Teaching Students at Kustom Built Cars [RR 509]
Jack Weaver is a custom car builder of 25+ years and the owner of Acme Chop Shop. He started teaching the art of custom auto restoration at Kustom Built Cars (KBC). Kustom Built Cars was started out of Jack’s love and enjoyment of custom cars and hot rods. He wanted to be able to continue…
Listen and view episode notesErik Mortensen – Former Technician Now Automotive Educator [RR 497]
Erik Mortensen, an Automotive Instructor at Watauga High School, transforms his classroom into an automotive service shop. Key Talking Points: A former technician that runs an automotive An automotive service shop in the classroomFive bays Parts room Toolroom Alignment rack All the equipment you would need He took an existing program and made it his…
Listen and view episode notesAnthony Williams – Update on the Automotive Institute for Science and Technology (AIST) [RR 496]
Anthony Williams is the Automotive Liason for the Automotive Institute for Science and Technology – AIST. Contact Anthony: a.williams@automotiveinstitute.org 719-641-2575 Talking Points: A brief recap on schoolProject-Based Learning vs Traditional schoolingDoing is the basis for learning in a real-world setting Find student natural aptitude Career Education combined with Core content (English, Math, Science, Etc.) PTECH…
Listen and view episode notesFTR 076: Josh McFarlin – Dream Big – You’ll be surprised Where a Career in the Automotive Will Take You
FTR 076 Dream Big – You’ll be surprised Where a Career in the Automotive Will Take You
Listen and view episode notesFTR 070 Tim Dwyer – Why You Need to be Involved in Skills USA or Canada
FTR 070 Tim Dwyer – Why You Need to be Involved in Skills USA or Canada
Listen and view episode notesRR 470: Automotive Students Speak Out on Their Future
RR 470: Automotive Students Speak Out on Their Future
An interview with three automotive technology students who share their outlook on their schooling and so much more. I’m with Travis Mawhir, Ryan Kostek, and Jarrett Laska three automotive post-secondary students from the State University of NY at ERIE.
I enjoyed sitting with these three students at the college to hear them give their perspective on mentoring, starting wage college debt, tools, and independents vs dealership opportunities. I’m with Travis Mawhir,
Ryan Kostek, and Jarrett Laska. Listen to what these automotive students are thinking at this stage in their lives Join me for a refreshing and interesting view of our future talent
RR 435: Young Careers In The Making – Automotive College Student Panel at CarFest 2019
Young Careers In The Making – Automotive College Student Panel at CarFest 2019
This episode with Ashlynn Poole, Cheyanne Keith, and Michael Wheeler is proof that Carfest is doing some great things by reaching out to automotive colleges to further enhance the awareness of independent aftermarket professionals. These students volunteered and worked hard in their assigned bays working with professionals to further engage their technical hunger.
There are some huge learning moments for you as you’ll hear what is on the mind of potentially the kind of young new hire you will make in the not too distant future
CarFest is a production of the Community of Automotive Professionals (CAP); a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to the improvement and revitalization of both the automotive industry and South Texas communities. They have done a tremendous job in going to secondary schools to raise awareness and motivate our youth to volunteer and learn how to become a tech in the industry.
Listen and view episode notesRR 434: Training Talk – Daytime vs. Night Time Training | ASE Certification | Instructors and Students
Training Talk – Daytime vs. Night Time Training | ASE Certification | Instructors and Students
Experience the insights of a Tech and Automotive Instructors talking about the difference between Day and Night training along with ASE certifications and Training from Schools on how to keep students engaged through balanced lectures and hands-on experience with a few visuals!
Our Tech Talk Panel guests include Marty Depowski is an Automotive Instructor of Wayne County Community College, Michigan; David Myers is an Automotive Instructor, Southwestern Community College, North Carolina; and Dwayne McCarty is a Technician of Martins Garage, Ft. Myers, FL.
Listen and view episode notesRR 433: The Importance of Third Party Credentials | Creating a Learning Culture in Your Business
The Importance of Third Party Credentialing and Having a Learning Culture in Your Business.
You are a professional in the automotive service aftermarket. You know your stuff, you are smart, accomplished. You put your knowledge to use every day. Ever decide to have a third party provide you the professional credentials to verify your practical abilities? Twenty percent of our industry has their credentials so I’m talking to the eighty percent that don’t.
This episode with Trish Serratore, Senior Vice President of Communication at ASE and ASE and Jeff Peevy, President of AMi is a departure from what testing is and will help you understand the value in credentialing. Credentials are becoming more important than ever, and prove to customers and your shop owner you know what you’re doing.
Listen and view episode notesTHA 118 Recruiting Students to Discover a Career in Automotive
THA 118 Recruiting Students to Discover a Career in Automotive
Enjoy some great new ideas and real-world issues as I welcome Seth Thorson, shop owner, Eurotech, Brighton, MN. Seth created a $25,000 endowment for automotive careers. We discussed in episode 340, David Macholz, Academic Chair of Suffolk County College – Automotive Technology and Aaron Dalton, Coordinator- School to Career Programming at the North Kansas City Schools.
On the podcast, we’ve not shied away from big issues in the industry. The only way our investment in this great dialogue actually gets traction is if you do your part. I can relate the discussion we are having today with a thought on philanthropy. Hats off to what you do for your community. Honorable. However, the future of our industry is dependent on recruiting, training and retaining technicians. Call it an investment in your own personal philanthropy.
Getting involved in local education at all levels to share our hi-tech industry with administration and to support the educators that are teaching young students on the automotive is a very important role you have. Especially as an independent. If you don’t then who? You will have less to give to your community if you don’t invest in your future.
Listen and view episode notesRR 418: AIST – The Future of Automotive Education
AIST – The Future of Automotive Education
This episode recorded at Vision 2019 in KC brings you into the loop on Automotive Institute of Science and Technology (AIST) in Colorado Springs, CO. This new ‘non-traditional’ public charter school that will use the P-TECH model (Pathways in Technology Early College High School), designed to provide students the foundation they need to be successful in the automotive aftermarket industry when they graduate.
Students will be able to enroll in a 4- or 6-year program, starting their freshman year of high school through their second year of college and all publicly funded. AIST will offer students three pathways: Automotive Technology, Business, or Engineering (mechanical and electrical) and will be project based.
With me is Anthony Williams, Special Projects Manager with Advance Auto Parts who had the seed of the idea for AIST and speaks to his dream becoming a reality. And Chris Chesney Sr. Director, Customer Training Carquest Technical Institute.
Listen and view episode notesRR 408: Scott Shotton – Straight Talk on Entry Level Technicians, Tips on Becoming an Aftermarket Trainer and Post-Secondary Automotive Education
Scott Shotton: Straight Talk on Entry Level Technicians, Tips on Becoming an Aftermarket Trainer and Post-Secondary Automotive Education
Scott and I dig into automotive education at the college level. We talk about the knowledge level and experience that our automotive graduates have and what their expected career path can be. Any seasoned technician knows where he started and what it took to get where he/she is today. That hasn’t changed, however, we may have higher expectations of our new grads and that is why each needs to have a career path set for them that includes an ongoing training program
Scott gives accolades to our top aftermarket trainers and gives advice to aspiring trainers.
We also get into the grow your own technician issue, the A,B,C technician designation, and mobile as a career path.
Listen and view episode notesRR 404. Rodney Pierini. A Grant That Supports Automotive Education – First Of Its Kind
A Grant that Ensures The Future of the Aftermarket.
CAWA receives a $25K grant from the University of the Aftermarket. The program would consider financial assistance, accreditation support, access to automotive products for classroom use and access to industry training for the teachers. This grant will allow CAWA the resources to establish the program and serve as a model for others to implement because we believe it’s a first in the country to provide this type of support for our high school automotive teachers.
Our guest Rodney Pierini is the President and CEO of CAWA – California Automotive Wholesaler’s Association. Mr. Pierini has served on many auto care industry committees and groups including serving as the Chair of the Alliance of State Automotive Aftermarket Associations, the Auto Care Association Board of Directors and Chair of the Auto Care Association Government Affairs Committee, to name a few. He is also a recipient of Northwood University’s Automotive Aftermarket Management Education Award.
Listen and view episode notesRR 400: 400th Episode Milestone. What does it mean to “Listen To Learn Just One Thing.”
400th Episode Milestone. What does it mean to “Listen To Learn Just One Thing.
Welcome to the 400th episode. I started back in March 2015 with the seed of an idea to help all ships rise in the industry. Hats off to those first 20 guests who help get this juggernaut started.
Here is the panel, Kevin Eckler, Foreign Car Specialists, Poughkeepsie, NY Pete Rudloff from Pete’s Garage in Newark, DE, Ryan Clo from Dubwerx in Cincinnati, OH, Rich Falco Instructor for CTI, Tom Lambert from Shadetree Automotive in Layton, UT, Maryann Croce, Croce’s Transmission in Norwalk, CT and from Small Biz Vantage.com, Dwayne Myers, Dynamic Automotive in Frederick, Md and Christopher Petersen from Northwest Automotive in Kalispell, MT.
Stories from all segments of the industry with discussions that will help invigorate, enliven and inspire you to take action or affirm your path and strategy. Podcasts are a viable resource for your continual learning game plan.
Listen and view episode notesRR 396: Education – Inside the Automotive Business School of Canada
Education – Inside the Automotive Business School of Canada
Listen to the story of how one Automotive Business College prepares students for an Automotive Career.
Bob Greenwood, CEO of Automotive Aftermarket E-Learning Centre Ltd and Professor John Jackson from Automotive Business School of Canada.
This episode will motivate you to continue your strong message to the educators who are working hard to prepare students for a career in the aftermarket. There are great ideas in this episode to drive your inspiration to keep you or get you involved in aftermarket education.
We cover a lot of ground and I believe you’ll be impressed with what the Automotive Business School of Canada is doing to educate, intern and place students into the aftermarket.
Listen and view episode notesRR 383: AAPEXedu 2018 The Road To Great Technicians – Roundtable
AAPEX EDU 2018 The Road To Great Technicians
A fundamentally valuable discussion as we get ready to deal with the tsunami of seeding our industry with our future technicians that will have the competencies necessary to perform mechanical and diag work and the need to develop career paths for every level of technician.
We need apprentice and mentoring programs that are universal to the industry, along with an industry moving in the same training direction so we can create competent technicians to work on the tech and safety issues of our future vehicles. We do not need our government involved in directing competencies, we need to do it ourselves.
This discussion is one you’ll need to hear time and time again. You will need to be involved and help move this initiative forward. Don’t wait to get involved. A first step is to become a member of NASTF. It is Free. Go to NAFTF.org
Listen and view episode notesTHA 087: Automotive Career’s Starts in High School and in the Home!
An Automotive Career Starts in High School and in the Home!l
We, as a collective aftermarket, need to stop talking about the need for quality automotive training and the technician shortage and get involved. It will be our fault for the lack of young people joining our industry.
The schools are there for industry. Superintendents and presidents need to hear from industry. A good advisory board will make a huge difference in the quality of instruction, investment from the school and placement of students.
The panel includes James Halderman, ASE Master Technician, and author of 18 Automotive Textbooks and James Pressly, Trade and Industrial Specialist, Career and Technical Education with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and Shane Hawkins, East Gaston High School in Mount Holly, NC and adjunct instructor for Gaston College. Also an impromptu visit from Kyle Holt of S/P2.
Listen and view episode notesRR 364: ASCCA Automotive Degree Program. First of Its Kind to Channel Students to Independents.
ASCCA Degree Program. First of Its Kind to Channel Students to Independents.
The ASCCA Degree Program at Cuyamaca College in El Cajon, CA was forged by a small group of independent shop owners and a dedicated educator. Kicked off by Dara Bakhshandeh of CD Auto Care, in La Mesa, CA with support from John Epstein of John’s Automotive Care, San Diego, and Brad McCombs, instructor, Cuyamaca Community College.
The program was started to find qualified technicians and ASCCA (Automotive Service Councils of California) will be involved through their membership. One of their goals is to grow the program from an associate’s degree to a bachelor’s degree which can appeal to a student who dream of owning own business one day and want to work and learn from shopowner.
This program could be developed in other states but will need an association like ASCCA to oversee it. ASCCA also offers out-of-state memberships.
RR 358: John Gustafson – ATC: Synchronizing the Automotive Trades
ATC: Synchronizing the Automotive Trades
John Gustafson is the president of Gustafson Brothers Automotive Repair, Huntington Beach, CA and the founder of the Auto Talent Co-Op (ATC). ATC is an independent non-profit organization whose vision is to effectively unite resources within the automotive industry, and establish clear career path standards for its users.
ATC’s Mission is to build a synchronized and accessible platform, able to unite the automotive industry. To help refill the talent pool for all automotive job-related positions. To fulfill the technician shortage, and improve technician retention and to streamline career paths, bridge technician skills gap and improve recruitment.
Your support is needed. Find links on the show notes page.
Listen and view episode notesRR 351: Paul Danner – Educator, Diagnostician and You-tuber ‘ScannerDanner’
Paul Danner. Educator, Diagnostician and Youtuber ‘ScannerDanner’
Paul Danner is an ASE L1 Certified Master Technician with Twenty-Four years of field experience in electronics, electrical and drivability diagnostics. For eighteen years he has been employed as an instructor at Rosedale Technical College where he has taught Engine Performance Diagnostics and Basic Electrical Systems. Eleven years ago, he opened his own mobile diagnostic business which performs electrical and electronic diagnostic services for over Twenty Garages in the South Hills of Pittsburgh.
He fell into mobile diagnostics and case studies by stopping in and helping his friends on the way home from work. He called it diaper money to help pay the bills. He is thankful that God has graced him with the ability to troubleshoot.
He is wired for variables and loves ‘What Ifs’. Paul stresses that your learning curve comes from the ‘good parts’ drawer and from the mistakes you make. You have to be in a shop that gives you a steady diet of diagnostic work to become good at diagnostics.
He teaches his student’s field diagnostics and has written a field manual about it and his youtube channel is a very popular place to learn.
Listen and view episode notesRR 340: Seth Thorson Creates $25,000 Scholarship Endowment
Ready To Create Your Own Scholarship Endowment for Automotive Tech Students?
Seth Thorson from Eurotech Auto Service, New Brighton, MN, has specialized in the service of European automobiles since 1999.
Seth made a bold move this year and created a $25,000 endowment scholarship to Century College. The Thorson Automotive Scholarship which is sponsored by Eurotech is an eye opener for the entire industry.
Seth points out that parents and students need to view an automotive career as a valuable and viable career opportunity. We need to reach out to help students afford college through scholarship programs.
Recruiting into our automotive tech colleges starts with talking to school boards, meeting with school superintendents, joining advisory boards and creating endowments.
Listen and view episode notesRR 335: Build Your Own Apprentice Program – Secretary Kelly Schulz & Dwayne Myers
The Technician Shortage: Build Your Workforce With Your Own Apprentice Program
This episode provides a solution to growing our own technicians. Dwayne Myers from multi-location Dynamic Automotive in Fredrick, MD shares his apprentice program. Also, the Secretary of Labor from the great state of Maryland, Kelly Schulz, explains how the state was instrumental in Dynamic’s apprentice program and how she is using the influence of Maryland’s Labor department to embrace college training and apprentice programs for skilled trades. You’ll be glad you listened because there are real solutions here that will help you grow your own talent.
This episode is going to demonstrate how Dwayne Myers worked with and partnered with his state’s Department of Labor and Secretary Kelly Schulz. Secretary Schulz explains the program and the positive outcomes it has been producing. Dwayne explains how he embraced the state’s programs and integrated it into his training culture.
Follow Dwayne’s passion for growing technicians through an apprentice program and consider using your state’s labor department to support your program. Growing your own talent will be the norm. Use this episode as your launch pad and start.
Listen and view episode notesRR 330: Dave Macholz – Academic Chair of Suffolk County College Automotive Technology
How Do We Educate and Integrate Our Young People into a Career as Automotive Technicians?
My guest is Dave Macholz, the Academic Chair at the automotive technology program at Suffolk County Community College on Long Island, NY. The automotive program has been active for over 30 years. Dave has an independent aftermarket history and is very transparent about the current and future value of training our future technicians.
We cover a large breadth of topics including funding, graduation rates, mentoring, improving enrollment, internships and capital spending to keep our colleges current with new technology. Stuff you need to know and get involved with.
You will benefit from this discussion. The more you know about the grassroots issues we face the better you be able to help solve them. With your help, the future is bright.
Listen and view episode notesTHA 068: Why Just In Time Learning is Bad For Your Business
The Impact That Core Fundamental Training Will Have On Your Business And Career.
This power panel includes Donny Seyfer, Mark Saxonberg, Chris Chesney, Jeff Peevy and Bill Haas. They have the expertise and experience to give you a blueprint for your training strategy. From the Road To Great Technicians to the real world problem of Just In Time Learning … you can’t expect to make any money when you are learning in the service bay.
Yet there are many instances when you have to learn in the service bay because many of the problems you come across you have never seen before. And that is where core competencies come in. And the panel says, do not use Just In Time learning as an excuse not to have structured education.
We talk triage, structured training, service support resources and the importance of the Service Advisor as a critical component of getting the job done right the first time.
Listen and view episode notesRR 314: Educator Think Tank – Vision 2018
You Cannot Ignore Your Role in The Automotive Technology Education System.
Go inside the Vision 2018 Studio with the Educators Think Tank. Join Rick Escalambre, Retired Instructor Skyline College, and educator of the year 2017, Scott Brown from Diagnostic Network, Matthew Shanahan Assistant Professor, Automotive Technology, College of DuPage and Tim Dwyer, from Consul Labs.
This is a great slice of what automotive education is today. A very open and transparent discussion that will help you understand the education process and gain knowledge of how to get involved. Also, learn about the challenges that post-secondary automotive technology programs have and how you can and must get involved.
A few key talking points: Automotive technology programs at all levels is expensive, independents must attend career fairs and speak to classes at all levels including middle school and Industry and education needs to come together stronger than ever. The industry has a depth of talent that can help the education system.
Listen and view episode notes