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10 | Transportation Today Wisconsin™ Online Edition: www.transportationtodaywi.com

Yes We Can! D.C. Everest Student Finding Success in Apprenticeship

others, to identify room for improvement and Knowing how to improvise and use different
is overall a great member of the team.” Further, tools can be a benefit.” Ultimately, she has
Harmony’s enthusiasm has helped Wooster’s learned that perseverance pays off. The most
“expand on and grow our overall training rewarding aspect thus far has been “completing
procedures. We have adapted to provide even a job by myself and feeling the pride of learn-
further ’in house’ hands-on training that will ing new things and being able to help others.
better set up the future of our workforce.” We The work experience is a good challenge every
utilize team members’ ideas and feedback to time and it’s nice to make the connection
improve the business, therefore Harmony is a between what I’m learning at school with what
good fit for the automotive shop. As Stephanie I do in the workplace.”
notes, “Harmony is extremely motivated and Stephanie is eager to continue helping
always brings new ideas to the table.” young students explore career opportuni-
Just as importantly, Harmony is develop- ties. “It’s a great way for us to work within
ing critical “soft skills” — customer service the community to not only offer employment
and professional collaboration, for example. opportunities for students but to set them up
“Youth Apprentices are provided the oppor- for their future careers.” Harmony’s eager-
tunity to have a unique experience blending ness, curiosity, and professionalism also have
their education and real-world practice for had a positive impact on Wooster’s. “Students
their potential future careers. Students work like Harmony love to learn new things every
on communication skills, employability, day in a field that they already have interest in.
trade skills and more while becoming active We are now focusing even more on expand-
Michelle Rothmeyer in Consumer Care Care as a sophomore and members of the workforce,” notes Stephanie. ing our ability to help more interested students
Coordinator of Communications then Automotive Power Train Systems, Small “Harmony gets along well with customers and like her.”
D.C. Everest Area School District Engines, and Introduction to Welding and coworkers while pushing herself to learn new When asked what she would say to other
Stephanie Stanke, a lifelong automotive Machining for her junior year. The dCE Senior things. We are thrilled to have her as part of businesses considering Youth Apprenticeship
opportunities, Stephanie was quick to note that
our team.”
enthusiast, opened Wooster’s Garage in 2017 High’s new six-bay Automotive Lab has pro- Both Harmony and Stephanie recog- an apprenticeship program not only enhances
becoming one of very few female automotive vided her with unique hands-on learning nize the importance of building professional a student’s education and work experiences,
repair shop owners in the region. She grew opportunities, but Harmony sought to expand relationships as part of the apprenticeship it provides “businesses or organizations with
up in a family of auto enthusiasts/auto shop her horizons and gain insights into how an experience as well. Looking ahead, Harmony quality candidates who are currently interested
owners, and in high school enrolled in automo- automotive shop runs as a Youth Apprentice. is exploring the idea of pursuing a degree in the in that line of work. The exposure to those
tive courses. upon graduating, she set out to As an apprentice, Harmony has the Automotive Technology field where she can work environments and ability for the students
learn everything she could about the industry opportunity to be mentored by professionals, capitalize on the dual enrollment credits she has to find the type of employment they enjoy
and the customers it serves, by working in a earn an income, learn skills that transfer to the earned and her apprenticeship experience. “The creates a unique advantage for the workforce.
wide variety of roles within the automotive classroom (and vice versa), and develop rela- Youth Apprenticeship program is giving me a I would recommend any business or organiza-
industry. In 2012 she rounded out her expe- tionships within her area of interest. Harmony jump start on my career not only by helping me tion considering apprenticeship opportunities
riences by earning an associate's degree in performs oil changes, removes and replaces learn specific skills, but by meeting people in to invest their time in those programs and see
Automotive Technology. brake pads and rotors, and is learning to the industry.” Adds Stephanie, “The program the potential within these students.”
What struck Stephanie during her years inspect and diagnose vehicle problems. The provides an opportunity for both the business
of working within the industry was the level latter, she notes, “matters because customer and the apprentice to expand their knowledge,
of trepidation customers felt concerning trust and safety are number one. Customers are create long term relationships, and provide www.dce.k12.wi.us
the repairs and services completed on their like family in a way — you want to make sure products and services to their cus-
vehicles. She set out to change that when she you're not missing anything and you’re per- tomers while developing the skills
established her own business. To bridge the forming great work. Most people don't realize of the next generations in their
gap between customers and technicians the the importance of maintenance and repair and industry.”
shop works diligently to make customers feel the overall effect it can have on how the vehicle of course, apprentices also
comfortable about what they are investing in runs and its efficiency.” face — and overcome — chal-
and driving — offering, for example, monthly The opportunity to learn within a shop lenges. For Harmony, one of those
auto clinics to help customers better under- environment has clearly had a positive impact challenges has been patience.
stand their vehicles. She’s also working on a on Harmony. “This is a chance to learn hands- “You can't rush into something
book based on the insights she’s gained at her on, which is easier for me to grasp versus just you don't have experience with.
customer auto clinics. Further, she serves as reading about it. The concepts really stick,” I need to slow down, think criti-
a role model for other female entrepreneurs, she states. The breadth of what she can learn cally, ask questions and listen
serving as a guest speaker who addresses what also has been one of the biggest surprises of so I can remember new things
it’s like to work within a male-dominated field. the experience thus far. “There is always more and understand the details of the
When d.C. Everest Community Partner- you can learn from being a part of the automo- customers' concerns and the tech-
ship Coordinator rose Matthie met Harmony tive industry from repair and maintenance to nicians' instructions.” Another is
Hommerding, a sophomore at d.C. Everest performance and ability. Having experienced that the automotive industry, and
Senior High with a marked interest in cars, workplace mentors like Joe and Steph makes it classrooms, tend to be dominated
she immediately thought of Stephanie’s busi- very helpful,” she adds. by males. “The gender stereotype
ness as an ideal Youth Apprenticeship partner. According to Stephanie, Harmony’s pro- in the automotive industry forces
Harmony’s interest in the automotive industry fessional curiosity is an asset. “Harmony has females to 'be more, to be equal' —
was piqued by mutual friends who had a love always been eager to learn, participate, and you need to have more knowledge
of cars and the history behind the car culture. provide her own ideas to the business. She has to prove you are equal,” observes
Similar to Stephanie, Harmony is pursuing her a positive attitude and works extremely hard to Harmony. And, she adds, “having
automotive interest by enrolling in Automotive learn about all of the different positions here. less physical strength as a female
Technology career track courses. She enrolled She is always willing to move around and help
can also be a challenge at times.