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TechForce Foundation’s FutureTech Success™ Initiative Teams Up With NASCAR Driver Julia Landauer

Scottsdale, AZ — Julia Landauer, NASCAR powerhouse, female racer and advocate for women in S.T.E.M., has signed on as an official partner of TechForce Foundation and its FutureTech Success™ campaign. This industry-wide initiative aims to drive tomorrow’s workforce of transportation technicians by repositioning the image of the profession. Moreover, the campaign provides middle- and high-school students and their parents opportunities to experience automotive and motorsports technology and to encourage diverse audiences, including women and people of color to enter the field.

Bearing the title of FutureTech Success Ambassador, Landauer will work with the Foundation through media appearances, public service announcements, and fundraising efforts to inform and inspire young, tactile-minded individuals seeking to pursue careers in the field of transportation tech, a mission the accomplished racer is very passionate about. Since graduating from Stanford with a degree in science, technology, and society, Landauer has made it her goal to apply such subjects to the world of racing, and to do everything in her power to involve others in the industry she is so passionate about.

“Some people are a great fit for suit and tie careers and others are built to build—to work with their hands. We are all wired differently,” explains Landauer. “That’s the message TechForce is projecting through FutureTech Success and why I am so excited to be an ambassador of the cause. It is so important for young people to discover early on what they click with, and for their parents and other authority figures to provide them with the tools, opportunities, and support to develop those gifts and build exciting futures.”

As the highest finishing woman in K&N Series history and the only auto racer on this year’s Forbes 30 Under 30 list, it is safe to say Landauer knows a thing or two about success — and the hard work and dedication it takes to get there. “We should all have an underdog mentality that forces us to stick with it, make it work, and see it through. That’s how you win,” Landauer says. Through her work with TechForce Foundation, Landauer seeks to instill this mentality in today’s youth, encouraging them to pursue greatness both for themselves, and for the industry in which they will become the lifeblood.

Unfortunately, some have had to work a little harder than others to find that success. Historically a white, male dominated field, careers are now more accessible than ever to women and people of color seeking to dive into the world of S.T.E.M. Landauer has held true to her dedication to encouraging diversity and involvement in such careers, utilizing her rising notoriety as a platform for the cause.

“I’ve always been passionate about the intersection of technology, community, and racing,” recalls Julia. “Everyone has something unique to contribute, and the industry loses out on so much when it’s not inclusive. Women and people of color have as much to give in racing and tech as anyone else, and working together toward innovation only makes us all stronger and better off.”

Landauer describes racing as a team effort, where having the best of the best in your pit can make all the difference. “Racing is about so much more than just the person behind the wheel,” she explains. “As a driver, you rely pretty heavily on your pit crew technicians to make sure everything is working the way it should. In order to be a great driver, you have to have great techs on your team — limiting the pool of talent you’re pulling from for a crew doesn’t just hurt the industry, it can hurt you.”

Through FutureTech Success, TechForce seeks to break down those barriers, equipping each and every child with the information and tools necessary to pursue success in the industry. Landauer’s passion for and experience with this same goal provides invaluable insights to the Foundation, and with the help of her established reputation and platform, will allow TechForce to reach even farther than before, impacting the lives of students across the nation.

“Take one look at Julia’s career and you’ll know exactly what she’s all about,” explains Jennifer Maher, CEO of TechForce Foundation. “She’s driven, she’s talented, and she is absolutely committed to the future of the technician and racing industries. That is exactly the kind of fire TechForce needs to ensure the FutureTech Success initiative reaches its fullest potential.” With such a force behind the campaign, great things will be possible for young people who are poised to revolutionize the industry.

Landauer has injected every aspect of her image with the truth that the next generation is well worth pouring into to create a brighter future for all. With an entire career of experience with advocating for more involvement in racing and tech under her belt, Julia Landauer is perfect partner to work with TechForce Foundation and its FutureTech Success initiative. Together, these two forces are on track to make a huge difference in the lives of future technicians.

About TechForce Foundation:
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 technicians for the transportation industry. TechForce Foundation awards more than $1 million in scholarships and grants annually to students facing financial hardship so they may obtain their post-secondary technical education. Additionally, TechForce leads the FutureTech Success™ campaign, an industry-wide initiative to drive tomorrow’s workforce of technicians by inspiring, supporting and connecting middle- and high-school students and their influencers with the resources to support their technical education and career development. 

About Julia Landauer:
Julia Landauer is a two-time championship winning NASCAR driver from New York City. Since making history as the first and youngest female champion in the Skip Barber Racing Series at age 14, Julia has amassed dozens of wins in many different racing series. After becoming the first woman to win a NASCAR Track Championship at Motor Mile Speedway in her division in 2015, Julia graduated to the televised NASCAR K&N Pro Series West in 2016. In the K&N series, Julia finished 4th in the series championship, becoming the highest finishing female in the series’ 62-year history. Julia is currently competing in her second season in the K&N Pro Series West. Now settled in North Carolina, Julia is making her name synonymous with more than speed and grit; as she climbs the NASCAR ladder Julia uses her racing platform to continue advocating for STEM education and women’s empowerment. For more information, visit www.julialandauer.com

75,900 Auto Technicians Needed

Previously, BLS projections showed an average annual new entrant demand of 23,720 auto technicians for the 2014-2024 period. TechForce’s report has revised that number to show demand for 75,900 for the 2016-2026 decade. The demand for collision and diesel technicians is similar. The newly projected BLS average annual new entrant demand of 28,300 diesel technicians far exceeds the previously projected demand of 7,690.

Read the full article on www.Automotive-Fleet.com | Technician Shortage

Public Scholarships for Technician Students

You don’t have to limit yourself to scholarships available through UTI. There are plenty of organizations out there looking to connect students like you with scholarship money for your technician training. Find out what local scholarship opportunities are available to you in your community (see Step 2) or check online scholarship search sites like scholarships.com and fastweb.com for more opportunities.

Third-party organizations offer these scholarships based on various qualification criteria, such as grade point average and competition outcomes.

PUBLIC SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TECHNICIAN STUDENTS

TechForce Foundation announces Partnership with Interstate Batteries

 

TechForce Foundation announces Partnership with Interstate Batteries

 

For years, society has pushed that a university education is the only path to a successful career. This messaging steered students away from exploring trade careers—such as automotive technicians and electricians—leaving most to view these jobs as undesirable with no future. But this is not the case.

The U.S. is home to the second largest passenger vehicle market in the world. These vehicles are highly sophisticated, typically outfitted with over 100 million lines of code and thousands of parts. In addition, they are on average 11.5 years old. Because vehicles are now more complicated and staying on the road longer, the auto repair industry is set for massive growth. Coupled with an aging technician population, this occupation has high earning potential and almost guaranteed job security for those entering the field.

Interstate Batteries is playing a part in changing this narrative by signing on as a main sponsor of the FutureTech SuccessSM campaign, in cooperation with the TechForce Foundation. The campaign’s goal is to eliminate the stereotype of the “grease-monkey mechanic,” by encouraging and providing opportunities for young people to explore and tinker, while informing parents and influencers of the career potential in the transportation industry. By supporting FutureTech Success, Interstate Batteries is championing the technicians of tomorrow.

“This is an issue that affects everyone in our industry,” said Tom Gray, vice president of marketing, Interstate Batteries. “We’ve been wanting to take action for some time and TechForce Foundation has the right message, tools and caliber partners to help us make that difference.”

Interstate Batteries’ contribution to FutureTech Success will help fund marketing campaigns and grassroots projects that will inspire young people to learn more about this industry. The donation will also provide resources for parents, schools and other influencers to help identify young person’s natural tactile intelligence, which translates to some of the skills necessary to be a technician.

With the support of its corporate and association sponsors, such as Interstate Batteries, Nissan, Pennzoil, and General Motors, TechForce Foundation seeks to enact great change, unifying the transportation industry to encourage young, tactile-minded individuals to consider the industry for what it truly is: innovative, exciting and filled with opportunity.

For more information on TechForce Foundation, visit: www.techforce.org.

About TechForce Foundation
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 technicians for the transportation industry. TechForce Foundation awards more than $1 million in scholarships and grants annually to students facing financial hardship so they may obtain their post-secondary technical education. Additionally, TechForce leads the FutureTech SuccessSM campaign, an industry-wide initiative to drive tomorrow’s workforce of technicians by inspiring, supporting and connecting middle- and high-school students and their influencers with the resources to support their technical education and career development. For more information visit www.techforce.org.

About Interstate Batteries
For more than 65 years, Interstate Batteries® has powered people down roads, trails and waterways and businesses to succeed. Best known for its starting, lighting and ignition (SLI) batteries, this product has been under car hoods since 1952, each one backed by the company’s service, quality and value. Interstate PowerCare® offers premier products and technical expertise for all critical motive power needs, while Interstate All Battery Center® provides portable power in both retail and commercial markets. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Interstate Batteries is an industry leader in recycling efforts, as well as a global leader in safe lead handling practices. Guided by a set of common values, the company’s purpose is to glorify God and enrich lives while delivering the most trustworthy source of power to the world. For more information, visit www.interstatebatteries.com.

AutoZone Supports the FutureTech Success™ Initiative to Fuel Future Technician Workforce

Memphis, Tenn. (October 05, 2017) – AutoZone, Inc., (NYSE: AZO), the leading retailer and a leading distributor of automotive parts and accessories, has signed on as a national corporate sponsor of TechForce Foundation’s FutureTech Success™ campaign, an industry-wide initiative to fuel the future pipeline of transportation technicians by repositioning the image of the profession and providing middle- and high-school students and their parents with the resources and opportunities to foster hands-on, tactile intelligence.

Since its creation, the initiative has rallied the support of many corporate and association partners, the latest being AutoZone, which, in addition to its retail operation, has an extensive commercial sales program that provides commercial credit and prompt delivery of parts and other products to local, regional and national repair garages, dealers, service stations, and public sector accounts.

“We are proud and eager to build the FutureTech Success campaign with the TechForce Foundation and fellow sponsors,” explains Mitch Major, Vice President, Commercial Support, AutoZone and President, ALLDATA.” “We appreciate their vision and strategic leadership in engaging young people in communities across the U.S. in the automotive industry.”

Since 2011, AutoZone has been a generous benefactor of the Foundation, funding scholarships and grants for students pursuing a technical education. The investment in FutureTech Success demonstrates the long-term commitment to students’ development and careers.

FutureTech Success seeks to inform and inspire young people who have the aptitude to thrive in the field of transportation tech, empowering them to pursue greatness in a career they may have never before considered. There are many individuals with the talent and passion perfectly tailored to careers as technicians, and the industry is in need of every last one of them it can get.

“We so strongly believe this initiative has the potential to revolutionize the industry, but it can only do so with the right tools and support,” expresses Jennifer Maher, CEO, TechForce Foundation. “By signing on as a sponsor of FutureTech Success, AutoZone is providing a vital component of that support to ensure the success of the initiative, as well as declaring a commitment to the industry’s future.”

TechForce Foundation and AutoZone look forward to the impact this partnership will have on both the industry itself, and the lives of the FutureTechs who will help it thrive.

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About TechForce Foundation

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 technicians for the transportation industry. TechForce Foundation awards more than $1 million in scholarships and grants annually to students facing financial hardship so they may obtain their post-secondary technical education. Additionally, TechForce leads the FutureTech Success campaign, an industry-wide initiative to drive tomorrow’s workforce of technicians by inspiring, supporting and connecting middle- and high-school students and their influencers with the resources to support their technical education and career development. For more information, visit www.techforce.org.

About AutoZone (NYSE:AZO)
As of August 26, 2017 AutoZone sells auto and light truck parts, chemicals and accessories through 5,465 AutoZone stores in 50 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico in the U.S., and 524 stores in Mexico, 26 IMC branches and 14 stores in Brazil for a total count of 6,029.

AutoZone is the leading retailer and a leading distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories in the United States. Each AutoZone store carries an extensive product line for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products.  Many stores also have a commercial sales program that provides commercial credit and prompt delivery of parts and other products to local, regional and national repair garages, dealers, service stations, and public sector accounts.  IMC branches carry an extensive line of original equipment quality import replacement parts.  AutoZone also sells the ALLDATA brand diagnostic and repair software through www.alldata.com. Additionally, we sell automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products through www.autozone.com, and accessories, performance and replacement parts through www.autoanything.com, and our commercial customers can make purchases through www.autozonepro.com and www.imcparts.net.  AutoZone does not derive revenue from automotive repair or installation.

#  #  #

AutoZone Contact Information:
Media:  Ray Pohlman

866.966.3017

ray.pohlman@autozone.com

Financial: Brian Campbell

901.495.7005

brian.campbell@autozone.com

 

 

Sunstate Equipment Donates $15,000 to Help TechForce Foundation Solve Tech Shortage

As the transportation and heavy equipment industry faces a severe shortfall of qualified automotive and diesel technicians, Sunstate Equipment, a leading Arizona-based equipment rental company with a long history of supporting local communities through charitable giving, is taking action by awarding $15,000 in combined grants to TechForce Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, that will help students demonstrating financial hardship get to and through their technical education and into careers as qualified, professional technicians.

With a widespread deficit of skilled technicians, the industry faces a labor force shortage that could reach increasingly critical levels in the coming years. By supporting TechForce Foundation, Sunstate is not only helping ensure a new generation of skilled technicians enter the industry, but it is also helping provide positive impact on the lives of a deserving group of individuals—our military veterans.

As a company that values people—in fact, 20 percent of Sunstate’s employees have been with them for 20 years or more—Sunstate believes it’s important to take care of people, especially those who’ve sacrificed so much to take care of us. By giving a $5,000 grant to TechForce Foundation’s Veterans at Work: Military Transition Fund, Sunstate is helping cover necessary costs of technical training, such as tuition, relocation and startup, along with advanced training and unforeseen emergency expenses so newly separated veterans can get the training they need to transition their military skills into civilian careers in the transportation industry.

Consequently, by helping incoming veteran students attain their technical education, the industry benefits with a new generation of well-trained, highly-skilled technicians ready to step in and fill the void left by retiring Baby Boomers.  

“It’s undeniable how much of an effect the technician shortage is having on the transportation industry as a whole,” explains Jennifer Maher, CEO of TechForce Foundation. “Whether you are talking techs trained in automotive, diesel trucking and heavy equipment, motorcycles, boats…it’s the same across the board—there’s simply not enough qualified graduates to meet the demand.”

Knowing how much the shortage will negatively impact the future of the industry, Sunstate has also contributed $10,000 in support of TechForce Foundation’s drive to fuel the future pipeline of transportation technicians, FutureTech Successsm.

Through FutureTech Successsm, TechForce Foundation seeks to eliminate antiquated, negative stereotypes, to give middle- and high-school students, parents and influencers the tools to recognize and foster tactile intelligence, and to create a central industry hub of information, resources and best practices.

Sunstate’s support of the initiative goes beyond just monetary aid; its commitment to the mission of FutureTech Successsm is an inclusive, company-wide effort. Sunstate employees have pledged to be a part of the FutureTech Successsm initiative by volunteering for mentoring and participating in video testimonials, which is an especially viable tool for reaching today’s youth that have been raised in a media-driven world.

TechForce Foundation has a big vision but a limited budget for the initiative’s content. To further support this important mission, Sunstate has generously provided the resources needed to produce high quality video content for the FutureTech Successsm microsite. By using real-life examples to demonstrate the many exciting and prosperous career paths available in the transportation industry, young people and their parents and influencers are introduced to the world of transportation technology as a viable, stable, innovative career path. This knowledge is essential for encouraging and raising up the future workforce the industry.

With the technician shortage at an all-time high, it will take the backing of the entire industry to really move the needle on the deficit. “Industry partners like Sunstate are a vital component in this initiative,” explains Maher. “Support of FutureTech Successsm is about declaring a commitment to the future of the industry and a promise to look out for its members. It’s powerful, and it has the potential to really revolutionize the transportation industry if we all remain united on that front.”

With the support of its corporate and association sponsors, TechForce Foundation seeks to enact great change, unifying the transportation industry in one call to encourage young, tactile-minded individuals to consider the industry for what it truly is: innovative, exciting and filled with opportunity.

“The transportation industry is incredibly misunderstood from the outside,” explains Larry Cox, Vice President of Culture at Sunstate Equipment. “Being a technician is a great, high-tech, stable career choice, but that doesn’t have to be a final destination. The industry is sprawling and offers so many different career paths, all built on innovation and starving for talent. That is the message FutureTech Successsm is aiming to convey and why Sunstate’s decision to support the initiative was such an easy one.”

TechForce Foundation and Sunstate Equipment are proud to partner in their commitment to future technicians and the industry, and they look forward to promoting progress and prosperity within the industry through scholarships, grants for veterans, and the FutureTech Successsm initiative.

About TechForce Foundation

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 technicians for the transportation industry. TechForce Foundation awards more than $1 million in scholarships and grants annually to students facing financial hardship so they may obtain their post-secondary technical education. Additionally, TechForce leads the FutureTech Successsm campaign, an industry-wide initiative to drive tomorrow’s workforce of technicians by inspiring, supporting and connecting middle- and high-school students and their influencers with the resources to support their technical education and career development. For more information visit www.techforce.org.

About Sunstate Equipment Co.

Sunstate Equipment has provided construction, industrial and special event companies with top-quality rental equipment and tools since 1977, helping customers safely and efficiently complete projects on-time and on-budget with reliable service and dependable people. Sunstate currently has equipment rental locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Utah. Visit www.SunstateEquip.com for more information.

 

Interstate Batteries Partners With TechForce Foundation

Interstate Batteries has officially signed on as a national corporate partner of TechForce Foundation’s FutureTech Success℠ campaign, an industry-wide initiative to drive tomorrow’s workforce of qualified technicians. Jennifer Maher, TechForce Foundation’s CEO, met with Tom Gray, VP of Marketing for Interstate Batteries, and his marketing team last Friday in Dallas to sign the sponsorship agreement.

Interstate Batteries joins an impressive list of corporate partners, including Advance Auto Parts, Autoshop Solutions, Bridgestone, General Motors, Nissan North America, Snap-on, Shell Lubricants, S/P2, Sunstate Equipment, Universal Technical Institute, and WheelTime, each aligning their brands to support the technician profession, and to champion those who love to work with their hands. Welcome, Interstate Batteries!

The FutureTech Success Campaign

Above is a message from Jennifer Maher | CEO & Executive Director

What does a rapidly shrinking workforce mean for a booming industry rooted in the fast paced world of cutting-edge technology? The perfect storm is afoot. This is exactly the catastrophe staring down the world of transportation tech. With seasoned technicians retiring at an astounding rate, there are simply not enough individuals trained and ready to take their place.

The Challenge: 

The transportation industry faces a critical shortage of trained technicians needed to fulfill the workforce demand.

The Solution:

Fuel an industry wide marketing campaign to:

  1. Reposition the image of the technician.
  2. Provide experiential opportunities for middle school & high school students
  3. Connect the passion and sense of purpose of students who discover they love working with their hands and are excited to pursue a technical education.

Read the flipbook above for more details.

Autoshop Solutions to Build FutureTech Successsm Website

Autoshop Solutions to Build FutureTech Successsm  Website, Adding Fuel to TechForce Foundation’s Campaign

Autoshop Solutions has donated a generous $50,000 in in-kind services to TechForce Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit purposed with supporting technical students to and through their education and into careers in the transportation industry, toward building a website to serve the FutureTech Success sm  campaign.

TechForce Foundation has been working tirelessly to build momentum on FutureTech Success sm , an industry wide initiative to fuel the pipeline of future technicians by modernizing the image of the profession, giving middle and high school students and their parents and influencers the resources to recognize and foster tactile intelligence and providing a central industry hub of information, resources and best practices.

Through FutureTech Success sm , a vast array of features will be made available to prospective and current tech students, their parents and influencers, and industry insiders. In order to be effective in conveying the message of FutureTech Success sm , TechForce needs to able to connect its audience to its multitude of resources in a straightforward, engaging manner.

“We have impressive content, now it’s time for an equally impressive website on which to present it,” explains Jennifer Maher, CEO of TechForce Foundation. “The initiative requires a modern, functional site designed to seamlessly blend innovation and usability—and no one is better suited for the task than one of the industry’s leading web design and internet marketing agencies, Autoshop Solutions.”

Autoshop Solutions knows the online component of the automotive industry inside and out, having been a major industry player for nearly as long as the internet itself has been around. What started out as a humble consulting firm has turned into a full marketing and web design dynasty, earning the company industry-wide acclaim and a six year reign on the Auto Inc. Top Ten Best Websites Awards list.

TechForce strongly believes that FutureTech Success sm has the potential to be a major game-changer regarding the industry wide technician shortage, but in order to have the massive impact expected of it, the initiative needs the right tools. Through the marriage of Autoshop Solutions’ web design and internet marketing expertise and TechForce Foundation’s industry information, resources and connections, the FutureTech Success sm website is poised to be the central hub the industry needs to find its way out of the current technician shortage.

“Everyone goes to the internet for everything—it’s the main information hub,” says Margaret Klemmer, Chief Business Development Officer for Autoshop Solutions. “FutureTech Success sm is poised to do great things, but in order to gain serious traction in our media-heavy society, a clean, well-organized, exciting website is essential,” she continued.

Autoshop Solutions’ generous donation not only allows TechForce the aesthetic, effective website essential in promoting FutureTech Success sm , but it also frees up the money that would have otherwise gone to building the site to be used instead for other technician support. Working with one of the best in any field can often be an expensive endeavour, but Autoshop Solutions refused to let money be a roadblock for the Foundation, offering up its very best in service to the industry.

TechForce Foundation is proud to partner with the industry’s preeminent web design and internet marketing provider, Autoshop Solutions, to create the FutureTech Success sm website and further its missions to fuel the pipeline of future technicians in order to bring about a brighter future for the transportation industry.

About TechForce Foundation

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 technicians for the transportation industry. TechForce Foundation  awards roughly $1.5 million in scholarships and grants annually to students facing financial hardship so they may obtain their post-secondary technical education. Additionally, TechForce leads the FutureTech Success sm , campaign, an industry-wide initiative to drive tomorrow’s workforce of technicians by inspiring, supporting and connecting middle- and high-school students and their influencers with the resources to support their technical education and career development. For more information visit www.techforce.org.

About Autoshop Solutions

Autoshop Solutions is the industry’s leading website design and internet marketing agency. Since 2005, Autoshop Solutions has been known as the expert in automotive internet marketing, helping shop owners grow their businesses by marketing-by-the-numbers through a tested, tracked and developed program guaranteed to improve online presence and drive more cars to

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"By connecting students, instructors, industry pros and working techs, the TechForce Foundation provides unilateral support to the transportation industry’s technician recruiting needs… The administration of our Scholarships by the TechForce team has been instrumental in delivering us with a successful method to gain interest from qualified candidates as well as provide our students with additional assistance to complete their education."
Tony Farr
Ford Technical Programs Manager