NTXAD and Waco Dealers Host Inaugural Auto Tech Competition High school seniors from across Central Texas put their automotive skills to the test on Friday, April 17, competing in a regional Auto Tech Competition hosted by the North Texas Automobile Dealers (NTXAD) in partnership with Waco-region dealers and Texas State Technical College (TSTC) at TSTC’s Waco campus. The event marked the first time NTXAD and Waco-region dealers have partnered with TSTC’s automotive program, expanding NTXAD’s flagship workforce development initiative into Central Texas. “The excitement of this competition is twofold — students get to experience a potential career firsthand, and our dealership representatives get to meet emerging talent,” said Bently Durant, COO of Classic Chevrolet. Jason Baisden, service director at Autobahn Fort Worth, encouraged the students to think of the automotive industry as a garden lattice, with many directions to grow and advance throughout a career. The choice of Waco as a host site was strategic. More than 60 students from North Texas are currently enrolled in automotive training programs at TSTC Waco, representing a pipeline of talent NTXAD intends to tap directly. “These are North Texas kids who left home to get the kind of training TSTC is known for,” said Brent Franks, president of North Texas Automobile Dealers. “When they graduate, we want them to know our dealers are ready to interview them the day they come home. This competition is one way we start that conversation early.” Six teams of three students competed, representing Waco High School (two teams), Georgetown’s Future Ready Complex (two teams), Rouse High School in Leander and University High School in Waco. Teams worked through a series of hands-on stations, including electronics testing and a multi-point inspection designed to challenge them with real-world diagnostic problems. While students competed, TSTC faculty led high school advisors on a tour of the college’s auto collision and management, automotive, and diesel equipment programs. Russ Reed, an automotive instructor at University High School with five years of teaching experience and more than 30 years in the industry, said the need for skilled technicians continues to grow nationwide. He sees that interest reflected in his students every day. “I want to find the person who would take my place as a technician and have the same passion for it that I do,” Reed said. George Williams, program team lead for TSTC’s automotive and auto collision and management programs, said the competition gave students a valuable opportunity to explore TSTC’s offerings and connect directly with employers. In the weeks leading up to the competition, students shadowed technicians at dealerships near their high schools, learning to use professional tools and troubleshoot vehicle issues. APPRENTICESHIP & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT DEALERS’ CHOICE 14
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