-profit agency New Century Careers (NCC) in 1999 following 20 years in public education. As President and CEO of NCC, he provided design, start-up and project management for all NCC initiatives, securing and managing substantial grants from multiple federal, state and foundation sources. NCC also contracts with the Pittsburgh Chapter NTMA (National Tooling and Machining Association) to administer the multi-employer machinist apprenticeship program.

In December, Paul received the NTMA William E. Hardman Award for Excellence in Training presented to an individual or organization that has consistently demonstrated strong support and active participation in structured training for the precision custom manufacturing industry. “Paul embodies a unique understanding of manufacturers, students, trainees, and instructors and acts as a bridge to funders, academia, public officials, government and social service agencies, aligning mutual goals and facilitating relationships to achieve them,” says Greg Chambers, NCC Board Chair and Director of Corporate Compliance at Oberg Industries, who has worked with Paul since the founding of NCC.

Paul played a pivotal role in establishing the Manufacturing Industry Partnership of Southwestern Pennsylvania, which created active engagement among employer partners. Other unique initiatives such as COMPETE incumbent worker training and the BotsIQ high school robotics program developed by the partnership help create a manufacturing workers pipeline sorely needed in the region. He continued to oversee MANUFACTURING 2000 and BotsIQ, now programs of New Century Careers.

Neil Ashbaugh, current NCC Director of Services, will succeed Paul as NCC President and CEO.

“The success of New Century Careers over two decades would not have been possible without the incredible support of our many stakeholders, who have collectively recognized the critical role of manufacturing in the region and ensured a pipeline of qualified workers through New Century Careers and our broader workforce system,” Paul said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to have participated in this important effort. Thank you again for your past and future support!”