THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM
Friday, July 28, 2000
Auto Dealerships Spark Effort to Train More Technicians

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The Chronicle Telegram

In response to your July 2 article "Auto technician shortage in need of repair," the Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers' Association (GCADA) has partnered with a national campaign called Automotive YES, to attempt to "jump start" the dwindling numbers of skilled automobile technicians entering the profession.

Through Automotive YES, several member dealers — Abraham Auto Mall and Jack Matia Chevrolet in Elyria; Morris Pontiac/GMC/Kia in North Ridgeville; and Joyce Buick/Pontiac in Lorain — are providing high school and career-technical students from Lorain County Joint Vocational Schools with shadowing, mentoring and paid internship opportunities at their dealerships.

The industry is facing a decline in the number of people entering the auto technician profession. That's troubling to us because it's getting more and more complicated to repair cars. We used to work on our own cars several years ago. We wouldn't have a clue about how to do that today.

It's time to replace old stereotypes about careers in automotive service. This is no longer a grease-monkey job. Today's automotive technician must possess the aptitude to diagnose and repair vehicles with multiple computers under the hood, running high-tech circuitry.

Teachers, high school guidance counselors and other administrators must begin advising quality student to consider pursuing careers in automotive technology.