WANADAs ADEI auto tech training program wins high dealer praise

WANADAês ADEI auto tech training program wins high dealer praise

The auto technician mentor luncheon last week was a big success both for prospective students who attended and the dealership representatives who spoke. The August 16 event at Montgomery College was organized by WANADAês career education arm, the Automobile Dealer Education Institute (ADEI).

–Learning automotive technology is key for the future,” said WANADA President and CEO John OêDonnell. –With the coming of a lot of electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles, the skills required for maintaining and operating those vehicles is not an option for the industry,” he said. ADEI Chairman Harold Redden, vice president of Fitzgerald Auto Mall, offered further encouragement to the students at the MC luncheon.

Farzad Makarehchi, service director for DARCARS, has an on-the-ground view of the program. –The DARCARS dealerships take entry-level technicians from a variety of sources,” he said. –But the WANADA program is proven to have among the top results because of the on-the-job training and the techês relationship with a mentor. As a result, WANADA students are more prepared to be productive technicians compared with other programs.”

Makarehchi emphasized the importance of recalls, as dealership service departments are seeing more and more of them.

Manufacturers will only allow technicians with specific certifications to do recall work or warranty repairs. –Because recalls are so prevalent these days, getting those certifications is extremely important for a shopês profitability and customer retention,” he said. A technician who has these certifications has good job prospects, Makarehchi told the students in attendance.

Brett Davis, service director for Fitzgerald Auto Mall, offered some practical tips for the students when they start working: –Be on time, make it clear you are ready to learn, and turn off your cell phone while you are at work,” he said.

WANADA Member Services Coordinator Billy Painter highlighted some of the features of ADEIês Technician Development Program. Students will work four days a week at sponsoring dealerships as they attend classes at Montgomery College once a week. Classes start the last week of August. ADEIês companion program in Northern Virginia offers adult education classes at Marshall Academy in Falls Church and Hayfield High School Adult Education in Alexandria.

WANADA has several potential students who are looking for dealership employment as a way into the program. Any dealer interested in sponsoring one should contact Billy Painter at mailto:bp@wanada.org or 202-237-7200.