08/28/2026
NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Amanda Jarvis | Build A Pro Foundation
What if we stopped asking, “Where are we going to find qualified workers?” and started asking, “How can we build them?”
That’s the work happening at Build A Pro Foundation, led by our BNI member Amanda Jarvis, Acting Executive Director & Chief of Staff.
Build A Pro is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Multi-Employer Registered Apprenticeship Sponsor and Intermediary. In plain English? They build bridges between people who have untapped potential and employers who need skilled talent.
They help employers navigate the compliance and administrative work of Registered Apprenticeships while creating structured pathways for individuals to gain paid, on-the-job training, technical instruction, mentorship, and a nationally recognized credential.
And there’s an important distinction:
👉An internship gives you exposure to a career. An apprenticeship helps you BUILD one.
At Build A Pro Amanda leads organizational strategy, employer partnerships, and the development of apprenticeship initiatives. She has two master’s degrees in psychology and a background spanning finance, startups, nonprofits, and workforce development. She’s also a 2025 Leadership Salina graduate and previously served as an AmeriCorps Fellow with the City of Salina and Lead for America, contributing to housing initiatives that facilitated more than 1,000 new residential units and reinvestment programs.
Ultimately, Amanda and Build A Pro are working toward something bigger than filling jobs:
Building people. Building careers. Building a stronger workforce. Building a stronger community.
If you’re an employer looking for skilled talent or interested in developing an apprenticeship program, Amanda should be on your radar!
