TechForce Foundation® names Tina Smith as its Director of National Partnership
Scottsdale, AZ — October 08, 2018 — TechForce Foundation has named Tina Smith as its Director of National Partnership, responsible for developing corporate partnerships throughout the transportation industry (including automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle, marine, motorsports, aviation, aftermarket and restoration segments) that aim to solve the tech shortage and fuel the pipeline of tomorrow’s workforce of qualified technicians.
TechForce, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) with the mission to champion students to and through their education and into careers as professional technicians, recently launched its industry-wide initiative, FutureTech Success®. The campaign harnesses the resources of the industry to raise the bar for future techs in communities across the country. For example, donated training aids and employee volunteers will be put into practice to enhance local high school shop classes and afterschool programs; national marketing will tell the story of the ‘new collar’ career and negate the outdated, grease-monkey image; and one-stop-shop resource hubs for future techs, parents, educators and industry to readily find the tools required to help students pursue the pathway.
Smith will drive the effort to identify new corporate partners willing to sponsor the FutureTech Success campaign or to donate to TechForce Foundation’s scholarship and grant program, including its Veterans at Work: Military Transition Campaign, its Accelerate Tuition Scholarships and its Life Happens Emergency Relief funds.
“Who better than Tina to tell the story of our future techs,” explains Jennifer Maher, CEO of TechForce Foundation. “Tina herself pursued a technical education, made possible thanks to a generous scholarship, became a technician, turned wrenches, and knows what it’s like to be a female technician in the industry.” Smith went on to pursue new jobs and opportunities in this vast industry, and is looking forward today to giving back, championing the next generation of youth, and helping the industry she loves prosper in its workforce development efforts. “Tina has the authenticity and passion we sought in someone who can walk the talk of the TechForce story, and help companies realize how they can be part of the solution,” added Maher.
Previously, Smith served as the national sales manager for the traditional U.S. aftermarket with Lumileds, managed its U.S. aftermarket sales program, its sales team and independent sales representative organizations. Prior, Smith worked at NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.) Inc. from 2013-’18, starting as the product services manager and advancing to become the groups manager for the North American buying groups. She was responsible for implementing sales and marketing activities within the major automotive aftermarket buying groups.
Before NGK, Smith was the lead engineering technician for 3 years at Gates Corp., where she provided technical leadership and direction within the management and engineering teams. Smith began her automotive career at Yazaki North America and served the company for 9 years as an application engineer and benchmark technician.
Tina Smith holds an associate’s degree in automotive technology from Sinclair Community College, an auto mechanics certificate from D. Russel Lee Vocational School, and is a first year Chrysler Apprenticeship Technician (CAP) graduate. She was an AASA – Emerging Leader Member 2015-‘16 and a member of the Women in Auto Care – Educational Committee 2014-‘17.
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 auto, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle, motorsports, watercraft, welding and aviation technicians. The Foundation distributes more than $2.0 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.
