DAS Announces Appointments to Interagency Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship

The Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) is pleased to announce the appointments of Debra Chaplan and Jorge Marquez to serve as members of the Interagency Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship (IACA).  

“We continue to develop high-quality apprenticeships with assistance from influential industry leaders,” said DAS Chief Eric Rood. “Both Debra and Jorge bring a wealth of experience and perspective that will be tremendously valuable to that work.”

Debra Chaplan will represent the employee perspective on IACA and is appointed through November 2026. She is the Director of Program and Communications for Teamsters Local 853 and is stewarding the expansion of apprenticeship into a variety of occupations in transportation and logistics. She has engaged in the development and sustainability of apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships, as well as advocating for the diversification of apprentices registered within the building trades. In her capacity as Director of Special Programs for the State Building and Construction Trades Council for more than 20 years, she developed a wide variety of written materials, videos and outreach programs that promote opportunities in apprenticeship, specifically targeting under-represented communities. Her appointment was effective November 9, 2022.

Jorge Marquez will represent the employer perspective on IACA and is appointed through November 2024. He is the Los Angeles based-Senior Vice President at Robert Half International and serves as Program Leader for Robert Half’s Apprenticeship and Workforce Innovation solution. He is an apprenticeship champion within his organization, which currently employs a number of apprentices in the cybersecurity and accounting industries, as well as for Robert Half’s clients. He is a board member with the Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board and an advisory board member of Apprenticeships for America.

The Interagency Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship was established in the Shelley-Maloney Apprentice Labor Standards Act with the passage of Senate Bill 235 in 2018. IACA holds open quarterly meetings to provide advice and guidance on apprenticeship program standards and agreements that are in emerging non-traditional industries, and not within the jurisdiction of the California Apprenticeship Council.

DAS Chief Eric Rood made the appointments as empowered by Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA) Secretary Stewart Knox. Secretary Knox also reappointed the following four members:

• Rebecca Hanson, SEIU-UHW West, represents employees and serves as chair of IACA, and has been reappointed through November 2024.
• Rebecca Bettencourt, E&J Gallo Winery, will serve as an IACA member representing employers and has been reappointed through November 2026.
• Lisa Countryman-Quiroz, Jewish Vocational Services, will serve as an IACA member representing the public and has been appointed through November 2024.
• Charles Henkles, LAUNCH, will serve as an IACA member representing the public and has been appointed through November 2026.

The Department of Industrial Relations’ Division of Apprenticeship Standards consults with employers to develop a skilled workforce, by establishing innovative apprenticeship programs that offer training, to create viable career pathways for Californians. 

Media Contact: Communications@dir.ca.gov, (510) 286-1161

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