C&M believes strongly in connecting with area schools. Creating and donating personalized blankets to kindergartners, holding annual school supply drives for several nearby schools, donating and lending vehicles to area high school automotive classes are just some of the ways we connect with students and schools. We have an open-door job shadowing policy. Shop students are encouraged to spend 4 hours at the dealership to learn about the work and gain skills. Students have even become employees afterwards.

Growing the Next Group of Technicians

The dealerships have worked with teachers and the schools throughout the years to grow the next group of technicians. We have found that working to engage local students is the most successful. At times, we lend the schools tools, give advice, print out workshop manuals, and more. Paul and Tim, our Service Manager, visit area schools and attend career fairs to show the schools what Ford and C&M have to offer.

The ACE program fits well with what C&M was already doing. According to Ford Field Service Engineer Cassandra Hopper, "C&M is the best in the area. They are very, very active and put in a ton of time. C&M has the longest consistent history engaging with the schools to find potential technicians."

Former Warren-Alvarado-Oslo Shop Teacher Nathan Wozniak began with the ACE program at the beginning of 2021. He appreciated having access to on-line training materials, tools, and cutting-edge information from the industry (what he refers to is the "latest and greatest from Ford and the industry.") C&M has donated two vehicles to Wozniak’s class over time. He said that they couldn’t have a program without these – "the level of student interaction and experience is a game changer because of these vehicles." The connection with C&M "has been a great resource for students."

In the past, C&M Tech Day and invited area schools to attend presentations about the dealerships and Ford at our local auditorium and the dealership. Shawn Deans, Ford Field Service Engineer and Ford ASSET Instructor Drew Goddard spoke to the students and teachers. Students were able to see the shop and some in-process engine work, in addition to speaking with technicians and other employees, including our F&I Manager. We discovered that Tech Day could easily expand to financing, accounting, and more dealership career options. Wozniak described the day as a great opportunity for students to experience "a day in the life of a technician," as well as networking. They were able to connect with college instructors, other teachers and students, see the industry in real life, and even secure some scholarship funds from a local college.

Article: Hallock Dealer Brings Students and Educators Together

Hosting Tech Day has become a regular event for C&M and Roseau County Ford. Students from area high schools and sometimes NCTC hear from Ford, Stellantis, Northland Community and Technical College, and dealership employees about the auto industry, dealership careers, apprenticeships and scholarships, and other opportunities. Students visit the shop, job shadow, ask questions and eat lunch

C&M and Roseau County Ford offer a Tech Student Loan Scholarship program worth $20,000!

This covers tuition and tool purchase assistance. The loans are forgiven by working at the dealerships. Specifically, this means:

• $15,000 tuition assistance over 2 years
• $5,000 tool purchase assistance over 2 years
• Earn $150 per online class completed over 2 years applied towards your tuition
• Work for 5 years at the dealership and loan will be forgiven.
• This is earned back at 20% per year worked.

C&M has also participated in the Ford ASSET program, as well as a State of Minnesota program Apprenticeship Minnesota. Apprenticeship Minnesota allowed 12 of our technicians received funds to use for training and to purchase tools.