Dr. Jon M. Caffery

Dr. Jon M. Caffery is the Regional Employer Engagement Director (REED) for the Orange County Regional Consortium (OCRC), based at Saddleback College in the South Orange County Community College District. He serves as Project Director for a portfolio of regional workforce grants. The portfolio covers registered apprenticeship, clean energy technician training, and shared digital credentialing infrastructure across Orange County’s community colleges.

Dr. Caffery co-leads the Orange County Apprenticeship Network (OCAN), the OCRC’s apprenticeship brand. Its programs include SMaRTech, California’s first non-electrical Solar PV and EVSE maintenance registered apprenticeship, which is approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. He also directs the ATEP/SC California Apprenticeship Initiative implementation grant, which builds apprenticeships in automotive/EV and culinary/hospitality. His other projects are the Industry Centered Apprenticeship Network (ICAN) intermediary partnership and SCALE, a regional digital badging system. SCALE connects employer-named skills to college coursework at seven OCRC institutions.

His work is built on partnerships with employers, intermediaries, ROP programs, and noncredit providers. Together they open entry points for students and incumbent workers into high-wage technical careers. He works across DAS and DOL registration, Strong Workforce Program planning, and curriculum alignment. He speaks publicly for apprenticeship as a strong alternative or complement to the four-year degree.

Before his current role, Dr. Caffery served as OCRC’s Talent Development & Retention Director.