Day: October 20, 2022

TechForce Foundation Now Accepting Nominations for its 4th Annual Techs Rock Awards^TM 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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