Gaining confidence through an apprenticeship program
Apprenticeship Spotlight: Eric Belitz, Federal Signal
By Craig Schmidt, Guest Writer
Currently thriving in his role as a Planner I at Federal Signal in University Park, Eric Belitz is grateful for the Registered Apprenticeship Program at Governors State University (GovState) that elevated his skillset.
Through a combination of structured classroom learning and hands-on experience in the Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerk program, Belitz gained critical skills that directly aligned with his day-to-day responsibilities.
In his role at Federal Signal, a leader in safety and security products, Belitz supports different production lines, as well as service parts. Some of his responsibilities include maintaining and scheduling production orders to meet demand requirements, verifying material availability, and identifying any issues that may impact future production.
Belitz’s supervisor, Erich Hammons, Director of Manufacturing, noticed the program’s impact.
“Once Eric made the decision to join the apprenticeship, I watched him grow exponentially and gain confidence,” said Hammons. “I would recommend this training for anyone interested in a planner/scheduler role.”
Reflecting on his journey, Belitz shared that both the classroom instruction and on-the-job training were equally valuable in supporting his professional growth. He praised the program’s instructors for their excellent teaching style, real-world expertise, and strong support, noting that the insights they offered often went beyond what was covered in the curriculum.
“The content for the course is curated deliberately and is focused on bringing you current and relevant information,” said Belitz. “I was really impressed with the level of difficulty and the direction of the content provided. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking to advance their career.”
For future apprentices, Belitz’s advice is to stay curious, ask questions, and revisit earlier material as new lessons build upon previous knowledge. “I seemed to benefit from taking a look at previous sections after learning something new to develop new insights,” he explained.
“Eric’s success demonstrates what’s possible when education and industry work hand-in-hand to develop talent,” said Craig Schmidt, Executive Director of the School of Extended Learning at GovState. “Apprenticeships like this not only prepare individuals for in-demand jobs—they strengthen our regional economy by supporting the needs of local employers.”
Belitz’s story shows how earn-and-learn models like registered apprenticeships provide meaningful pathways for career advancement while building a stronger, more resilient workforce.
Click here to learn more about the Registered Apprenticeship Programs at GovState and how apprenticeship grant dollars and tax credits can support your talent development.
Thank you to the Calumet Area Industrial Commission for their partnership in financially supporting the education through the Apprenticeship Expansion Grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).
Craig Schmidt is the Executive Director of School of Extended Learning at GovState.