SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Universal Technical Institute (UTI) announced that John White has advised UTI’s board of directors of his intention to retire from his duties as an executive officer and chairman of the board, effective Dec. 9. White will continue to serve as a member of UTI’s Board of Directors. He has served as chairman since 2005.
"I feel very fortunate that I dedicated the past 37 years of my life to a purpose-driven company that has literally changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of men and women by giving them access to a quality education for jobs that are in high demand. Personally, I am very proud to have been a part of building this company into the premier technical education provider it is today and will always hold a special place in my heart for all of the people who helped create the success behind our MMI, NASCAR Tech and UTI brands. I look forward to supporting the company with my continued involvement as a member of the board."
"John White’s legacy will continue regardless of whether he is in the office every day. He has shaped our company for many years and has made a lasting impression on all of us," said Kim McWaters, CEO of UTI. "His visionary leadership and his ability to see the value in partnering with some of the world’s leading manufacturers as a way to help both students and employers was leading edge at the time and is the core of our brand and strategic positioning nearly 40 years later."
White began changing the world for thousands of future technicians when he acquired Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI) in 1977; the school had one building, a handful of students and two instructors. In the early 1980s, his vision guided him to launching a first-of-its-kind training partnership with Harley-Davidson USA. This partnership set the stage for a successful strategy working closely with leading motorcycle manufacturers. Soon after Harley-Davidson, relationships with Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Honda were also formed, driving the creation and delivery of educational offerings that best prepare technicians to enter the workforce.
In 1997, MMI and UTI merged. White became the company’s chief strategic planning officer and served as a director on the board. In 2005, White became chairman of the board while actively engaged in business strategy development.
After MMI and UTI joined forces, John was instrumental in forging relationships with leading automotive manufacturers and also led the development of two significant partnerships that created greater awareness about opportunities in the area of automotive service and motorsports with the legendary Hot Rod Magazine and, subsequently, NASCAR. UTI’s Hot Rod U and Super Street Power and Performance Courses have long been student favorites and are exclusive to UTI. This past year, NASCAR Tech, the only school of its type in the country celebrated its 10th anniversary with more than 5,000 graduates successfully employed in the industry.
It seems only fitting that before White announced his intention to retire, he made sure that the new partnership he spearheaded with GM was announced and ready to launch at the Avondale campus. With more than 30 industry-leading brands now associated with UTI, MMI and NASCAR Tech, White’s legacy will continue to positively influence the company and benefit thousands of students and employers across the country for many more years to come.
White has been honored on numerous occasions throughout his career, and most recently was awarded the 2013 Alumni Award for Distinguished Service from the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois/Urbana-Champaign. The award recognizes his outstanding achievements and service to both the University of Illinois and the larger community via entrepreneurial innovation and philanthropic leadership. He is also a generous supporter of the UTI Foundation and a number of other charities.
Identification of a successor to White is currently under review and will be announced in the future.
