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Automotive Program Spotlight Series
Sharing stories of strategic partnerships to support the next generation of auto technicians and workers
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School Partner: Oneida-Herkimer-Madison Board of CooperativeEducational Services (OHM BOCES) | New Hartford, New York
In upstate New York, middle and high school students can explore automotive careers sooner than most through a unique cooperative educational service that partners with local Lithia & Driveway (LAD) stores—including Don’s Ford of Utica, Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of Utica, Subaru of Utica, and Don’s Collision Center.
Oneida-Herkimer-Madison Board of Cooperative Educational Services, or OHM BOCES, has a massive 96-acre high school campus, where it provides educational resources across 12 school districts in three counties to foster interest in the trades. It offers automotive technology and auto body repair programs, complete with state-of-the-art facilities.
LAD’s long-term partnership with OHM BOCES encourages and accelerates students’ passion for cars and trucks while developing a relationship that often leads to a full-time automotive position after graduation and during college.
Successful Auto-Tech Student Spotlights
Here are two recent OHM BOCES graduates who made the transition from student to LAD team member:
OLIVIA LATELLA | APPRENTICE TECHNICIAN, CLASS C
Don’s Ford of Utica (New York)
Olivia’s interest in car engines and speed started while watching her father work on the family vehicles and going to NASCAR races with him at the Utica-Rome Speedway. As a junior in high school, that passion sparked her decision to enroll in OHM BOCES’s trade program, which steered her to an internship at Don’s Ford of Utica.
Don Anna, a Class A Service Technician, helped her learn new skills, build confidence, and better understand what it took to be a service tech. “Having someone with his experience who was willing to teach me made me even more excited about pursuing this career,” says Olivia.
After graduation, Don’s Ford hired her as a Junior Ops Associate/Lube Technician. With its sponsorship, Olivia is also pursuing a Ford ASSET (Automotive Student Service Educational Training) degree at nearby SUNY Morrisville—another LAD tech school partner. Her long-term goal is to become a Senior Master Technician while pursuing additional certifications in high performance and diesel technology.
As the only female tech student in her BOCES class, Olivia strives to pave the way to help women feel confident about working in the trades. “I want other women to know that they belong in the automotive tech industry just as much as anyone else and that they are capable of doing anything they set their minds to.”
AYDEN MASTERS | LUBE TECHNICIAN, CLASS D
Subaru of Utica (New York)
Ayden got interested in OHM BOCES as a freshman in high school, when his older classmates and friends who were in the MiTech Program, expressed how much they were enjoying the experience. So as a sophomore, he enrolled in MiTech and found his fit in the Automotive Technology program.
He interned at Subaru of Utica, where he was able to experience firsthand “how it was in the real industry and talk to the people there.” The apprenticeship helped Ayden get hired after graduation at the Subaru of Utica service shop as a lube tech. His main career goal is much like how he felt about OHM BOCES—to keep growing his knowledge and moving forward professionally.
Building Community with Students & School Officials
To keep this potential pipeline of new hires rolling, it’s key to connect with students as early as possible, contributing to their progress and success throughout high school and into college.
Karen Flynn, a senior recruiter for LAD who works and lives in the area, streamlines the student-school-store partnership by acting as a liaison and getting involved in school activities. “We try to be a partner in whatever capacity they need, including shadow programs, materials, and donations,” says Flynn. “This partnership has grown to support more than just technicians. We now have students working in parts, sales, finance, and accounting.”
STORES GET INVOLVED IN CAREER EDUCATION
Store leaders and team members participate in career fairs, mock interview days, and SkillsUSA competitions—encouraging OHM BOCES students and helping them gain real-world knowledge and skill sets. They also have joined school advisory boards and participated in panel discussions with students.
$50,000 DONATION MARKS MILESTONE IN SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP
In a strong show of support, Lithia & Driveway presented OHM BOCES’s Automotive Technology program with a $50,000 check to support ongoing workforce development. “The donation will help keep our programs up to date so that we can continue to help students find success in their future,” noted program officials.
If your store or technical school is interested in developing a similar partnership, reach out to Brittany Osterhout, Senior Manager of Community Relations, at BrittanyOsterhout@lithia.com.
