CHARLEROI, PA (03.25.22) – SEMA is continuing its partnership with the 10 high school auto shop programs into the 2021-2022 school year, as they were affected by COVID-19 mandated school closures. The 10 builds, that began in January 0f 2020, are to be completed late this spring and be auctioned off through the program partner.
On Thursday, March 24th, Todd Ramsey visited the Mon Valley Career & Technical Center. Students at the high school auto tech program are customizing a 2002 Jeep Wrangler TJ SEMA Build vehicle.
“We met with Chris Mance, the Automotive Instructor, and 12 students in the shop area. In discussions with the students they were very engaged and asked questions about careers continuing in the automotive field after graduation. Chris is a very driven instructor and what they are doing in their shop is pretty damn fantastic,” Ramsey related to the 12volt Central Studios.
Mance related, “The meeting Thursday morning with Todd was absolutely terrific. It was an opportunity for him to see the SEMA Build program in action. His in-person presence in the shop at our school really grabbed the attention of our entire shop class. In addition he has arranged the delivery of some parts, bumpers and hood scoop, that we needed for the Jeep.”
Mance continued, “To have Ed Nuttall at the meeting was such a bonus as members of the shop class got real world answers about career opportunities in aftermarket tech world.”
Ed Nuttall, Team Nutz Pittsburgh 12volt retailer, accompanied Todd to the meeting. “Our business is only about 40 miles from the Mon Valley Center and this was a great opportunity for me to get some insight into the possibility for future employees. It’s no secret that the 12volt industry has been dealing with a shortage of quality techs in our shops for some time. Seeing the top quality approach being taken by Chris with his students was very encouraging. Also seeing that SEMA is working to encourage students to pursue careers in the automotive aftermarket industry was tremendous,” Nuttall related to the 12volt Central Studios.
Team Nutz is a very proactive 12volt retailer in the area that regularly exhibits at the Pittsburg International Auto Show and other large automotive consumer shows. At those events the company connects with annual high school sponsored student tours. Many Mon Valley shop students were familiar with the Team Nutz store in Pittsburgh.
Todd Ramsey, Ramsey Consulting, has been contracted since September 2021 to manage the SEMA Hight School Build initiative. For more see ramseyconsultinggroup.com or email Byron Bergman at SEMA Member Services – byronb@sema.org
Automotive Technology at Mon Valley Career and Technology Center provides students with a comprehensive, 3-year program designed to prepare students to confidently enter the automotive industry. Faculty and staff strives to exceed the needs and expectations of the industry by teaching core skills and techniques along with the soft skills needed to excel in the automotive setting.
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