Under The Hood Newsletter | October 2022
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The Techs Rock Awards are open, our new Technician Supply & Demand Report is on the way, new scholarships and free events are available, and the TechForce app is live. TechForce Foundation’s October newsletter is all treats, no tricks! TOP STORIES – October 2022
Techs Rock Awards are now open – Nominate a technician
Nominations for TechForce’s 2022 Techs Rock Awards are open through Friday, November 4th. More than $17,500 in prizes along with industry-wide recognition will be awarded to five transportation technicians. Nominate a tech now at TechForce.org/TechsRock!
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Women Techs Rock Grantee Jinelee Achieving Technician Career Dreams
This post was originally published October 24, 2022. The following is new information added April 25, 2023.
From 0-60: Jinelee is Reaching New Heights
Jinelee’s journey to becoming a tech started in 2020 with a broken-down car on the side of the road.
How a broken-down truck got Jinelee going
As she sat stuck for three hours because of an overheated engine, Jinelee felt the dread of not knowing what to do without the money to fix it.
Days later Jinelee took matters into her own hands. Thanks to YouTube, Google and instruction from a local shop she was able to get her truck back on the road! It was in this experience that Jinelee found her calling.
“I felt so proud of myself, I felt accomplished… Never in my life would I have thought this was something I’d like. I had never tried it, but now I feel as if it is my calling.”
Where Jinelee is now, three years later
Jinelee recently graduated from her Mercedes-Benz technician training program (pictured right), and has sinced been hired by Mercedes-Benz!
From a novice just three years ago to a professional technician today, she’s amazed by how far she has come in such a short amount of time. The challenges throughout her journey didn’t stop her, and they show us what’s possible when people come together to give others a little help along with way.
Jinelee received a number of TechForce scholarships and grants throughout her journey. That support helped make it possible for Jinelee to continue pursuing, and ultimately achieve her incredible accomplishments.
The original post from October 24, 2022 is continued below.
Meet Jinelee, Women Techs Rock Grant Recipient
How Jinelee got interested in a tech career
Early signs a tech career was the right fit
Looking back on her life, Jinelee admits there were signs that a technician career was in the cards for her.
“When I think about the things I used to do when I was little or even as an adult, it makes sense. I used to love fixing my bicycle and my friends’ bicycles, rollerblades and skateboards. I loved to put puzzles together and build random things out of anything I could find. As I got older, I still found myself doing similar things, such as building or putting together furniture. Using my hands to repair, build and just get my hands dirty has always been my thing and I NEVER realized it until I started working on my truck.”
Passion powers progress towards tech career
Jinelee says she is amazed how far she has come in such a short time, and she has big dreams for her future.
“I want my own car shop. A very girly shop. I want the equipment to be bright, fun colors, and I want it to have only women mechanics!”
Life's challenges inform Jinelee's perspective
Jinelee has overcome many very difficult personal challenges, but despite this, she says, “[My] focus [is] on people’s efforts. I like to make others feel positive, empowered, worthy, appreciated, and supported. I am one that can communicate encouragement to help people move forward but also hold them accountable in a loving way when tough love is needed. It’s important to inspire one another, challenge one another in reaching our full potential and celebrate each other for our successes.”
She is elated to have received the Women Techs Rock grant. Jinelee has worked incredibly hard to discover and be able to pursue her passion for a tech career. She is extremely grateful for this generous gift that will let her follow her passion, and hopefully inspire future women technicians!
If Jinelee’s story inspired you, we invite you to learn more about a technician career at https://techforce.org/our-work/#career-exploration
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TechForce Launches 4th Annual Techs Rock Awards
TechForce Foundation Now Accepting Nominations for its 4th Annual Techs Rock AwardsTM through Nov. 4
Five transportation technicians to be recognized for outstanding contributions as role models in their shops and communities
October 20, 2022 – SCOTTSDALE, AZ — TechForce Foundation’s® annual Techs Rock Awards season has begun. TechForce created this prestigious award to honor professional technicians who mentor and inspire the next generation of techs, bring excellence to their workplaces and communities, and demonstrate passion and commitment to the profession. The Techs Rock Awards are accepting nominations through 5 PM PDT, November 4, 2022 at TechForce.org/TechsRock.
Since 2018 technicians have received more than $27,000 in prizes. Over $17,500 in prizes will be awarded in the 2022 Techs Rock Awards:
Each Category Winner, selected by a panel of industry experts, will receive prizes valued over $1,700 from TechForce partners including Ford Motor Company, AutoZone, CRC Industries, Snap-on Industrial, Advance Auto Parts, WD-40 Company and Cengage.
The Grand Prize Winner, as chosen by popular vote, will receive additional prizes valued over $8,500 from Advance Auto Parts, CRC Industries, Ford Motor Company, Snap-on Industrial, WD-40 Company and AutoZone.
Technicians will be considered for one of five categories including Pay it Forward, Rookie of the Year, Die Hard Tech, Outstanding Mentor and Barrier Buster. A panel of celebrity judges will select one Category Winner from each of the five categories. The Grand Prize Winner will be selected from the slate of Category Winners via a People’s Choice Public Vote, to be held November 28 – December 2, 2022.
2022 Techs Rock Award judges include Emily Reeves, Flying Sparks Garage; Charles Sanville, The Humble Mechanic; Bogi Lateiner, Bogi’s Garage; Pete Meier, Motor Age Magazine; and Julia Landauer, Julia Landauer Racing.
2021 Grand Prize Winner and Carmax technician Donald Ranquist recently reflected on what winning has meant for him, “I don’t usually brag about myself… This is really exciting. Thank you! Getting a trip to [the 2022 STX Supplier & Training Expo in Orlando] is a huge opportunity… The training that comes with it, being able to take that back to my team… and the different tools and items… have helped [me] get [my] jobs done.”
TechForce Foundation will be releasing a 2022 update to its Technician Supply & Demand Report at the 2022 AAPEX show addressing the ongoing technician shortage. Recognition programs like the Techs Rock Awards help address that shortage. These programs are vital not only to retaining technicians but to repositioning the public’s perception of technician jobs as the high-tech, rewarding, new-collar careers that they are.
The Techs Rock Awards are part of TechForce’s workforce development campaign to inspire and support tomorrow’s workforce of technicians. TechForce also created the first and only social network designed and gamified for professional technicians and tech students to connect with each other, employers and schools (TechForce.org). The transportation community is supporting it with content and using it to learn, connect, find events, and explore job opportunities while competing for prizes and leaderboard status.
About TechForce Foundation
TechForce Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) with the mission to champion all students to and through their education and into careers as professional technicians. TechForce powers the technician workforce by awarding more than $1.5 million in scholarships and grants annually to financially-disadvantaged students; changes perceptions towards this evolving, ‘new collar’ STEM career; and provides local career exploration and workforce development programming. TechForce’s online, social network of students, working technicians, instructors, employers, industry professionals and enthusiasts committed to championing the technician workforce is the conduit through which the charity delivers its free resources, programs and career hub for the benefit of aspiring technicians. For more information, visit TechForce.org. Follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin and YouTube.
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