Automotive News - October 13, 2008 - (Page 30) INSIGHT continued from previous page OCTOBER 13, 2008 • 37 single classroom was clearly inadequate to meet student demand. The program needed a separate building with multiple classrooms and laboratories to teach students how to work on advanced fuel system technology. Last year Hocking established the Hocking College Energy Institute and broke ground on a 12,000-squarefoot building in Logan, 16 miles from the main campus. The institute, due to open next fall, will have offices, classrooms and advanced-fuel laboratories for 250 daytime students. That number does not include students taking night and online courses. “We want to take the 18-year-old who is good with his hands and teach him or her about personal finance, economics and a well-rounded education with the focus on alternative energy,” says Haydocy, who sits on the institute’s advisory board. The Hocking College Energy Institute offers two-year associate’s degrees in applied sciences for alternative-energy fuel cells and in automotive hybrid technology. Haydocy’s service department already has employed an intern from the program. Haydocy hopes to hire five to 10 interns a year and is encouraging other dealers to participate. “ PAUL DANIELS In 10 years, more than 50 percent of all vehicles will be powered by alternative fuels or hybrids. We’ve got to catch up on the service end. CHRIS HAYDOCY ” A CUDL conversation with the owner of what may be the nation’s fastest growing dealership group — the $1.4 billion Ken Garff Automotive Group of Salt Lake City, Utah. ROBERT GARFF ON THE SPGT: Internships needed “We’re trying to get dealers of several manufacturers to allow students to train with them for a few weeks,” he says. “I guarantee that every student who comes out of the automotive hybrid program, the industry is going to be looking for them.” In fact, after graduation, Haydocy’s former intern was hired by a maker of ceramics for fuel cells. Although the focus of the institute is to train students coming out of high school who want to become technicians, it can serve current technicians, too. Hutton, the former Hocking College professor, says technicians from independent service shops, which don’t offer factory training on advanced-fuel vehicles, are coming to the institute for training. In the future, Haydocy hopes that students interested in becoming automotive technicians will have access to all manufacturers’ Web-based training courses at the institute. Currently, that training is offered only to technicians who are employed at a dealership. Says Haydocy: “In the future, you are going to see advanced-fuels-specific technicians like specialists in front-end or transmission work.” c AT A GLANCE: With a last name that has been in the automotive business for over 75 years, Robert talks about expanding ON THE SPOT: We know your father, Ken Garff, started this business in 1932. When did you start? GARFF: I started at age 13, sweeping floors in our body shop. By the time I was 16, I was a salesman in one of our used car operations. I learned the business from the ground up. ON THE SPOT: What do you contribute to your family’s success? GARFF: Garff’s never, never give up. You know that speaks to longevity, that speaks to doing things right. That means stick-to-itness. ON THE SPOT: How involved are you with the communities you serve? GARFF: One of the main ingredients of our success is that we play an active part in the community. As much as 20 to 30 percent of our lives are spent giving back to the communities we serve. ON THE SPOT: How do you feel about CUDL in terms of what it’s done for you? GARFF: The main thing about CUDL is that it provides us with a into the West, staying connected with the communities they serve and his top priority — family. This avid horseback rider, who still enjoys a good “round up”, also elaborates on how CUDL is responsible for 15 percent of his auto loans. different avenue of buyers. It’s another opportunity to get in front of another group of customers. ON THE SPOT: How many of your buyers go through the CUDL system? GARFF: Approximately 15 percent. And that’s 15 percent of buyers that maybe we wouldn’t have otherwise. ON THE SPOT: How do feel about AutoSMART and being able to showcase your inventory online? GARFF: For us, it’s another way of having a storefront. I think in the fourth quarter alone, our organization attracted 967 buyers from CUDL’s AutoSMART system. ON THE SPOT: CUDL did $12 billion in auto loans in 2007. What does that mean to you? GARFF: Well, it means that they’re one of the major players in the auto finance arena. G *Interview conducted February 2008. Chris Haydocy Age: 50 Dealerships: Haydocy PontiacBuick-GMC, Columbus, Ohio; Haydocy Chevrolet-Cadillac-Buick, Bucyrus, Ohio 2007 unit sales: 789 new, 743 used at Haydocy Pontiac-BuickGMC; 191 new, 208 used at Haydocy Chevrolet-Cadillac-Buick (5 months of operation) Idea: He helped develop a green technician program at a community college that trains students to service alternativefuel vehicles. “I think in the fourth quarter alone, our organization attracted 967 buyers from CUDL’s AutoSMART system.” Log onto www.CUDL.com/robert to read the entire interview. It’s another On the Spot interview brought to you by 877.744.2835 www.cudl.com FAST, FRIENDLY CREDIT UNION FINANCING Visit us at NADA – Hall C, Booth #1402 http://www.cnanational.com http://www.cnanational.com
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