Women Auto Know/Drivers Auto Know has partnered with the New York City Department of Education and the Department of Labor to offer career and technical education students in New York City additional skills during a 6-week, 150-hour paid internship.
Students participating in the CTE Industry Scholars Program will work with various auto shops in the New York City area, and through Drivers Auto Know, gain additional customer-relation skills through the Person to Person Advisor (PPA) program.
The PPA program trains participants on the essential skills of car repair and focuses on teaching “soft” skills to properly serve and build authentic relationships with customers. Participants are then certified as “PPA Advisors.” Shops can use PPA advisors to host community workshops to drive new business and educate drivers on car care. Businesses can also use PPA advisors as an entry-level position for new talent.
“This is a game changer. A way to stand out and differentiate yourself in the marketplace. It’s going to give you an edge,” said Audra Fordin, founder of Women Auto Know/Drivers Auto Know and owner of Great Bear Auto Repair in Queens.
According to Fordin, being a PPA advisor will provide the much needed relationships and customer care that is missing from businesses. Something she believes will help brick and mortar shops gain and keep customers with the in-person relationships that online superstores like Amazon lack.
In addition to receiving PPA training, CTE Industry Scholars will also have the opportunity to use their PPA skills at auto shops across the city to educate drivers.
“Local auto shops are coming together for a caring coalition to deliver 15-minute experiences to drivers,” Fordin adds, with competing auto shops joining forces to host the newly trained PPA advisors to drive community education sessions.
The CTE Industry Scholars Program with PPA training kicks off July 10. The NYC CTE Industry Scholars Program recruits students and employers in February and March for placement the April–May Spring Internship Program and July-August Summer Internship Program. For more information on the PPA program, visit womenautoknow.com/ppa/.
