SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Nov. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Buckle up ...
Universal Technical Institute (NYSE: UTI), together with
Roadtrip Nation, TechForce Foundation and KQED, is proud to present
Changing Gears – an inspiring new documentary that takes
viewers under the hood of one of today's most exciting and growing
industries.
The film, which begins airing in markets across the country this
month, is part of Roadtrip Nation's award-winning career
exploration documentary series. Changing Gears follows three
aspiring automotive and diesel technicians on a 1,000-mile road
trip as they interview industry legends and get a rare glimpse into
the ins and outs of the automotive and diesel technician trade.
Changing Gears highlights a high-tech career path where
jobs are abundant and pay well, and will expose more young people
to the transportation industry and its fulfilling career paths.
"This film truly busts the myths and misperceptions that
can steer students away from technical education and transportation
technician jobs, and has the power to shift how millions of
students, parents and educators think about this rewarding,
high-tech career," said Kim
McWaters, president and chief executive officer of
Universal Technical Institute. "UTI is
intently focused on building our student population to meet the
industry's growing demand for trained technicians, and Changing
Gears supports this work."
During the documentary, the road-trippers meet automotive and
diesel industry leaders who've made it big by following their
passion, including: Roger Penske,
founder and chairman of the Penske Corporation; Sarah "Bogi"
Lateiner, UTI graduate and host of the Velocity television series
All Girls Garage; and Dennis
McCarthy, picture car coordinator for the Fast &
Furious franchise. Their conversations shed light on the most
thrilling aspects of the transportation industry.
"At Roadtrip Nation, our goal is to empower people to define
their own roads in life," said Mike
Marriner, cofounder of Roadtrip Nation. "This film showcases
real stories of leaders and change-makers who have carved their own
pathways as technicians, while also highlighting technological
advances in the industry, challenging stereotypical notions and
stigmas of the trade, and looking at career opportunities in the
field."
The pace of technological change, coupled with the technician
shortage already facing transportation employers, has led to fear
that the number of students entering training programs will be
insufficient to meet the future demand of this growing
industry.
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics recently tripled its
estimate for the number of new automotive, diesel and collision
repair technicians needed in the coming decade. Approximately 1.2
million new technicians will be needed nationwide by 2026 to meet
industry needs, according to the BLS.
"All of us at TechForce Foundation are proud to be a part of
this project," said Jennifer Maher,
executive director. "Our goal is to help students get the resources
they need to pursue their dreams, and this film offers compelling
examples of what's possible for technicians with a good education
and industry-aligned skills."
To watch the film now, or to find air times for public
television broadcasts near you, visit: changinggearsfilm.com.
To learn more about the project on social media channels, follow
@UTITweet, @RoadtripNation, #UTItech and #TechniciansRoadtrip on
Twitter.
About Universal Technical
Institute, Inc.
Headquartered in Scottsdale,
Arizona, Universal Technical
Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) is the leading provider of
post-secondary education for students seeking careers as
professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and
marine technicians. With more than 200,000 graduates in its 52-year
history, UTI offers undergraduate degree and diploma programs at 12
campus locations across the United
States, as well as manufacturer-specific training programs
at dedicated centers. Through its campus-based school system, UTI
provides specialized post-secondary education programs under the
banner of several well-known brands, including Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Motorcycle
Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI) and NASCAR
Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech). For more information, visit
uti.edu.
About Roadtrip Nation
"What should I do with my life?" For over 15 years, Roadtrip
Nation has made it their mission to help individuals answer this
question. Through best-selling books, an acclaimed documentary
series, and interactive classroom curricula, Roadtrip Nation
empowers people to turn what they like into careers they'll
love—and helps them navigate any obstacles encountered along the
way. For more information, visit roadtripnation.com and
roadtripnation.org.
About TechForce Foundation
TechForce Foundation encourages and supports students to and
through their technical education, and into careers in the
automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle, marine, NASCAR,
and other transportation industries through scholarships, grants,
career development and other special programs. For more
information, visit techforcefoundation.org.
Press Contacts:
Jody Kent, Universal Technical Institute
(623) 445-0872
jkent@uti.edu
Kelsey Cox, Roadtrip Nation
(949) 764-9121, x220
kcox@roadtripnation.org
Jennifer Maher, TechForce
Foundation
(623) 445-0933
jmaher@techforcefoundation.org
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SOURCE Universal Technical
Institute