Vince Sheehy Nominated for Northwood Education Award

Vince Sheehy Nominated for Northwood Education Award

No one better understands the urgency of stemming the technician shortage crisis in Americaês automobile industry than Vince Sheehy, president of the Sheehy Auto Stores, a chain of 12 dealerships in Maryland and Virginia. As WANADA Chairman in 2002 and 2003, Sheehy helped develop and roll out the first-of-its-kind apprentice training program in the Metropolitan Washington, DC market that recruits, employs, and trains young adults for careers in auto technology. He led a dealer group effort that resulted in a unique dealer association partnership with Ford Motor Company, premised upon a curriculum that tracks ASE Certification and Ford-specific training of apprentices employed at DC area dealerships in two separate education centers. After three classes of students, the WANADA/Ford Apprentice Program has –home grown” 29 line technicians, with another 22 poised to complete the program this year.

For his consistently active involvement in educational programs, and his role as a change-agent for his industry in automotive technical training, WANADA has nominated Vince Sheehy for the Northwood University Dealer Education Award in 2005. The award has been given annually since 1972 at the NADA Convention in recognition of individuals who have demonstrated substantial dedication over a number of years to the educational process, inside or outside of the industry.

On his watch as chairman of WANADA, an AYES pre-apprentice certification program was established by Washington area dealers which positively focuses high school level technician-training programs for the auto industry.

AYES certified high schools and other pre-apprentice programs supported by Washington area dealers act as proving grounds in identifying ambitious, skilled youngsters to become technicians through WANADAês apprentice program. With Sheehyês leadership, WANADA is working to expand its apprentice program to other manufacturers.