CCAM Earns Recognition for the Fourth Year in a Row
Disputanta, Virginia – April 4, 2025 – The Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM) is proud to announce that it has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious “Top Employers for Interns” award for the fourth consecutive year. This recognition is presented by the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP), an initiative dedicated to strengthening the workforce pipeline by connecting students with high-quality work-based learning experiences.
“At CCAM, we view our internship program as a vital contribution to both individual career development and regional economic growth,” said Brian Mathis, Talent and Workforce Development Program Manager. “By providing students with immersive experiences in advanced manufacturing environments, we’re building a workforce pipeline that can not only meet today’s manufacturing needs but also drive tomorrow’s innovations. Our commitment to hands-on learning creates resilient professionals who will strengthen Virginia’s manufacturing competitiveness for years to come.”
Interns at CCAM work on applied research projects. They directly support teams and work with partners to execute research objectives. This enables them to apply the knowledge they’ve gained in the academic setting to real-world problems and helps them hone their professional skills.
Here’s what the Interns Have to Say
“I enjoy learning the backgrounds of all my coworkers and being supported by them to reach my professional goals.”
— Omar Bishop, VCU PhD Student, Summer 2024 Intern
“I enjoyed the final stage of the intern project because I got to see my part of the project come together and learn a lot about Docker and MQTT while troubleshooting it.”
— Quinn Kast, UVA Undergraduate, Summer 2024 Intern
Omar Bishop, Virginia Commonwealth University
CCAM’s Integrated Talent and Workforce Development Strategy
CCAM’s internship program forms a cornerstone of our broader talent development strategy. As manufacturing career opportunities continue to expand across Virginia, we are committed to strengthening the economic vitality of our communities by creating hands-on learning experiences that bridge academic knowledge with practical application.
Our comprehensive approach not only equips students with the skills to meet current manufacturing job demands but also prepares them with the future competencies needed in advanced manufacturing fields like AI integration, additive manufacturing, and emerging digital technologies. This forward-looking approach ensures that Virginia maintains a competitive edge in the global manufacturing landscape while providing meaningful career pathways for the next generation of manufacturing professionals.
About CCAM
CCAM is an applied research center that creates solutions to complex advanced manufacturing challenges. As the center of an academic, government, and industry ecosystem, we bring partners together to create real economic value. We are committed to playing an active role in developing a talented manufacturing workforce by supporting diverse, industry-driven educational pathways.
About V-TOP
The Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP) is administered by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) in partnership with the Virginia Chamber Foundation and the Virginia Business Higher Education Council. V-TOP is dedicated to bridging the gap between Virginia’s higher education institutions, their students, and businesses offering work-based learning opportunities.
