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TeamUp Academy seeks state support to scale veteran-focused workforce training in Southeast Michigan
Summary
John Bones, founder of TeamUp Academy, described a program in Warren that works with veterans, Job Corps partners and local employers and requested state funding to scale capacity from about 9–10 trainees per month to 25 per month (roughly 300 per year).
John Bones, founder and executive director of TeamUp Academy, asked the House appropriations subcommittee for state investment to expand a veteran-focused, employer-linked workforce training program operating in Warren, Michigan.
Bones said TeamUp, a nonprofit that operates in a 40,000-square-foot facility and runs short entry-level ‘‘boot camp’’ and longer step-up programs, began in 2018 and restarted programming after COVID with a pilot class in April 2024. The Academy’s entry-level program is a 30-day boot camp that prepares trainees for manufacturer entry-level jobs; step-up programs (for CNC machining and other skills) run about eight weeks. "Costs a lot of money not to work," Bones said, describing the program’s philosophy of quick, employer-directed training and placement.
Partnerships and veteran pipeline: Tamiko Richardson, education and training director for Cerrado Corporation (based in Tucson, Arizona), told the committee that a Warriors to Work pipeline tied to Job Corps centers is intended to channel transitioning service members into TeamUp for reskilling and placement. Richardson said Cerrado operates the Flint Genesee and Detroit Job Corps centers and that the Warriors to Work pilot would include a San Diego-based intake aimed at attracting transitioning veterans to Michigan for housing, training and placement.
Scale and outcomes: Bones said TeamUp currently trains about 9–10 people per month and seeks to scale to 25 per month by year-end — roughly 300 individuals annually — and to double or triple certificate offerings via partnerships with Macomb Community College, SME Tooling U curriculum and employer partners. He told the panel that TeamUp’s current veteran placement rate is about 50% and the program aims for about an 85% veteran placement rate with added counseling and mentorship resources. "We want to lead in the nationwide workforce-training movement," Bones said.
Student testimony and employer demand: Veteran participant Donald Teasley, a Navy veteran in TeamUp’s ninth class, told the committee the program helped him refresh math and technical skills and regain stability after personal setbacks. Bones and Tamiko Richardson identified prospective employer partners, including Lapla USA, Magna and other regional manufacturers; Bones said specific employers have asked TeamUp to supply dozens of trained hires over the coming year.
Church partnerships and civil-rights compliance: Representative Martis asked about TeamUp’s relationship with Landmark Church and whether a state-funded community center would comply with Michigan civil-rights law. Bones said the program grew from a faith-based mentorship model and emphasized a separation of ministry and training functions; he told the committee, "Absolutely. 100% — you are who you are," when asked whether TeamUp would comply with nondiscrimination requirements.
Next steps and request: Bones said the appropriation request (amount not specified in the transcript) would fund capacity growth, additional certificates (including planned welding certifications with Lincoln Electric), and expanded counseling and mentorship to improve placement outcomes.
