Our team at MAP is working to strengthen Mississippi’s workforce and create more opportunities for Mississippians to gain the skills they need to secure meaningful and financially rewarding careers through Registered Apprenticeship in Mississippi. We are excited to announce two new team members–Johna Peyton and Matthew Riley–who will continue to build on the success of the program and lead efforts to grow and expand Registered Apprenticeship opportunities in the state.
Johna will serve as the director of MAP. In this role, she will lead outreach to companies, educational institutions, community partners, and potential apprentices to bolster Registered Apprenticeships across the state. Peyton holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Master of Education in Mathematics from Delta State University. She is a two-time recipient of the Mississippi Economic Council’s Star Teacher award. Peyton’s professional experience spans more than 30 years and includes serving as a classroom teacher, workforce training instructor, and program director. Before joining MCCB, she served as the SNAP grant project director for Mississippi Delta Community College where she oversaw the day-to-day operations of the program, coordinated new participants, and managed and trained staff.
Matthew will serve as a program specialist for MAP and the MCCB Rapid Response Initiative –, a program that provides training, education, apprenticeship, and employment to Mississippians looking for meaningful, family-sustaining careers. Matthew brings a wealth of workforce development experience to his role as the program specialist for MAP and Rapid Response. He earned an Associate of Arts degree from East Central Community College, a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science from Mississippi Valley State University, and a Master of Science in Leadership from Belhaven University.
While at East Central Community College in Decatur, MS, he served as grant coordinator and director of the Carthage Career Advancement Center. Before joining MAP, he severed as the statewide reentry director for the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
Johna and Matthew will be leading efforts to increase the number of apprenticeship opportunities for Mississippi residents and strengthen the state’s workforce by providing workers with the training they need to start or continue their careers in some of the state’s most in-demand fields such as advanced manufacturing, health care, IT/cybersecurity, energy/utilities, and transportation. Join us in welcoming them to our team.
