NationaLease has committed to working with Universal Technical Institute (UTI) to help fulfill its workforce in the years ahead by encouraging its member businesses to hire UTI graduates and providing technical expertise on the school’s Program Advisory Council.
“While we have more than 600 service locations throughout our network of 165 independent businesses, they share a standard for customer service and it is excellence,” says Dean Vicha, president of NationaLease. “Providing our customers with flexible and responsive service across North America has been a key to our business success, and we cannot do that without the right technicians in the shop.”
NationaLease forecasts nearly a third of its current technicians will reach retirement age in the next several years. Based on past experience, the organization understands that finding qualified technicians can be a challenge. To ensure a steady flow of qualified candidates that meet the organization’s standards, NationaLease is joining the Program Advisory Committee of UTI’s Illinois campus and is encouraging its members to hire UTI graduates.
“Through the input and advice of industry customers on our Program Advisory Committee, we understand and act on their needs, and have kept our focus on providing the education and training that makes our graduates valuable and sought-after employees,” says Julie Mueller, president of the UTI-Glendale Heights campus. “We’re honored to have NationaLease recommend our graduates for employment and for their ongoing counsel on our classes and instruction.”
While both organizations have a national presence, a local synergy brought the two together. NationaLease’s corporate headquarters in Downers Grove, Ill. is just down the road from UTI’s new state-of-the-industry campus in suburban Lisle. The close proximity provides an opportunity for the two organizations to collaborate, NationaLease says.
NationaLease says it will, among other things, work with UTI to help develop curricula, assist instructors and staff in preparing students with job search skills, participate in career fairs and workshops, and provide speakers for UTI events near campus.
“We want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to ensure there is an ongoing pipeline of qualified workers, with the skills and attitude our businesses need,” says Vicha. “We will continue building relationships with key educators like UTI to ensure that our member businesses have the opportunity to hire the best trained workers for their service centers.”
To meet NationaLease’s ongoing demand, UTI’s industry employment department will work directly with their 165 locations to match students with open technician positions throughout the country, the company says.
