Oct. 31, 2017—TechForce Foundation, launched a campaign to help provide an ongoing stream of qualified technicians to North American vehicle repair businesses.
Created by Greg Settle, TechForce Director of National Initiatives, and Jennifer Maher, TechForce CEO/Executive Director, the campaign is called FutureTech Success.
Its purpose is three-fold:
- To give middle- and high-school students, parents and influencers the tools and experiences to recognize and foster tactile intelligence
- To help reposition the image of the profession; and
- To help the industry speak with a collective voice with regard to its workforce development needs.
To the first point, Settle said, “Our goal is to identify and provide naturally talented tactile learners with the after school programs, clubs and activities, mentors and experiences that allow them to engage with the highly advanced and rapidly expanding world of vehicle technology so they— and their parents and influencers — understand there are prosperous technical career opportunities that they may not have considered.”
To help drive the campaign to students, parents and influencers, TechForce created a website —www.futuretechsuccess.org — that contains all of the pertinent information needed for students to ascertain their interest and aptitude for a technical career. To assist students in their quest to become technicians, a number of resources are presented, including after school and summer camp programs, a listing of technical schools, available internships and scholarships, a job board, needed certifications, industry events and industry associations.
Also, through the FutureTech Success campaign, TechForce will serve as the “collective hub,” harnessing the myriad of excellent resources that exist throughout the industry, collecting, packaging and presenting them in a one-stop-shop microsite that speaks to future techs and their parents, school counselors, youth directors and other influencers.
Another feature on the site is the bank of videos featuring successful professionals sharing their technical experiences and insights. Likewise, students share their own stories, and also have the opportunity to join the FutureTech Success community.
The campaign’s second purpose is to help right a wrong that has existed for decades, that is, the “grease monkey” image. “The complexity of today’s vehicles rival some of the most sophisticated aircraft —and the technical and computer knowledge, as well as the tactile and STEM skills required to work on them, is truly amazing,” said Maher.
The opportunity story speaks to the campaign’s third point: getting everyone in the industry on board to speak with a collective voice. Fourteen corporations have signed on as partners to the campaign.
And, a growing number of high profile industry associations are supporting the effort, including the Auto Care Association, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), the Automotive Service Association (ASA) to name a few.
Additionally, there is also the FutureTech Success campaign. TechForce will serve as the “collective hub,” harnessing the myriad of resources that exist throughout the industry, collecting, packaging and presenting them in a one-stop-shop microsite that speaks to future techs and their parents, school counselors, youth directors and other influencers.
