Editor’s note: CAP employees have unique backgrounds and experiences, shaping us as an organization and reflecting the diverse communities we serve. January is National Mentoring Month, an opportunity to celebrate the power of relationships and raise awareness about the importance of mentoring.
Daniel Licano knows a good opportunity when he sees it, and for Licano, CAP’s Apprenticeship Program was just that. He was a journeyman millwright mechanic, and he knew applying for and completing an electrical apprenticeship would give him a rare breadth of knowledge. He also knew a critical component of his success as an electrician would be the guidance and expertise of a strong mentor.
“I had mentors while I was completing my mechanical apprenticeship and knew the impact and importance of that knowledge transfer,” said Licano.
Fortunately for Licano – and more than 80 other professionals who have entered the program – a robust and structured mentoring program is a critical component of CAP’s Apprenticeship Program.
“Classroom education and on-the-job-training are the two parts of an apprenticeship that most people think about, but mentoring is equally as important,” said Apprenticeship Supervisor Linda Vedo. “Not only is knowledge shared, but the mentor guides the apprentice and gets an opportunity to develop their leadership skills.”



Vedo went on to explain that the mentoring program pairs an experienced journeyman with a newly selected apprentice at the start of the educational journey. Unlike many mentoring relationships, a CAP mentor is not solely responsible for the on-the-job training; that is a responsibility shared by all journeymen at CAP. A mentor’s primary function is to see the bigger picture for apprentices and to guide them through the challenges they will face during the program and into their careers.
“All of the journeymen at CAP help me learn how to do my daily job,” said Licano. “My mentor is more of a guide who helps me through how things work, how to respond in situations and so much more.”
Electrician Jody Maldonado has been able to experience both roles – that of a mentee and a mentor. He joined CAP as an equipment operator in 2018 and was selected for an electrical apprenticeship in 2019. During the pandemic, Maldonado ended up having two mentors during his time in the program.
“Having a mentor was extremely helpful, teaching me how work is getting done, showing me the proper way and letting me know about available resources,” said Maldonado. “I was able to ask questions and even if he didn’t have the answer, he could send me down the right path.”



Maldonado successfully completed his electrical apprenticeship in early 2024. His experience with his mentors was so impactful that he expressed interest in becoming a mentor as a way to give back. Almost immediately, he became a mentor for a new electrical apprentice. It is a role he takes very seriously.
“I want to provide guidance and help him maneuver through his apprenticeship successfully and safely,” said Maldonado. “I want to make sure he’s safe and he doesn’t put himself or others in a situation that could cause harm or death.”
Licano said once you become a journeyman it’s your responsibility to give back.
“One of the strengths in the crafts and trades field is the mentorship approach, where someone takes the time to teach you and then you return the favor,” said Licano.
Maldonado echoes that sentiment.
“I want to be able to hand down what was taught to me,” Maldonado said, “to pay it forward to the next apprentices to set them up for a successful future as a journeyman.”