Under the HOOD
The Newsletter of RPM Foundation • Making InROADS
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Who we are, What we do, and How we do It. You’ve heard us beam about our post-secondary educational partners — McPherson College (Kansas), Pennsylvania College of Technology (Pennsylvania), and Central Carolina College (North Carolina). While we, and they, are rightly proud of the curriculums they offer in automotive restoration and preservation, we realize it’s not the path for everyone. When a company or entity experiences growth or change, it’s often useful to revisit the core principles that founded that entity. To get back to basics, and reaffirm the mission statement; to check the compass and make sure the course has not wavered. Since RPM Foundation’s inception in 2005, our nationwide network of mentors, ambassadors, teachers, shop instructors, shop owners, corporate partners and private donors have grown exponentially. With that growth comes all types of increased opportunities for collaboration and integration, both vertically and laterally. It’s hard to say no to opportunity when it presents itself, but all too easy to become distracted from the primary goal. One integration opportunity that we are very excited about is the new alliance with TechForce Foundation and a common vision under joint-CEO Jennifer Maher. But the reciprocal value of that partnership relies on RPM continuing to do what it does best: finding, inspiring, educating and placing the automotive, motorcycle and marine restoration craftsmen of tomorrow. It’s a strategy worth doubling-down upon.
The TechForce partnership frees up RPM from doing some of the early messaging around reducing what we have come to call “Trade Stigma”— the negative connotation associated with blue-collar careers. Our hope is that TechForce also becomes an effective pipeline of promising technicians willing to push their talents further into the collector vehicle restoration industry. Which is where RPM’s proven programs then kick in. “Off to the Races” exposes students to the exciting career paths within vintage auto racing. “Behind the Scenes” highlights the job opportunities in the collector car auction industry. “Shop Hop” puts students on the shop floor of some of the country’s finest restoration facilities and face-to-face with their future employers. Once a field of interest is identified, RPM works closely with that student to acquire the needed skills through our partner schools and funding programs. Once completed, we tap our network of shop owners, facilitating interviews, internships and even gap-funding to place that technician into an environment of continual learning. The urgent need for educating tomorrow’s craftsmen is not going away. And now – with a little help from our friends at TechForce – we can focus more than ever on who we are, what we do, and how we do it. See you along the way, Diane Fitzgerald, President
While the two entities’ missions may seem redundant at first glance, they are actually quite complementary. While TechForce operates in the macro-picture of trades education targeting the dealership workforce, RPM continues to seek out the crème de la crème of tech school students with “heritage in their hearts,” and craft individualized paths to placement within the multi-milliondollar restoration industry. The two arenas are very different. While the initial skills training is shared, the career paths diverge radically from there. Dealershipbased education emphasizes modern techniques applied to a “book time” economic shop model. Restoration-based education emphasizes lost-art techniques applied in an artisanal setting. The mindsets are completely unique: one model works to a cost, the other works to a standard.
Surrounded by RPM staff, students and volunteers, RPM President Diane Fitzgerald is joined by donors and Continental Auto Group founder John & Lisa Weinberger and Ferrari Club of America - Central States Region president Phil Wantoch at Ferraris on Fulton, hosted by Continental and FCA. The Weinbergers presented their annual donation of $10,000 and FCA participants contributed almost $4,000 for RPM grants and programs.
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