NEWS RELEASE
TechForce Foundation and America’s Automotive Trust Announce Strategic Alliance and Shared CEO
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The integration of complementary missions and overall cost efficiencies promise more value to the constituents served by both organizations
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Jennifer Maher will lead wide-ranging efforts for the new alliance as CEO
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. and TACOMA, Wash. — October 29, 2019 — TechForce Foundation and America’s Automotive Trust have announced a new strategic alliance that unites the organizations under the leadership of one shared vision and CEO. The new alliance focuses on programming that celebrates the past, present and future of mobility and inspires future generations of students to consider a career path in automotive technology.
“The alliance between America’s Automotive Trust and TechForce underscores both organizations’ commitment to being as efficient as possible while making the largest contribution we can in furthering our respective goals,” said Warren DeBardelaben, Chairman of TechForce Foundation. “Bringing these two groups together leads to a stronger collaborative impact on the auto industry, the culture and celebration of the car culture – and to our collective ability to provide career paths in the automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine, motorsports and restoration industry.”
“Working synergistically allows both of our organizations to make a greater impact on the automotive industry as a whole, whether that’s new or vintage automobiles,” said Corry McFarland, Chairman of America’s Automotive Trust. Chairmen DeBardelaben and McFarland announced the strategic alliance, naming nonprofit management veteran Jennifer Maher as the dually-appointed CEO of the entities.
“The strategic alliance is designed to achieve three primary objectives – unite complementary goals under a single unified vision, streamline cost efficiencies, and concentrate those efficiencies on providing a greater impact on the missions set forth by TechForce and America’s Automotive Trust,” said Maher. “I’m both honored and excited to be leading this innovative collaboration.”
Maher added that the alliance shares the common vision of being “the” anchor point for those already in the industry – enthusiasts/collectors, technicians and other workforce professionals – while nurturing and developing interest for a next generation of participants. “Through such collaboration, our alliance can effectively balance celebrating automotive history with an exciting future that includes automation, electrification and other new technologies and services,” said Maher.
Maher assumed her new post effective August 1, serving as CEO for America’s Automotive Trust and its partnering service organizations, RPM Foundation and LeMay-America’s Car Museum. She takes over the CEO duties from David Madeira as he retires after 17 years with the organization. Madeira remains Vice Chairman of America’s Automotive Trust’s board of directors and now also serves on TechForce’s board of directors. Likewise, Barry Fodor, a current director of TechForce Foundation, has joined America’s Automotive Trust’s board of directors.
Maher enjoys a 27-year career in nonprofit management, corporate strategic alliances, fundraising, membership, marketing and communications, having served on the national staff for Make-A-Wish America, YMCA of the USA and The Nature Conservancy. Heading up strategic alliances, Jennifer has personally negotiated over $100 million worth of cause partnerships with Disney, General Motors, Nissan North America, Ford Motor Company, PepsiCo, NASCAR, Kimberly-Clark, JCPenney, ESPN, Advance Auto Parts, Sports Illustrated, Universal Technical Institute and Shell Pennzoil, to name a few.
“Kids no longer tinker in the garage; they’re less likely to get their driver’s license when they turn 16; and they view the car more as a vessel to get from here to there than as an extension of their personality or their ‘freedom’ like other generations did,” reflects Maher. “Couple this with the generalization that a four-year degree is the only road to success, and we’ve drastically reduced our skilled trade workforce. This deficit is what this new collaboration will attempt to influence by ensuring a future workforce that keeps America rolling.”
For more information on AAT, visit www.aat.org. More information on the TechForce Foundation can be found at www.techforce.org.
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About America’s Automotive Trust (www.aat.org)
America’s Automotive Trust (AAT), headquartered in Tacoma, Washington, is a not-for-profit corporation that seeks to secure America’s automotive heritage and to transfer the skills and knowledge necessary for the future of collector vehicles and the enthusiast community for generations to come. AAT is made up of four founding members: LeMay – America’s Car Museum, the RPM Foundation, Club Auto and the Concours Club.
About TechForce Foundation(www.techforce.org)
TechForce Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) with the mission to champion students to and through their technical education and into careers as professional transportation technicians. The Foundation distributes more than $1.5 million in scholarships and grants annually, thanks to its generous corporate sponsors and donors, and is spearheading FutureTech Success®, the industry-wide initiative to help encourage and support more young people to pursue the vehicle technician profession. For more information, visit www.techforce.org.
Contact:
TechForce – Mike Pressendo (602) 363-8861 mpressendo@techforce.org
AAT/ACM/RPM – Mike Bush (253) 779-8490 mike.bush@aat.org
PCG – Shane Smith (424) 903-3685 ssmith@pacificcommunicationsgroup.com
