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They say it takes a village to raise a professional. For David Lopez, it took a Registered Apprenticeship. What began as a high school job at 16 years old has evolved into a career that supports his growing family and has inspired his own brother to follow in his footsteps. David’s full-circle journey is one way Pinnacol’s apprenticeship program is helping build Colorado’s future workforce from the ground up.
Before his apprenticeship, David was working at a local Japanese fast food restaurant. Like many high school students, David had thought about a future career, but wasn’t sure of his path.
"Apprenticeships were never on my radar until the Pinnacol team explained what it was," David recalls.
After learning more about the program and what it could offer, he applied and began Pinnacol’s program in 2019 at the age of 16. Through more than 2,000 hours of paid, structured, on-the-job training – the requirement for every U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship – he got a hands-on look at how a business runs from the inside. He learned what he enjoyed and he learned what he was good at.
“I really aspired to be an accountant. I figured out that was something I didn’t want to do for my career and I was able to find something I truly enjoy. And I’m still a part of it today.”
The apprenticeship also opened doors for David’s family. After seeing the stability and growth the program provided, David became a vocal advocate for the program and encouraged his brother to apply. His brother joined the program and successfully navigated his own apprenticeship. Isaac Lopez, Agency Relations, Claims, and Customer Experience apprentice, completed the program in 2025 and is currently studying Healthcare Management at Colorado State University Online. "I really advocated for him to become an apprentice," David says.
Today, David holds a Journeyworker credential, a nationally recognized, portable designation earned by completing a U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship. In 2022, he was hired at Pinnacol as a full-time employee, and today he’s an associate underwriter, a role he grew into through the program.
"I'm able to support my own family now with this apprenticeship," David says, referring to his girlfriend and one year old son.
Now in its ninth year, Pinnacol launched its program in 2017 in partnership with CareerWise. Since then, the program has supported more than 35 teams, developed 65 apprentice supervisors and hired 19 program graduates as full-time employees.
David believes this path should be visible to everyone: "I think it would be something really beneficial for every student to have exposure to being an apprentice... as a viable option for their future."
David’s story is the first of an ongoing series produced by Pinnacol Assurance apprentice Angela Ocampo in partnership with Colorado Department of Labor and Employment Office of the Future of Work - Apprenticeship Colorado and CareerWise. The series features apprentice stories, supervisor perspectives and guidance for Colorado employers thinking about starting their own program.
National Apprenticeship Week is a nationwide celebration where employers, apprentices and graduates, industry representatives, labor organizations, community-based organizations, workforce partners, educational institutions and government agencies showcase the successes and value of Registered Apprenticeship for strengthening our economy by developing a highly skilled workforce to meet industry needs and creating pathways for career seekers to catapult into in-demand jobs.
A Registered Apprenticeship is a federally recognized workforce development program that combines paid, on-the-job training with related technical instruction. Every participant must complete a minimum of 2,000 hours of on-the-job training and 144 hours of technical instruction. Upon completion, apprentices earn a nationally portable Journeyworker credential recognized across employers and industries.
A Journeyworker credential is a nationally recognized, portable professional designation earned upon completing a U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship. Unlike employer-specific certifications, it travels with the credential holder throughout their career, regardless of where they work.
Pinnacol Assurance launched its apprenticeship program in 2017 in partnership with CareerWise Colorado. As of 2026, the program has supported more than 35 teams, developed 65 apprentice supervisors, and hired 19 program graduates as full-time Pinnacol employees.
Apprentices are employees from day one, earning a wage throughout their training. Unlike internships, apprenticeships are multi-year, federally structured programs that result in a portable credential. And unlike a traditional degree path, they let participants explore a career field in a real professional environment before committing to a major, a student loan, or a specific role.
Yes. Pinnacol’s apprenticeship program is open to students in Colorado. Interested applicants can learn more at apprenticeship.pinnacol.com.
Yes. Businesses across industries including insurance, technology, healthcare, construction and financial services can launch Registered Apprenticeship programs through CareerWise and CDLE. Visit careerwisecolorado.org or cdle.colorado.gov to get started.
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