RR 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.

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RR 283: Bob Rodriguez – Legacy Industry Trainer

Bob Rodriguez is a legacy aftermarket professional who spent 18 years as a technical training instructor and the training manager at Robert Bosch in Broadview IL. Bob was instrumental in finding better ways to provide training that went beyond the ‘beer and pretzels’ evening offerings by some vendors at the time’.

Bob drops a lot of names and organization he’s worked with and for. He’s worked for a number of well-known Tier 1 and aftermarket companies (including Bosch, Lincoln Technical Institute, ASE, Mopar CAP and others) and has chaired training committees for a wide-ranging group of aftermarket associations.

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RR 282: Jennifer Maher from TechForce – Technician Shortage – Solution Update

Moving Forward With a Solution to the Technician Shortage

Jennifer Maher, CEO and Executive Director of Techforce Foundation in her second interview on the podcast brings you the important updates to the Future Tech Success Campaign.

She outlines how you can help and explains the value of the iHUB repository of information, data and resources you will need to help at the grassroots level.

Discover the outcome of the case study done in the Phoenix school system. Learn how due diligence on our education system will make waves for the future technicians that are in the education system now.

All of us who earn our living in the aftermarket must get involved. Find important links to ‘raise your hand’ to help on the show notes page.

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RR 275: Chris Chesney – Sr. Director Customer Training – Carquest Technical Institute

Are You Committed to Be A Lifetime Learner In The Automotive Aftermarket? Learn Why It Must Be Your Most Important Goal.

Chris Chesney is the Senior Director, Customer Training at the CARQUEST Technical Institute and explains that our great aftermarket has its best days ahead, however, the challenge is going to take many people, teams and organizations working together to formulate solutions as we prepare for the largest wave of technology and consolidation we’ve ever seen.

Chris explains that all successful technicians and shop owners know …. that you must be committed to being a lifelong learner. If not … you’re in the wrong profession.

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RR 271: Jim Morton – Aftermarket Trainer and ATC Educator

Shop Owner Turned Mobile Diagnostician and Post-Secondary Instructor Loves To Teach Our Future Technicians.

Jim Morton from Morton’s Automotive Technical Services (MATS), and educator at the Automotive Training Center (ATC) in Warminster, PA has a BIG passion for training.

Jim is a sought-after national aftermarket trainer at expos around the country including NACAT, CARS, TST Big Event, VISION KC, Automechanika, and ASA. In October 2017, he taught a diagnostics class at the ASA-PA Super Saturday event and we were able to sit for this interview.

Jim is so genuine and thankful for the opportunity to be an educator in the aftermarket and for ATC. He has impacted many students and helped professionals over the years. He is proud to have the students tell him years later that he really knows what he was talking about! Strange how that happens and better to hear it firsthand from a former student.

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THA 036: Ten Reasons For Buying Technician Tools

Is Tradition Preventing Shop Owners From Buying Technician Tools? FACT: Shop Owners Are Already Paying For Their Employee Tools, And At A Super Inflated Premium With A Ton Of Interest To Boot.

This Academy panel feels that making employees supply tools is an outdated tradition, based on poor understanding of economics and is commonplace for all the wrong reasons.

We cover a lot of ground including the debt load carried by technicians, tool truck time, improved retention and loyalty. We talk side work, and how to approach starting this new strategy. The panel agrees it takes more than just money to retain top talent.

When the shop provides all the specialty tools you need to have them cataloged so everyone knows where they are located to prevent wasted time finding them. In the end, what is in the best interest for your shop will guide how you tackle this.

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RR 262: Skip Potter – Retired Executive Director NASTF

Retiring Executive Director Shares His Legacy and the Importance NASTF is to the Automotive Service Industry

Skip Potter has had a storied career working in parts distribution, motorsports, tools, service, collision, and heavy duty. He also had important roles with leading industry associations and a radio career with a syndicated radio broadcast called ‘Virginia Race Line.’

Skip is one of our unsung legacy leaders in our beloved aftermarket. He just retired as the Executive Director of NASTF (The National Automotive Service Task Force). Skip gives us a firsthand account of the value NASTF brings to the industry. You will be surprised.

Skip is one of those very versatile industry leaders and a great example of a legacy aftermarket leader. It is important we hear his story. So prepare for an important understanding of the role NASTF plays for all of us and the storied career of a legacy aftermarket leader.

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RR 245: Kate Jonasee from K-Tech in Sebastopol, CA

Do you remember when you started in business? What humble beginning did you have?

Kate Jonasee from K-Tech and Pauline’s Auto worked her way across the country after graduating from automotive technology college in upstate New York. She persisted through every opportunity to own two shops in Sebastopol, CA.

Kate says she learned something along the way from every shop she worked at and always had the goal to own her own shop, let alone two and possibly more.
Listen to the smart choices she made along the way, what her personal motivations were and how she is working to improve herself and her business.

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THA 019: Where Will We Find Our Future Automotive Instructors?

Where Will We Find Our Future Automotive Instructors?

This all-star panel tackled this problem head on. Where will the experience at the educator level come from when you need certain certifications. Will working technicians consider this as a career move and invest in the time and money to meet the teaching certification standards.

We may drive experienced and knowledgeable people away because of the needed certifications, pay and admin requirements. This topic is as important to discuss as the technician shortage.

Please have this discussion, with administrators, at the local college and high school level.

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RR 225: Jose Gonzalez – Educator

When you have big goals, and are determined to make a difference you can do just about anything!

Jose Gonzales was a working technician for 16 years for a dealership and an independent. He always admired automotive trainers and that motivated him to become an instructor in post-secondary. While he was was teaching, Jose completed his AAS degree in automotive technology then switched to become an instructor in secondary education (high school).

As if that wasn’t enough, Jose then completed his bachelors in business administration. When you hear Jose tell the story, you’ll realize he has a master plan and his moves were calculated and resolute. He loves teaching and is preparing for even more opportunities in the future.

Jose Gonzales is an educator who is shaping our future technicians, yet he says there are challenges to get some students to move to post-secondary or college level; he explains in the interview. Jose counts Jim Morton as an important mentor to him.

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RR 218: Rick Escalambre, Educator – Trainer

We call aftermarket professionals independent and that mislabeling has a negative impact on the industry.

Rick Escalambre the 2015 Vision Educator of the Year, retired two years ago from Skyline College and is busier than ever as an adjunct professor and contract trainer.

He is an author and member of NASTF Education Committee and involved in the educators think tank at Vision KC among others.

Rick is very outspoken on licensing and having a standardized training model in post-secondary education. Among the talking points: getting involved in education, shops recruiting at the college level, and creating strong apprentice programs. This career educator will have you thinking hard about his perspectives.

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RR 191: George Arrants – Career Educator, Trainer and Recruiter

Career educator, trainer and recruiter has a powerful message for the industry.

George Arrants currently the Director of Training & Recruitment for the Wheel Time Network brings his insight and wisdom to this interview. George talks the fundamental importance of secondary and post-secondary advisory boards. He says it is a national concern with a local solution. He shares how to recruit members for advisory boards and why they are so important for our industry’s future.

George Arrants shares his perspective on the tech shortage and asks the question is it a shortage of qualified applicants or the lack of applicants. He talks about the value of Super Tech for the heavy-duty industry and compares it to a Skills USA program for big kids.

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RR 188: Marlo Miranda – 2016 ASE Instructor of the Year

2016 Byrl Shoemaker ASE Industry Education Alliance: Instructor of the Year, survived many challenges.

Marlo Miranda automotive technology teacher at Forsyth Central High School, Cumming, GA, was honored at the ASE Fall Board of Governors meeting in November 2016.

Marlo Miranda has a very formidable story. It wasn’t an easy go growing up in New York City. He shares his story of survivor-ship through the mentoring of his automotive technology shop teacher. This molded Marlo to this day as he brings to his students the value of having someone believe in you.

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RR 184: Tim Dwyer Automotive Education Specialist at Consulab

Tim Dwyer was a shop owner for 25 years and was an instructor at Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology, for 12 years, where he helped start and instructed the Pro-Tech Automotive Internship program. He has found a perfect evolution of his storied carrer as an automotive education specialist at ConsuLab Educatech.

Tim is pays it forward with a very in-depth interview that covers many bases from his own shop, to being an educator and discovering a powerful way to educate his students with a Team Based Learning approach to his work in helping instructors utilize the power of their teaching aids.

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RR 176: Jennifer Maher from TechForce Discussing a Solution to the Technician Shortage

There’s a tech shortage in the transportation industry. It doesn’t matter if you’re talking automotive, trucking, diesel, aftermarket, motorcycle, marine, collision repair…you name it…they’re all struggling to find trained, professional technicians. Meet Jennifer Maher, the CEO/Executive Director of TechForce Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) with the mission to champion students to and through their education and…

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RR 164: Scott Norman – Skills USA & Worldskills USA

Where are the industries top young technician’s going to come from?

Skills USA and Worldskills brings to our industry an opportunity to showcase young talent in a competitive environment. Scott Norman, Chairman of the National Automotive Service Technology (AST) committee for SkillsUSA and the USA Technical Delegate for Worldskills gives you an insider’s overview of these two important competitions.

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RR 152: Scott Norman Automotive Educator

Automotive Technology Bachelor’s Degree program producing our future technicians and entrepreneurs.

Scott Norman is an Associate Professor of Automotive Technology at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS and President of the National Association of Automotive Universities.

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RR 112: Randy Baker – ASE/NATEF Industry Education Alliance Educator of the Year 2015

Where are the young technicians going to come from? Randy Baker is doing all he can to make that happen.

Randy Baker, honored as a 2015 Educator of the Year from ASE/NATEF, shares his story from shop owner to educator. He is outspoken and passionate about the additional support the aftermarket can have on secondary and post-secondary education recruitment. Do you want to know if shadowing or intern programs work? What should you tell a parent who has a child that is a hands-on learner? Get a powerful viewpoint from an enthusiastic educator.

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RR 111: Frank Palange from V & F Auto

Frank Palange from V & F Auto Service in Agawam, MA, and his dad Vinny bought an acre parcel in 1988. They built their shop and today this thriving enterprise includes repair, auto sales and auto parts. Frank is a ‘tell it like it is’ guy (he is proud to say that is who he…

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RR 106: Bill Haas from NACAT

Are you having a problem finding trained technicians – – here’s an answer that will help you.

There is a guy by the name of Bill Haas – – who has done just about everything in the repair industry. He started at the age of 12. He dragged home a junk motor that he bought from a garage. For the next few years he played with that poor engine – – until he knew how to fix every component. Later, Bill became a shop owner, sold it then taught technicians how to fix cars , became a business consultant and trainer including the man at NACAT. (The North American Council of Automotive Teachers)

You need to hear the story of what Bill has done and is in the process of doing to help you get better technicians.

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