GNYADA November 2014 Newsletter

Breaking Gender Barriers

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As the summer of 2005 approached, O’Hara began the process of select- ing students for AYES summer internships. Students chosen for an internship must be at the top of their class. Good grades, good attitude, good attendance, and a willingness to learn are a few of the requirements. Bruce Stonemetz, service manager at Buzz Chew Chevrolet Cadillac in Southampton, was looking for moti- vated young people, both male and female. Finding a qualified female intern is difficult, but Tara inter- viewed and was given the opportuni- ty to prove she ready for prime time. Under the guidance of master auto tech and mentor Russell Gregg, Tara’s knowledge and skills moved to the next level. She was anxious to learn and in a few weeks became part of the dealership team. Tara is now a full-time employee in the Buzz Chew Chevrolet Cadillac service shop.

Here is a success story of how one dealership put words into action and helped a young woman begin her career in a man-dominated industry. As a high school student, Tara Collins registered for the automotive technology program at H. B. Ward Career and Technical Center in Riverhead. She says that the idea of taking a course in automotive tech- nology raised a lot of eyebrows at first, but folks who knew her passion for cars realized that she had to fol- low her dream. When her auto tech instructor, Mike O’Hara, asked how she became inter- ested in working on cars, her answer was out of the norm for a young woman. “I think I was born with a passion for cars. I would follow my grandfather around his automotive repair shop, asking questions about cars and how parts worked.”

On September 23, 2014, the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association had the pleasure of wel- coming a group of Republican Senators to its Center for Automotive Education & Training after a Board meeting. The senators met with Board members to discuss the training we offer and were treat- ed to a tour of our Center for Automotive Education & Training. They also had the opportunity to learn how the automotive industry is evolving and how GNYADA and CAET are helping shape the future. The term nontraditional career refers to jobs that have in the past mostly been filled by one gender. Visit any dealership in the New York Metro area and you’ll find very few females turning a wrench. GNYADA’s education committee is actively involved in programs that aim to open the profession to women. The Association supports programs offered by Lincoln Technical Institute and Automotive Youth Educational Systems. Both programs encourage women to consider a career in the automotive tech trade.

19 Republican Senators Tour CAET

CREDIT: DOMINICk TOTINO PHOTOGRAPHY

A Republican delegation joined GNYADA for a tour of CAET. From left: Sen. John Flanagan, Sen. Michael Nozzolio, Sen. Jack Martins, Sen. Kemp Hannon, GNYADA Chair Bob Vail, Paul Conte of Paul Conte Cadillac, Sen. Dean Skelos, Sen. Carl Marcellino, Sen. Catharine Young, and GNYADA President Mark Schienberg.

Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association • www.gnyada.com

The Newsletter • November 2014

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