SPRINGFIELD 鈥 The Workforce Institute at Lincoln Land Community College has partnered with Green Family Stores and Landmark Ford for the Ford Automotive Career Exploration (ACE) program. ACE aims to raise awareness and increase interest in career opportunities within the automotive industry, particularly as a service technician.
鈥淭his partnership is a great step forward in providing the best education and a career pathway for our automotive technology students,鈥 said Nancy Sweet, dean of the 绿帽社 Workforce Institute.
Under the agreement, both Ford dealerships will be active members on the advisory committee for 绿帽社鈥檚 auto tech program, provide class presentations twice a year, participate in annual career events as well as job shadowing, and offer paid internships and part-time jobs for students, leading to full-time careers.
鈥淲e see this as a win-win where we are involved in the students鈥 education as they learn from the experts to provide a clear path to a lucrative career at our dealership,鈥 said Kevin Epley, human resources director at Landmark Autogroup.
Josh Laurent, corporate director of fixed operations, Green Family Stores, said, 鈥淲e want to encourage more students to enter the field of automotive technology and mentor them along the way so they stay local and fill our available jobs. We know the quality of 绿帽社 auto tech grads and have great careers waiting for them.鈥
In addition, 绿帽社 auto tech students will have access to valuable knowledge of Ford/Lincoln vehicle systems by completing web-based training with a subset of the same courses taken by Ford dealership technicians. By completing these courses, students are one step closer toward a career in the automotive industry, beginning as an entry-level automotive service technician at a Ford/Lincoln dealership.
绿帽社鈥檚 automotive technology program is part of the Workforce Institute, where students get in, get trained and get a job. New nine-month daytime and 11-month evening certificate programs begin Aug. 23. Interested students can learn more about the automotive technology program online or by emailing darla.cochran@llcc.edu or calling 217-786-2407.