Bloomfield, NJ – Today, Universal Technical Institute’s (NYSE: UTI) Bloomfield campus held a Women in STEM Skilled Trades Conference as part of the organization’s ongoing efforts to increase awareness among high school girls and non-binary students of career pathways for women in the STEM skilled trades.
The conference, held by the Bloomfield, New Jersey campus, gave high school aged females and non-binary students, that are interested in pursuing a career in the trades, an opportunity to tour the UTI campus and hear from a panel of women who have made a career in the field. The panel, introduced by New Jersey Senator, Holly Schepisi, included the following women:
- Alexis Limatola, Ford Technician, 2021 UTI Graduate
- Lisa Cesaro, VP of Human Resources for Open Road
- Carla Iommetti, Heavy Equipment Technical Management
- Samantha Gleason, HR Recruiter Lithia Automotive, Experienced Auto Tech
Senator Schepisi, a long-standing advocate for the trades industry, opened the conference by discussing the state’s demand for trade industry jobs, the importance of proper and effective training in STEM oriented careers, and the significance of empowering women to pursue careers in a historically male dominated industry.
“I encourage women of all ages to consider a career in the skilled trades,” said Senator Schepisi. “A technical education can lead to a great career path, and I applaud UTI for inspiring more women to enter the field.”
Earlier this year UTI announced its partnership with Ignite Worldwide to provide $100,000 in tuition grants for female and female-identifying students interested in pursuing a technical education at UTI. Applications for Ignite grants are open now and will be accepted until April 29, 2022. The review process will begin in early May, with winners announced on May 18, 2022. These grant opportunities are open for all programs offered at UTI-branded campuses.
“There is a demand for well-trained technicians across the country – especially for women, who have traditionally been underrepresented in STEM and skilled-trade sectors,” said Shawn Alexander, UTI Bloomfield Campus President. “We hope that the young women that attended today’s conference left inspired to not only attend an institution, such as UTI, but to further their education and join the skilled-trades sector.”
Currently, women represent just over 1 in 4 STEM workers in the U.S. Research by both McKinsey and Harvard Business School has found gender-diverse employers tend to be more productive and exhibit stronger financial performance relative to their non-diverse competitors. Workforce demand in the transportation sector remains strong nationally, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimating there are approximately 100,000 total new openings each year for automotive, diesel, and collision repair technicians nationally, including net employment changes and net replacements.
About Universal Technical Institute, Inc.:
Founded in 1965 and headquartered in Phoenix, Universal Technical Institute's (NYSE: UTI) mission is to serve our students, partners, and communities by providing quality education and support services for in-demand careers. Approximately 250,000 students have graduated from one of UTI's 14 campuses located across Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Texas. UTI's campuses are accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), while its employer-aligned technical training programs are offered under four brands: Universal Technical Institute, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute / Marine Mechanics Institute, NASCAR Technical Institute, and MIAT College of Technology. For more information and a complete list of all programs offered, please visit www.uti.edu or follow on LinkedIn @UniversalTechnicalInstitute and on Twitter @news_UTI.
