BATON ROUGE, La. – Hurricane Katrina forced more than 200,000 New Orleans families from their homes to start new lives in Baton Rouge and surrounding areas. With more residents, the number of automobiles on the local roads has significantly increased.
According to the 2007 Manpower Talent Shortage Survey, mechanics* are ranked third on the list of most in demand employees throughout the United States. There is a nationwide demand, but the serious shortage of automotive, collision repair and diesel technicians in Louisiana has left the area with few employees who are working overtime on booked-solid repair schedules.
In an effort to provide a solution, Universal Technical Institute (UTI), a leading provider of technical education for students interested in careers as automotive, collision repair and diesel technicians for more than four decades, is hosting the Louisiana Technician Career Opportunity Expo on Wednesday, Oct. 24 at the Holiday Inn South (located at 9940 Airline Highway in Baton Rouge) from 6-9 p.m. More than 20 local automotive, collision repair and diesel companies have aligned for the first time to shed light on the serious demand in Louisiana and representatives from each will be on-hand at the Expo to discuss career opportunities that are available after training. While hiring packages vary between the employers, many are offering such benefits as tuition reimbursement, tool allowance and relocation assistance.
UTI’s educational representatives and campus staff will also be available to provide information about the training, financial aid options and GI Bill/VA Benefits eligibility. In addition, several UTI graduates, who currently have rewarding careers as automotive technicians in the Baton Rouge area, will be sharing their stories at the Expo.
This initiative helps fill the gap for the service and repair industry by presenting an alternative education opportunity for Louisiana residents. UTI offers an opportunity to enroll in a technical training program that significantly accelerates their education and prepares them to enter the workforce in a short time period.
“The shortage of automotive technicians is a national problem,” said Eddie Guenard, Parts and Service Group coordinator at Brian Harris Automotive Group. “It is particularly significant in Baton Rouge because we have an increase of cars but no one to service them. UTI provides the technical hands-on training that helps students make an easy transition into a professional career after graduating. In fact, 86 percent of our workforce has graduated from UTI’s Houston campus and they have out-performed other technicians in talent and skill.”
Representatives from Acura of Baton Rouge, All Star Automotive, Bill Hood Ford, Bolton Ford, Brian Harris Autoplex, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, Cummins Mid South, Gerry Lane, Jackie Edgar Ford, Le Blanc Nissan, Louisiana Machinery, Moss Motors, Peake BMW, Penske Truck Rental, Robinson Brothers Ford, Royal Nissan, Southpoint Volkswagen, Team Honda, Travel Centers of America, Union Pacific Railroad, Walker Acura, and Walker Automotive will be present at the Expo to discuss career opportunities.
“UTI is working with key local companies to help recruit and retain qualified professional technicians for the Louisiana area,” said UTI Houston Campus President Ken Golaszewski. “The community has already gone through so much and we are honored to lead an initiative that provides life-changing opportunities and solutions for the Baton Rouge area.” For more information about the Expo, contact UTI’s Houston campus toll-free at 800-325-0354.
* Although "mechanic" is referenced in the Manpower Talent Shortage Survey, "technician" is the term accepted by the commercial and motorsports industries that better reflects the technical skills and professionalism required on the job.
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