Christopher Glenn knew he wanted a career where he could work with his hands and keep learning. Through Coca‑Cola Consolidated’s apprenticeship program, he found a path that offered both. 

Developed by Coca‑Cola Consolidated, the largest Coca‑Cola bottler in the United States, in partnership with Central Piedmont Community College, the program introduces students to high-demand roles in manufacturing, equipment services and fleet maintenance at the company’s Charlotte-area facilities.

Christopher entered the program directly after high school, completed the most rigorous pathway and then transitioned into a full-time role as a Manufacturing Mechanic level 1 at Coca‑Cola Consolidated’s Snyder Production Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Through the program, he not only received financial support for his two certifications but also gained hands-on training and on-the-job learning while earning a paycheck to support him and his family. 

Today, Christopher helps maintain and repair the equipment that keeps Coca‑Cola products moving through production and distribution, ensuring the products people love reach shelves and refrigerators across the country.

“The program gave me the chance to learn while earning and move directly into a career,” Christopher said. “If you stay committed throughout the process, there’s a real path forward here. I want to keep growing and move up through the ranks.”

Christopher’s journey reflects a broader effort across the Coca‑Cola system to advance economic opportunity by investing in the workforce of the future. Initiatives like Coca‑Cola Consolidated’s apprenticeship program are helping close the skilled trades gap and providing participants with the tools needed to pursue stable, long-term careers through partnerships with local schools and colleges. Coca‑Cola Consolidated’s pathways within this program include manufacturing, diesel and equipment services.

“Over the years, it’s been a challenge obtaining talent in the technician and skilled trade space,” said Abby Hyde, Senior Manager, Learning & Development at Coca‑Cola Consolidated. “We believe in career development and creating career pathways while providing opportunities for those in the communities we serve. So instead of being reactive, we realized we had to build the pipeline ourselves.”

Enrollment continues to grow, with participation doubling year over year, positioning Charlotte as a model for expansion in other markets. Feedback from participants like Christopher has helped refine the curriculum for the future.

As the program continues to evolve, Coca‑Cola Consolidated is sharing lessons learned with other bottlers facing similar workforce challenges. This collaboration helps strengthen the Coca‑Cola system while building a pipeline of skilled workers in the communities it serves across the country.

What sets the program apart is its focus beyond technical training. Coca‑Cola Consolidated provides wraparound support to help apprentices succeed, including dedicated HR resources, workplace skill development and assistance addressing barriers such as transportation, housing and access to technology.

“Acceptance into the apprenticeship program is just the start,” Abby said. “We’re trying to understand what people need to succeed and remove those barriers so they can get to the finish line.”

This approach reflects a broader commitment to investing in people and ensuring participants have what they need to complete the program and build stable, long-term careers.

For participants like Christopher, the program creates a pathway to long-term success. For others, it offers a chance to transform their careers. One participant, a commercial driver’s license (CDL) driver, used the apprenticeship to make a mid-career transition and pursue a long-held goal of becoming a diesel mechanic, showing how the program supports individuals at different stages of life.

This story highlights a broader commitment across the Coca‑Cola system. In one year alone, the Coca‑Cola system provides 1.5 million hours of training and invests $31 million in workforce development and tuition reimbursement, helping people prepare for the careers of tomorrow.

The system’s investments extend beyond workforce training and career pathways.  The Coca‑Cola system is not just a part of the American economy, it strengthens it – supporting nearly 1 million jobs and contributing $85 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product in one year.