Executive Interview with Howard Kesten, President and Founder of Workboards
Our latest edition of “Executive Interview” features Howard Kesten, president and founder of Workboards, which launched the automotive job site, aftermarketJobs.com, in December 2003. A two-time guest speaker at AAPEX, Kesten is also founder and CEO of APA Search, Inc., an executive search and human resources consulting firm serving the automotive industry. In 18 years, he has placed more than 1,600 automotive professionals. Join us as Kesten provides an introduction to aftermarketJobs.com and shares with us his predictions for the future of the aftermarket and the job market.
Crump to Chair NACE 2004 in Las Vegas
The International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE) has re-appointed Vernon Crump, body shop director for John Eagle Collision Center in Dallas, Texas, as chairman for NACE 2004, which will be held Nov. 3-6, in Las Vegas, to coincide with Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW). Crump was NACE 2003 chairman and received accolades for his leadership and experience, and for the innovative programs he introduced at NACE to spotlight new technologies and to strengthen industry and global relationships.
Car Care Council’s Women’s Board Expands Sponsorship Opportunities
The Car Care Council Women’s Board is expanding its sponsorship program to allow for support of all of the Women’s Board activities for the year, which include industry outreach, consumer education and recruiting women to the industry, as well as serving as an advisory board to the “Be Car Care Aware” campaign.
School Auto Center Revs Up Students
Alex Kosterman, Kevin Bendorf and Matt Beier hunched over the shiny red Pontiac Sunfire, carefully inspecting the car’s leaky battery before cleaning it up and replacing it. The hands-on lesson on starting systems and batteries took place Tuesday in Racine, Wis.-based Park High School’s new automotive technology center, a 5,000-square-foot dream for the school’s automotive students. The investment bucks a national trend, as more and more high school auto shops are stalling despite a huge demand for skilled auto technicians. The most common roadblocks: the hefty cost of running automotive programs and a more intense focus on college preparatory classes.
Herman Trend Alert: Competition for Recent Graduates
Employers are showing renewed interest in fresh college graduates. For years, these young people have experienced frustrating difficulty finding stimulating and rewarding jobs after graduation. Many companies that had traditionally conducted on-campus interviews have been missing; the interest in graduates has been unusually low. Things are changing. Employers are showing renewed interest in college seniors, increasing their recruiting efforts and demonstrating stronger response to inquiries from students taking the initiative to find their preferred career-starting job.
U.S. Faces Decline in Engineers As Student Programs Grow Overseas
The United States faces a shortage of engineers in coming years, and that could diminish the nation’s status as a leader in technology development and innovation, executives and educators say. The looming shortage comes as nations, including China and India, are seeing a boom in the number of students in engineering programs. Assuming the trend continues, it could result in the U.S. continuing to lose technology jobs to overseas competition.
High Schoolers Earn Certifications from Industry
A diploma isn’t the only important document that some students have in hand when they graduate from high school these days. A growing number of students, educators say, are graduating with specific, industry-defined skills certifications that can have immediate value in the job market. Industries in which such certification is available include computer maintenance, automotive repair, nursing, graphic arts and food service.
Car Care Council Offers “Be Car Care Aware” Starter Kits for National Car Care Month
“Be Car Care Aware” point-of-sale starter kits — containing marketing and promotional materials to help businesses promote vehicle maintenance and the on-going “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign — are available just in time for National Car Care Month in April. The starter kit features National Car Care Month materials that can be used each April to celebrate and promote this national event. The kit includes “Be Car Care Aware” signage, consumer literature and the industry’s first comprehensive service interval schedule.
Two Off-Road Organizations Promise to Add Excitement to the 2004 SEMA Spring Expo
The Off-Road Business Association (ORBA) and the United Rockcrawling & Off-Road Challenge (UROC) will participate in the annual SEMA Spring Expo, which is slated to take place March 5-6 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. According to Peter MacGillivray, vice president of marketing and communications for SEMA, ORBA and UROC will bring the excitement of the rapidly growing off-road sports scene to the annual SEMA Spring Expo.
SEMA To Host Trademark Webinar
SEMA is hosting a webinar conference on “Trademarks” on Thursday, February 12 at 10 a.m. (PST). Conrad Wong of the SEMA Washington, D.C., office will address the following issues: Learn what a trademark is; What constitutes a trademark infringement; The benefits of a federal trademark registration; How to communicate with the Patent and Trademark Office, and more.