On Wednesday, August 21, WANADA executives, dealers, college officials, community leaders and participating service managers gathered with new and existing technician apprentices to kick-off the 2024 fall semester of the Automobile Dealer Education Institute (ADEI).
ADEI Chairman Harold Redden of Fitzgerald Auto Malls welcomed the attendees and highlighted how the WANADA apprenticeship program is the largest such program in the nation in addition to being an opportunity par excellence for any willing young person. Director of Education Joe Hemberger also spoke to the students, challenging the new apprentices to “work hard and dream big.”
In addition to the apprentices and industry representatives who had gathered, several community leaders who support the program financially and officials from the Maryland Department of Labor were present. They were able to meet with incoming students, but also witness several apprentices who had completed the program receive their certificates and discuss the great opportunities for career advancement that ADEI had afforded them.
WANADA/ADEI assistance with hiring, training, and staff development profoundly impacts your team’s growth and the service department’s ability to increase profitability and customer satisfaction. Furthermore, fees paid to WANADA/ADEI are tax-deductible. If your service department is not fully staffed, we can assist with hiring and training automotive technicians through our nationally accredited apprenticeship program. We can also assist with your staffing needs in your parts department or collision center.
ADEI helps aspiring, entry-level technicians find jobs at local dealerships. Once hired, the dealer then sponsors the technician’s education at one of WANADA’s three training sites, where they go to class one day per week. The curriculum is certified by the ASE Education Foundation and includes manufacturer training as well. After two years, the apprentices have enough classroom education and on-the-job training to become ASE-certified master technicians. The dealership pays a portion of the tuition by sponsoring each apprentice (which is tax deductible), but the vast majority of the program costs are covered by WANADA as a member service.
In addition to the technician apprenticeship program, ADEI also provides Service Advisor training focusing on sales, product knowledge, and how to outperform the aftermarket and Maryland State inspection classes.
If you are interested in learning more about ADEI to see if it would be a good fit for your service department, please contact Joe Hemberger via phone or email: 267-346-1700; jh@wanada.org.
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