EVANSVILLE, IN – Southwest Indiana Workforce in partnership with the Southwest Indiana Small Business
Development Center (SBDC) is excited to announce the recent addition of two registered United States Department
of Labor barbering apprenticeships in Vanderburgh County.
Barbering rolled out as an Indiana registered apprenticeship option earlier in 2025. The two new Vanderburgh
County apprenticeships are some of the first for the state. Students have the opportunity to earn a wage while
learning the trade from licensed professionals. This is a one year apprenticeship with 2,000 hours of on the job
learning where students will review bookwork and gain hands-on experience.
Business Services Manager, Valerie Schmidt, helped make the barbering registered apprenticeships possible.
“The registered apprenticeship is a great alternative pathway for those interested in the trade to gain valuable
experience while earning a proper wage. It’s a great opportunity to redefine and reclaim your career. We hope that
more businesses will take the opportunity to look into registered apprenticeships to continue to build up and train the future workforce.“ Schmidt says.
With the partnership between SWIN Workforce and SBDC Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Navigator, Art McDonald,
owners Keoni Thompson with The Luxe and Tyrell Ferguson with Higher Image Hair Studio are the shops who are
rolling out these programs.
Ferguson is excited about the opportunity to help those who are interested in pursuing a barbering career. “Now I’ll be able to really get up close personal with them and ask, ‘Okay, where are you struggling? What are you really trying to do? How are you trying to set up your services?,’” Ferguson explains.
Thompson is excited to help set his students up with a better future.“With this opportunity, I can have a few students and be able to change some people’s lives,” Thompson explains.
“Cosmetology and barbering are community cornerstones. With WorkOne as the driving force, this program will grow businesses, launch careers, and empower the communities these industries serve for years to come,” McDonald explains.
If you are interested in learning more about registered apprenticeship opportunities for your business, reach out to
SWIN Workforce Business Services Manager Valerie Schmidt at valerie.schmidt@swinworkforce.org.
