Valerie Kvale, a placement specialist at Albert Lea’s Workforce Development Center, Laura Leraaen, a human resources assistant at Innovance, and Johanna Thomas, assistant principal at Albert Lea High School, all attended the 2013 Minnesota Manufacturing Summit on Oct. 23 in Bloomington. The three women are involved in Albert Lea’s youth apprenticeship program and were asked to present the model to those attending the summit. In its first year in 2012-13, the apprenticeship program included three students and one business. This year there are five students participating and four more hope to find work placement in January.