2025 - TechForce

April 23, 2025April 23, 2025

AutoZone Partners with TechForce Foundation to Fight the Technician Shortage by Awarding $60,000 in Scholarships

MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 23, 2025 — AutoZone, Inc. today, in partnership with TechForce
Foundation, announced $60,000 in scholarships to support students pursuing careers as
skilled technicians. The donation funds more than thirty scholarships to help students
cover the cost of their technical education and continue to build the next generation of
technicians.
The announcement comes on the heels of TechForce’s Technician Supply & Demand
Report, which in December found that the U.S. still needs nearly 1 million new
automotive, aviation, collision repair, and diesel technicians over the next five years.
“Thousands of technicians have completed school and entered the workforce after
receiving support from TechForce,” said TechForce Foundation CEO Jennifer Maher.
“When a few hundred-dollar expenses are all it takes to derail a student’s technical
education, each scholarship makes a difference. AutoZone’s donation furthers our work
to end the technician shortage and ensure young people and communities thrive. With
our partners, TechForce is building the technician pipeline by connecting students’
curiosity to successful careers. AutoZone has been a partner for over 10 years, and we
appreciate their steadfast support for TechForce Foundation’s charitable work.”
AutoZone’s scholarship contribution is in addition to the company’s ongoing annual
donation in general support for TechForce Foundation’s charitable mission to champion
all students to and through their technical education and into careers as professional
technicians.
“AutoZone is proud to continue our partnership, which has been in place since 2011, with
TechForce,” said Ken Jaycox, Senior Vice President, Commercial, Customer Satisfaction,
AutoZone. “This collaboration is one of the many ways we support our customers by
fostering career paths for those interested in the automotive industry and increasing the
pool of trained technicians in the workforce, which benefits both our customers operating
professional repair facilities and vehicle owners who rely on those technicians.”
Past scholarship recipients have found academic success and gone on to begin
rewarding technician careers with the support of AutoZone and TechForce Foundation.

One such recipient is Michael Buscher. Michael received a scholarship while attending
Universal Technical Institute in 2024, and today works as a diesel technician and
welder/fabricator for an independent shop in Pearland, Texas.
Michael says, “The scholarship has been instrumental in supporting my education and
career goals. It helped alleviate the financial burden of attending tech school, enabling
me to focus on my training. Additionally, it has given me the opportunity to pursue higher
education in college while working part-time to gain hands-on experience in the field.
This combination of education and work experience has set a strong foundation for my
future career.”
TechForce Foundation scholarships provide vital financial assistance to students
pursuing careers in the skilled trades, including those training to become service
technicians. Scholarships support students’ tuition, tools, and other training-related
expenses, easing the financial burden of pursuing a technician career.
About AutoZone
As of February 15, 2025, Company had 6,483 stores in the U.S., 813 in Mexico and 136
in Brazil for a total store count of 7,432.
AutoZone is the leading retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts and
accessories in the Americas. Each store carries an extensive product line for cars, sport
utility vehicles, vans and light duty trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive
hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products. The majority
of stores have a commercial sales program that provides prompt delivery of parts and
other products and commercial credit to local, regional and national repair garages,
dealers, service stations, fleet owners and other accounts. AutoZone also sells
automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories and non-automotive products
through www.autozone.com, and our commercial customers can make purchases
through www.autozonepro.com. Additionally, we sell the ALLDATA brand of automotive
diagnostic, repair, collision and shop management software through www.alldata.com.
We also provide product information on our Duralast branded products through
www.duralastparts.com. AutoZone does not derive revenue from automotive repair or
installation services.
About TechForce Foundation
TechForce Foundation is a national 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 $6 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 network of
students, working technicians, instructors, employers, industry professionals and
enthusiasts is the conduit through which the charity delivers its free resources for the
benefit of aspiring technicians. For more information, visit techforce.org. Follow us on
TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Linkedin.
Media Contacts:
● AutoZone:
○ Financial: Brian Campbell at (901) 495-7005, brian.campbell@autozone.com
○ Media: Jennifer Hughes at (901) 495-6022, jennifer.hughes@autozone.com
● TechForce:
○ VP of Marketing & IT, Reagan Bender at (360)820-9922,
rbender@techforce.org

###

January 9, 2025January 10, 2025

New at TechForce | December 2024

Happy Holidays from TechForce Foundation!

As we celebrate this season of giving and gratitude, we’re excited to share opportunities that can make 2025 your best year yet! From scholarships to contests, there’s something for everyone to kickstart their journey.

🎓 2025 Scholarships Now Open 💰 $4M+ in scholarships are waiting for YOU! It only takes 15 minutes to apply, and you could earn up to $5,000 to fuel your education and career goals. Don’t wait—visit TechForce.org and apply today!

🔧 Snap-on Tools Contest 🚨 Win $2,500 worth of Snap-on tools! 🚨 Answer the “One Skill” question in the network and be entered to win big. Whether it’s a skill you’ve mastered or one you’re eager to learn, we want to hear your story.

👉 Open to: New Student Users

🏆 Leaderboard Challenge Earn points in the network and climb the charts! The top three students and instructors will each win $900 in Shell Gift Cards. 👉 Open to: Students & Instructors

🚗 Hertz Car Rental Contest Share a story about a mentor who inspired you, and you could win a 3-day Hertz car rental! Plus, answering a few questions gets you a chance to win a $250 Shell Gift Card. 👉 Open to: All users 25 and older

📖 Gearhead Chronicles What advice would you give your younger self? Share your wisdom to inspire others and enter to win a $250 Gift Card. 👉 Open to: All users

🌱 BASF iPad Giveaway Tell us about your eco-friendly shop and why sustainability matters. Win an iPad and show your commitment to green practices! 👉 Open to: All users

🔊 Name That Sound Think you know your stuff? Guess the sound correctly, and you could win a $50 Harbor Freight Gift Card. 👉 Open to: All users

12621 N Tatum Blvd #304, Phoenix, AZ, United States, 85032

January 9, 2025January 9, 2025

CECU and TechForce Foundation Collaborate to Empower the Workforce of Tomorrow

This strategic collaboration aims to support more students pursuing careers in the trades, highlighting the resources available to help them become the next generation of skilled professionals.

January 09, 2025 — Phoenix, Ariz. and Arlington, Va. — TechForce Foundation (TechForce) and Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) have entered a strategic collaboration to empower the next generation of skilled trade professionals.

CECU member schools represent more than 800 campuses across the United States, training graduates in a variety of skilled, career-ready professions. With more than 250 campuses specializing in aviation, automotive, collision repair, diesel, and welding technician training, this mutually beneficial collaboration will provide students with the access and support needed to achieve their career goals.

TechForce awards scholarships in the following fields:

Automotive
Auto Body – Repair/Restoration and Preservation
Aviation
CNC Machining
Diesel
HVAC
Marine & Watercraft
Motorcycle & Recreational Vehicles
Welding

Through the collaboration, CECU will introduce TechForce Foundation’s career-building resources to its members, giving them access to TechForce™, a network of students, instructors, and working techs. The online career hub supports students’ career growth and development, from building their interest and skills to connecting with year-round scholarships, events, apprenticeships and jobs. Reciprocally, TechForce will educate its network about career training opportunities through CECU member schools and industry advancement through the Employer Engagement Network.

“Collaborations are vital to addressing the technician shortage and ensuring students find an education and career that works for them,” said Jennifer Maher, CEO of TechForce Foundation. “TechForce helps students understand the steps to become a technician and provides the resources (scholarships, training aids, industry connections) students need to start their careers. We are excited to partner with CECU and its member schools to reach even more students. Together we can empower the next generation to succeed in essential skilled trade careers that keep America moving.”

“We are excited about this exclusive partnership with TechForce, one of the premier support organizations for students pursuing careers in the skilled trades,” states CECU’s President and CEO Dr. Jason Altmire. “This partnership will provide students at CECU-member schools increased access to scholarships and other resources, helping them continue their education and expanding the pipeline to a skilled workforce across a variety of high-demand professions.”

The workforce shortage remains a persistent challenge across the United States. The most recent research from TechForce finds four job openings for every tech school graduate, with nearly one million new technicians needed over the next five years. Through this collective partnership, TechForce Foundation and CECU will introduce more students and instructors to the existing resources than ever before. The anticipated result is more students enrolling in and completing technical education and a larger, better-prepared next-generation technician workforce.

About TechForce Foundation
TechForce Foundation is a national 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 $4 million in scholarships and grants annually to financially disadvantaged students; changing perceptions towards this evolving, ‘new collar’ STEM career; and providing local career exploration and workforce development programming. TechForce’s online network of 50,000+ students, working technicians, instructors, employers, industry professionals and enthusiasts is the conduit through which the charity delivers its free resources for the benefit of aspiring technicians. For more information, visit techforce.org. Follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin and YouTube.

About CECU
Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) is the national organization serving postsecondary career education schools, staff, and most importantly, students. As a voluntary membership organization that serves as the national voice for the proprietary higher education sector, CECU is the voice of career education. Representing over 1,300 campuses across North America, CECU provides valuable services for members and advocates for policies that advance postsecondary career education. All CECU member schools are licensed by the state(s), accredited by a regional or national accreditor, and must be eligible to participate in Title IV financial aid programs. For more information, visit career.org. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.