ST. JOHNS, Fla. — The National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) will discuss how to overcome the industry shortage of qualified technicians at its spring 2017 general meeting in New Orleans April 24.
"The Road to GREAT Technicians: Let's Get Started" is the featured topic of the meeting.
"Over the last year, the industry has elevated the discussion around the shortage of qualified technicians," said Chris Chesney, senior director of customer training for the Carquest Technical Institute.
"Currently, many separate and independent efforts are underway but are not part of an organized, well-structured plan that will effectively serve the industry moving forward. This NASTF discussion will begin our journey on the road to great technicians."
Mark Saxonberg, chair of the NASTF board of directors, recently retired from Toyota and now president of Saxonberg Consulting Services, will moderate a panel discussion defining the opportunities for this project, including:
- the creation of a defined curriculum framework;
- support of multiple career paths;
- creation of talent with relevant skills; and
- improved activation by industry in near and long term.
"This session is not intended to be another panel where our industry partners share what they are doing. This session should actually get us going on the road to great techs," Mr. Chesney added.
The entire afternoon meeting will be webcast by iATN from www.nastf.org and will be recorded for future viewing from the NASTF YouTube page, www.youtube.com/NASTFdotORG.
More information and the agenda for the NASTF Spring 2017 General Meeting is available at www.nastf.org/GeneralMeetings.
The NASTF meeting will be held in conjunction with the Equipment & Tool Institute's Tool Tech 2017 presented later in the week at the Bourbon Orleans Hotel in New Orleans. No registration is necessary for the NASTF General Meeting but registration is necessary to attend Tool Tech 2017 events.
Registration for ETI Tool Tech is available online.
The NASTF was established in 2000 to identify, communicate and resolve gaps in the availability and accessibility of automotive service information, service training, diagnostic tools, and equipment for the benefit of automotive service professionals and their customers.