ST. MICHAELS, Md. — August 2026 — The Classic Motor Museum recently celebrated an important milestone as Classic Motor Museum Automotive Technician Apprenticeship Program (CMM ATAP) apprentices Sam Fike, III and Brandon Kealy completed their apprenticeships and received State of Maryland Certificates of Completion of Apprenticeship.
Sam and Brandon each completed more than 6,000 hours of on-the-job training and 630 hours of related instruction over the course of their three-year apprenticeships. In addition to working with their employer partners, both graduates attended CMM ATAP’s classroom each week to complete an automotive curriculum, demonstrating the sustained commitment required to complete the program. Both also earned Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifications and can continue pursuing additional ASE certifications as they advance in their automotive careers.
The graduation brought together family members, employers, board members, volunteers, community supporters and representatives from the State of Maryland to recognize the graduates’ accomplishments and the partnerships that make CMM ATAP possible.
Jackie Trieu, Interim Manager, Office of Apprenticeship, Division of Workforce Development & Adult Learning, Maryland Department of Labor, joined the celebration and congratulated the graduates and the Classic Motor Museum on reaching the milestone.
CMM ATAP Instructor Jim McCrea presented the certificates to Sam and Brandon. Sam completed his apprenticeship with employer partner Fike’s Automotive, while Brandon completed his apprenticeship with Bay Hundred Automotive.
The graduation also provided an opportunity to reflect on CMM ATAP’s beginnings. Board President Tad duPont and board member JoAnn McQuay shared how the program grew from the Classic Motor Museum’s early efforts to mentor young people in the community who had an interest in automobiles. Recognizing the need for a pathway for those interested in developing professional automotive skills, board members Janet Soderberg and McQuay researched apprenticeship opportunities through the State of Maryland. Their work helped transform the Museum’s mentoring efforts into the structured apprenticeship program that is now CMM ATAP.
Today, CMM ATAP combines related instruction, on-the-job training and mentorship with the support of local employers and community partners.
“CMM ATAP is possible because so many people believe in the value of investing in these students, in workforce development and in the future of the automotive profession,” said Natalie Stamerro, CMM ATAP Director. “Our employer partners, the Maryland Department of Labor, Talbot County Public Schools, our volunteers, donors and community supporters all have a part in making this program possible. This graduation celebrates that collective effort, but most importantly, it celebrates Sam and Brandon and the work and commitment that brought them to this milestone.”
The graduation represents more than the completion of an apprenticeship. It reflects CMM ATAP’s broader mission to help develop the next generation of skilled automotive technicians while providing individuals with a meaningful pathway into the profession.
Through partnerships with local automotive employers, the Maryland Department of Labor, Talbot County Public Schools, volunteers, donors and members of the community, CMM ATAP continues to connect aspiring technicians with education, hands-on experience, employment and mentorship as they build careers in the automotive industry.
About CMM ATAP
CMM ATAP is the Classic Motor Museum’s Automotive Technician Apprenticeship Program. Developed from the Museum’s early youth mentoring efforts, CMM ATAP provides a pathway for individuals interested in developing the skills and experience necessary for careers in the automotive field. The program brings together related instruction, on-the-job training, employer partnerships and community support to help develop the next generation of automotive technicians.
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PHOTOS
Photos are attached. Photos courtesy Cold Front Media.
Featured Photo – CMM ATAP Graduates with Maryland Department of Labor Representative
CMM ATAP graduates Brandon Kealy (left) and Sam Fike, III (right) display their State of Maryland Certificates of Completion of Apprenticeship with Jackie Trieu, Interim Manager, Office of Apprenticeship, Division of Workforce Development & Adult Learning, Maryland Department of Labor, during the CMM ATAP graduation celebration at the Classic Motor Museum in St. Michaels.
Photo 2 – JoAnn McQuay
Classic Motor Museum board member JoAnn McQuay shares the story of CMM ATAP’s beginnings during the graduation celebration. McQuay and fellow board member Janet Soderberg helped develop the apprenticeship program from the Museum’s earlier youth mentoring efforts.
Photo 2 – Tad DuPont
Tad duPont, President of the Classic Motor Museum Board of Directors, shares remarks during the CMM ATAP graduation celebration. duPont reflected on the Museum’s early efforts to mentor young people interested in automobiles and the beginnings of what would eventually become CMM ATAP.
Photo 3 – CMM ATAP Graduates with Instructor Jim McCrea
CMM ATAP graduates Sam Fike, III and Brandon Kealy with CMM ATAP Instructor Jim McCrea following the presentation of their State of Maryland Certificates of Completion of Apprenticeship. McCrea served as the graduates’ instructor as they worked through the related instruction component of their three-year apprenticeships.