MMA’s Bill Rayl Honored as Race to Talent™ Champion
This article appeared in the October 2025 issue of MiMfg Magazine. Read the full issue and find past issues online.
Bill Rayl, MMA Executive Director of Workforce Solutions, has been recognized as a Race to Talent™ Registered Apprenticeship Champion by the Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium.
The award, supported by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), honors leaders who are strengthening Michigan’s skilled workforce. Race to Talent is designed to increase the number of employers offering Registered Apprenticeship Programs while opening pathways for more Michiganders to access meaningful, career-building opportunities.
Rayl’s recognition is built on more than three decades of leadership in workforce development. Since joining MMA in 2022, he has guided the Association’s Workforce Solutions strategy, helping manufacturers build a sustainable, statewide talent pipeline.
The manufacturing sector continues to face serious workforce challenges, with demand for skilled labor far outpacing supply. Rayl’s efforts highlight the power of collaborative, employer-driven solutions to close that gap. From integrating manufacturing skills training and curriculum into K-12 classrooms to launching employer-led collaboratives that leverage state funding for apprenticeships and advanced training, MMA is building practical, employer-aligned pathways that prepare students and workers for long-term careers in manufacturing.
“Getting this award at the Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium’s event was a pleasant surprise,” Rayl said. “I’m pleased to be working on MMA’s behalf with great partners in the northeast lower peninsula’s region and across the entire state to help solve the talent challenges of Michigan’s manufacturers. Registered Apprenticeship is a very important piece of the puzzle.”
To learn more about the State of Michigan’s effort to expand the use of the Registered Apprenticeship model, including the Race to Talent™ initiative, visit michigan.gov/apprenticeships.
Learn more about MMA’s Workforce Solutions initiatives.