I am passionate about training. I remember, as a tech, how difficult it was to find decent training and the few opportunities that did come along were, often as not, more infomercial than educational. My, how things have changed! And that’s a good thing! It’s going to be a busy first quarter!
Our friends at AVI kicked off 2020 with their annual Winter Training Conference, held at the AVI headquarters in Ft. Myers, Fla. This month, it’s the Mobile Air Conditioning Society Worldwide’s annual Trade Show and Training Conference, hosted at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tenn. In addition to some great management and technical training classes, both events also offer something for the families of the attendees, making it easy to combine the two and get a little family time after classes are over.
Training events really blossom in March, with three leading events taking place. The first on the March calendar is one that every tech and shop owner needs to have on their “bucket list” — the VISION Hi Tech Training and Expo, held at the Overland Park Convention Center, March 5-8. Odds are by now most of the classes are sold out and hotel rooms close to the convention center are taken, but you may still find a way “in” if you check their website.
If you can’t make VISION this year, Overland Park is just too far for you to go or you can’t take off that much time from work, there are two other great options coming up for you, both offering the same high quality training and networking opportunities. The first is the TST (Technicians Service Training) “Big Event,” being held March 21st in Tarrytown, New York. The location is easily accessible from the major New York airports, or you can fly in to Westchester and grab an Uber to the hotel. It is an action-packed, one-day event that is known for two distinct features (other than the great training and vendor exhibition) — all handouts are downloaded to a tablet that you get to keep and sponsors of the event provide literally thousands of dollars of giveaway items.
In addition to these two stellar events, let’s not overlook what’s happening on the West Coast. Also in March, ASA Northwest will host their annual Automotive Training Expo, or ATE. This event takes place in beautiful Seattle, Wash., March 27- 29. Both of these events are held over the course of a weekend (three-day weekend in the case of ATE) and that should make it a bit easier to break away from the shop for a bit. As a matter of fact, there are numerous shop owners that truly understand the value of training for their team and they actually close down, bringing everyone to the event of their choice, and use the time to build their internal team.
Shop owners — are you listening?
At-home options
One point I raised with my bosses when I first joined the magazine was the fact that making a living as a technician can be a challenge. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income for automotive technicians of all skill levels today is $39,550. That has only improved slightly from the approximately $33,500 it was nearly 10 years ago. The best-paid 25 percent made $53,590, while the lowest-paid 25 percent made $29,370.
During my last few years in the field, I earned above the industry median but even then, I had other obligations that needed to be met before I could consider spending any of it on training. And the challenges of keeping up with rapidly changing technologies was nowhere near at the pace it is today! So what options do you have when traveling to a national event isn’t in the budget?
Motor Age Training has expanded to offer a few. First, of course, is our YouTube channel, where I try to produce content that offers insights into the repair and service of today’s systems while also reinforcing the fundamentals you must master before you can take on more advanced material. These videos are, of course, available to anyone that wants to view them.
And many of you know that we also host technical webinars, where I and my cohort, G. Truglia, host presentations on a variety of topics “live” so that you have the opportunity to interact with us by submitting your questions and comments, and we do it in the shop so that we can make the experience as useful to you as we can. We’ve also expanded our webinar offerings, including a relatively new series hosted by Jeremy O’Neal of AdvisorFix, aimed at helping shop owners grown their business and close more sales.
Want something more formal that you can fit around your work and home life? Then try out our online Learning Management System, “Motor Age Training CONNECT.” This is a self-paced training regimen that allows you to follow a learning path or to select the topics you want to focus on — with a test out requirement before you can move forward. You can try it out for free and there are no contract terms, so if you do decide to sign up for the monthly service you can also cancel at any time. I will tell you that I think the quality of the material is first-rate, but you will have to get around the fact that the steering wheel appears to be on the wrong side of the car! You see, our training partners are based in the “land down under” and they use a little different terminology than we do. More entertaining, I say, and makes learning that much more enjoyable!
One more thing!
If you haven’t seen the press releases or the news on social media yet, allow me to share it here! Motor Age Training (along with partners PTEN magazine and TST!) takes to the streets in 2020, with plans to host at least two one-day training events around the country!
The first will be held on May 9, hosted by the Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago in Rosemont, Ill. Its close proximity to Chicago’s O’Hare airport makes it easy to access the venue and the cost of the event makes this opportunity affordable to nearly every budget.
The event will feature three presenters you certainly know; myself, G. Jerry Truglia and Motor Age’s newest Technical Editor, Brandon Steckler! If you’ve seen G. or Brandon before, you know how good they are and both will be featuring new and updated material, most never presented before!
In between, enjoy spending time with a variety of industry representatives, showcasing their tools and products. We’ll also provide breakfast and lunch, and end the day with an after-training reception, where you’ll have the chance to relax your brain cells and interact with the other attendees, vendors and presenters before calling it a day!
As I said at the start, Motor Age has a “Commitment To Training.” Whether it’s helping other training events get the word out or providing the training directly, it all falls into our mission of “advancing the automotive service professional.” And with the challenges you guys and gals are facing in the next decade, that commitment to you is more important to us than ever!
Will I see you at one of these events or webinars this year?
