Keynote Panel Focused on Adding Hybrid/EV to Educational Programs Leesburg, Virginia – July 31, 2024 – With hundreds of automotive educators in attendance this month, the ASE Education Foundation hosted an inspiring and productive instructor training conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
A major highlight of the conference was the keynote panel discussion entitled “Orange is the New Yellow – Adding Hybrid/EV to Your Program.” Industry experts explained to a standing-room-only crowd of automotive instructors how to plan, budget and implement hybrid/EV educational programs in their respective schools. A robust question and answer session followed, sparking a spirited conversation among the conference participants.
“The keynote panel discussion about servicing hybrid and electric vehicles was not just informative but also transformative for the automotive instructors in the audience,” said Mike Coley, president, ASE Education Foundation. “Preparing students for the future of automotive technology is paramount, and this session equipped conference attendees with the knowledge and insight needed to implement effective programs at their schools. We thank the panelists for providing beneficial insights on this important topic.”
The keynote panel featured moderator Mike Godson, Toyota T-TEN instructor at Clark College in Vancouver, Washington; Zach Hope, automotive instructor at Mid-Dale Tech in Midwest City, Oklahoma; Greg Quirin, former automotive instructor and currently a program specialist supporting automotive programs in the San Diego Unified School District; and Lew Olivier, former instructor at Saint Paul College in St. Paul, Minnesota and currently working with the Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence. The discussion covered what led the panelists to add hybrid/EV content to their program; how the addition of hybrid/EV content was implemented and how it affected the way students, administrators and industry partners view their respective programs; advice for those with programs that are just getting started; and where instructors can find help and resources.
The conference also featured the well-received Nitro-X demonstration that showed how Nitro-X summer camps can inspire students and engage the industry in the process of giving middle school and early high school students hands-on experiences in transportation career pathways.
The ASE Instructor Training Conference is the largest national training event in the country, offering more than 20 hours of technical update training and providing separate tracks for auto, medium/heavy truck and collision repair instructors.
About the ASE Education Foundation: The ASE Education Foundation provides proven solutions to the technician shortage, working with over 2,300 automotive technology training programs and over 100,000 students nationally to provide the transportation industry a skilled entry level workforce through standards and credentials for institutions and individuals. The Foundation also offers career development and workplace exposure by creating relationships and partnerships with employers. For more information, visit www.ASEeducationFoundation.org.