Two members of Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center’s Apprenticeship Works team have been promoted to director positions within the organization’s growing workforce development programs.
Heather Cooper of Cabin Creek has been named Apprenticeship Unit Director and David Lucas of Hamlin has been named Training Unit Director.
In her new role, Cooper oversees day-to-day operations for MAMC’s Apprenticeship Works, which assists companies nationwide in creating and implementing U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)-registered apprenticeship programs in 20 high-demand occupations.
She supervises the national outreach team of specialists, forges partnerships with new companies and develops training programs specific to their operations as well as serves a liaison between companies and DOL.
Cooper has considerable expertise in workforce development. Prior to her joining MAMC in 2023, she was engaged with BridgeValley Community and Technical College in the Workforce Development department. In this role, she managed the Utility Line Service Program, coordinated hundreds of events at the Advanced Technology Center, and provided support for the college’s apprenticeship programs. Cooper also has worked in the human resources department of a leading manufacturer.
A native of Montgomery, Cooper is a graduate of Valley High School. She earned two associate degrees in business from BridgeValley Community & Technical College and a bachelor’s degree from WVU-Parkersburg.
As Training Unit Director, Lucas oversees MAMC career skills programs in machining, welding and industrial maintenance as well all customized training and train-the-trainer services.
He joined MAMC in 2024 as technical trainer for Apprenticeship Works. In that role, he traveled the country providing train-the-trainer services to manufacturers participating in the program.
Lucas retired in January 2024 from Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia, where he had worked since 1998. He put the first component on the first engine produced at the Putnam County plant and became a Team Leader in 1999. He worked in production, training and development as well as quality control during his extensive career there.
A native of Lincoln County, Lucas graduated from Lincoln County High School and studied history at Marshall University, where he currently is a senior pursuing a regent’s bachelor of arts degree. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1986 to 1998 as a combat engineer and achieved the rank of staff sergeant.
April 29, 2025
