october2022 - 48

TRAINING
» Increasing the diversity, particularly of
gender, amongst repair professionals can
help teams solve problems more efficiently.
Photo: Navistar
The 2% solution to
the tech shortage
Women comprise about 2% of the vehicle repair
sector, which is struggling to fill jobs. How to
get more females involved was the focus of the
2022 ASE Instructor Training Conference.
The 21st century has brought new challeng»
The keynote panel discussion at the ASE Instructor
Training Conference featured several female automotive
service professionals, students, and instructors.
Photo: ASE
es and demands to every industry in the United
States, and the automotive repair industry is no
exception. In addition to meeting the demands
of rapidly-changing technologies, a shifting
consumer base, and uncertain economic and
supply-chain conditions, the industry sees the
importance of developing a workforce capable
of meeting those demands. One of the key
components to realizing that goal is bringing
more women into the industry in roles where
they have been lacking, specifically as service
technicians. The challenge is more complicated
than it may seem on the surface, and
there are numerous obstacles to navigate as
industry leaders seek to develop a workforce
that not only resembles society at large, but
also possesses the skills and desire to create
successful and rewarding careers.
A lively and informative panel discussion,
focused on making training programs
and workplaces more welcoming to everyone,
kicked off the in-person ASE Instructor
48 Fleet Maintenance | October 2022
Facing challenges
As the session got underway, Mike Coley,
president, ASE Education Foundation, stated
that one of the problems that the automotive
repair industry is facing is that women make
up 50% of the workforce, but only 2% of service
technicians.
" We're telling half the population 'You don't
need to apply for a job in this industry,' but
we have a technician shortage and it's not like
the chip shortage-it's not going to get solved
when the supply chain kinks get sorted out, "
Coley said. " We need to work together to solve
the technician shortage. We need to make the
industry open and educational opportunities
available for women and anybody else who
wants to get involved. "
Treanor reiterated that the automotive repair
industry has several big issues to overcome.
" We have a shortage of technicians, an aging
workforce, a negative stereotype, a lack of new
Training Conference held recently in Frisco,
Texas. The keynote panel discussion, titled
The 2 Percent Solution, featured several female
automotive service professionals, students,
and instructors.
The session was moderated by Catherine
" Cat " Treanor, U.K. business development
manager for Electude. The other panelists
included Missy Albin, a Navistar master diesel
mechanic at Taylor & Loyd; Lou Bramante, an
automotive instructor at Vineland Senior High
School; Raven Hartkopf, a collision discipline
lead, Colin College; Jenny Kovacs, a Ford master
technician; Joe Laubhan, service director at
Classic Chevrolet; Vanessa Retsos, a Chevrolet
service technician; and Paulina Sanchez, a
shop owner and collision repair student at
Colin College.
october2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of october2022
