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Alabama Center For Automotive Excellence
News Releases
Snap-on Incorporated Selects Lawson
State's Alabama Center for Automotive Excellence as a Tier-One training
provider.
Thursday, April
3, Lawson State Community College was selected by Snap-on Incorporated to become
one of four, Tier One Diagnostic Training and Certification Centers in the
nation. Snap-on is a global leader in tools, diagnostics, equipment, software
and service solutions for professional users. Founded in 1920, Snap-on is a
$2.8 billion, S&P 500 Company headquartered in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Lawson State
has worked closely with Snap-on Incorporated to conceptualize and implement
regional training centers. The College’s Snap-on Training and Certification
Center will be housed in the Alabama Center for Automotive Excellence on the
Bessemer campus. The Center will open, this fall, with training and
certification for automotive instructors, students and professional technicians
who use Snap-on diagnostic tools. Snap-on education experts are working with
Lawson State instructors and administrators to ensure the Center is equipped
with leading edge technology. Snap-on is also lending its expertise, gathered
by working with educational institutions around the world, to ensure Lawson
State is providing incomparable training on Snap-on diagnostic tools.
Snap-on
diagnostic tools (Ethos, Solus, and Modis) make up nearly 65% of the aftermarket
automotive diagnostic tools in the U.S. Technology is changing so quickly and
so deeply that diagnostic tools are needed for engine, transmission, air
conditioning, ABS, airbag, and body systems like windshield wipers and power
windows. The capabilities of diagnostic tools change to meet these needs and
technicians need to have the skills necessary to operate and understand
them. Certification raises the level of excellence for all in the industry which
assures vehicle owners and potential employers of technicians that the
technician has the skill sets to repair computer-controlled vehicles
successfully.
The Alabama Center
for Automotive Excellence (ACAE) at Lawson State Community College is home to
Ford-ASSET, GM-ASEP, and Toyota T-TEN training programs. The ACAE also offers
Auto Body Repair, Automotive Technician, and Medium and Heavy Truck Technician
programs.
For more information about Snap-on Certification contact Tom Berryman, (205)
929-3483, or
tberryman@lawsonstate.edu.
Toyota
Program Named Top Ten Nationally
Lawson State Community College’s Toyota T-TEN program is
one of the top ten programs in the nation for 2007. The college was notified of
the honor by Ms. Lorena Boughton, Southern Area Manager, Toyota Motor Sales USA,
Inc. “The Toyota T-TEN Recognition Award was established to honor the highest
performing T-TEN programs in the U.S.,” said Boughton. T-TEN is an acronym for
Toyota – Technician Training and Education Network. “To achieve this honor,
programs must adhere to numerous guidelines and policies in the implementation
of the T-TEN training module,” said Boughton. Each program is judged on
graduate objectives; placements at Toyota dealerships; instructor and program
certifications and compliance with Toyota training requirements. Ms. Boughton
and other top Toyota officials honored the college’s program at the state level
on April 24, 2007. Nationally, Lawson State was honored in Dallas, Texas on May
21, 2007, where Keith Littleton, the college’s T-TEN instructor, was recognized
for the program’s achievements. Mr. Littleton is an ASE certified,
factory-trained automotive professional.
Toyota established T-TEN in 1986, collaborating with
educational leaders and Toyota dealers. The innovative program has allowed more
than 3,500 students to take advantage of T-TEN through the auspices of
approximately 50 hand picked vocational and community colleges nationwide.
Lawson State’s T-TEN program accepted its first students in the fall of 1992.
The T-TEN program at Lawson State is part of the Alabama Center for Automotive
Excellence. The Center provides technician training for three manufacturers –
Toyota, General Motors, and Ford. The Center also offers programs in collision
repair, and medium and heavy truck technology. The Alabama Center for
Automotive Excellence works with more automotive and truck technicians each year
than any other school or college in the southeast.
T-TEN is tailored to the needs of career change candidates
who seek to acquire the training necessary to pursue a career in automotive
repair and maintenance or body and collision repair. T-TEN classes take place
in a supportive, exciting, hands-on environment, allowing students to learn more
in less time. Skills introduced in the classroom are put to a practical test
while working in Toyota and Lexus dealerships. In this way, new learning
becomes internalized knowledge, establishing a firm foundation upon which to
build a long-term career.
Both full-time students and individuals seeking to augment
their skills can benefit from T-TEN training. All courses are certified by the
National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) and taught by ASE
certified instructors.
For more information about the Toyota T-TEN program contact
Keith Littleton,
(205) 929-3471 or
klittleton@lawsonstate.edu.
Ford
Maintenance and Light Repair Classes
The Alabama Center for Automotive Excellence offers on-going Maintenance and
Light Repair (MLR) training on Lawson State Community College’s Bessemer
campus. Completion of the MLR program leads to Ford certification in
electrical, climate control, brakes, and suspension. Classes meet one week each
month from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Class size is
limited to 12 students in order to provide essential hands-on training in each
of the four areas. The MLR program is designed to meet all current Chassis
Master training requirements and is sponsored by Ford Motor Company through the
college’s Ford ASSET program.
For more information about the Ford MLR program contact
John Harris,
(205) 929-3479 or
jwharris@lawsonstate.edu.
Summer
Institute for Automotive Instructors
The Alabama Center for Automotive Excellence hosted its second annual
Southeastern Regional High School Automotive Instructor Institute, June 5-8,
2007. It was open to instructors from across the southeast. The Institute was
created for high school instructors who want to learn the latest technical
updates in the automotive arena. It consisted of four days of presentations and
hands-on experiences with the newest vehicles on the road. All seminars were
taught by Ford, General Motors, Toyota, or I-CAR certified instructors.
For more information about the 2008 Summer Institute contact
Tommy Hobbs,
(205) 929-3521 or
thobbs@lawsonstate.edu.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE
2008 SUMMER INSTITUTE FLYER
Lawson State Community College and
BMW Form Alliance
BMW selected Lawson State Community College’s Automotive Technician program to
be a member of the Post Secondary Alliance whose graduates are eligible to
participate in the BMW Service Technician Education Program (STEP). STEP is a
prestigious training opportunity available to the top performing graduates of
the country’s best post secondary automotive technician programs. Lawson State
became the 21st college-level program in the nation to participate in BMW STEP.
BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke) is an independent German Company and manufacturer
of automobiles and motorcycles. BMW is also the parent company of the MINI and
Rolls-Royce car brands.
BMW STEP was conceived by Hans Duenzi, Vice President of Engineering and
Aftersales, with advice and input from the BMW network of dealers. BMW selects
graduates from affiliated college-level programs who excel in their studies.
STEP graduates approximately 340 new BMW service technicians each year. The
program builds on the education graduates receive in the Automotive Tech program
at Lawson State. BMW’s commitment is to “provide an intense download of
technology to hand-picked, bright and dependable men and women who have proved
to be achievers,” said Duenzi. In tandem with STEP the College’s Auto Tech
program will produce qualified technicians who possess the requisite skills,
aptitude and attitudinal qualities of BMW professionals.
For more information about the BMW STEP program contact
Larry Marshall,
(205) 929-3478 or
lmarshall@lawsonstate.edu.
Toyota Program
Receives Award of Excellence
Lawson
State’s Toyota T-TEN program is the recipient of a 2007 Award of Excellence from
the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). “Each year, the
Automotive Industry Planning Council AIPC) selects deserving automotive
educational institutions to receive an ASE Award of Excellence,” said Tim Zilke,
Chief Operating Officer for the National Institute for Automotive Service
Excellence. The awards are given to support the program’s efforts in providing
qualified, entry-level technicians to the automotive industry. Mr. Keith
Littleton, Toyota T-TEN instructor accepted the award which also includes a
$1,000 Snap-On Tool Certificate and a $2,500 check for the program from Toyota
Motor Sales, USA, Inc. The College’s Toyota T-TEN program was also named one of
Toyota’s Top Ten Programs in the nation in the spring of 2007.
For more information about the Toyota T-TEN program contact
Keith Littleton,
(205) 929-3471 or
klittleton@lawsonstate.edu.
Lawson State
Sets State Record for Certified Automotive Programs
The National
Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) has certified two additional
programs at Lawson State Community College. The programs are Automotive
Technology and Medium and Heavy Truck Technician. Both programs are part of the
College’s Alabama Center for Automotive Excellence. The certifications bring
Lawson State’s total number of certified programs to five. “We are the only
two-year college in the state to achieve this number of certifications,”
explained Tom Berryman, Director of the Alabama Center for Automotive
Excellence. “In fact, there are only four other certified postsecondary programs
in Alabama,” he added.
For more information contact Tom Berryman,
(205) 929-3483 or
tberryman@lawsonstate.edu.
Alabama Clean Air Corridor
Initiative
The Alabama
Center for Automotive Excellence at Lawson State was one of the hosts for the
recent I-65 Clean Corridor Workshop which introduced grant opportunities of
$50,000 to help companies with infrastructure costs associated with adding B-20
Biodiesel or E-85 Ethanol fueling stations. Mr. Tom Berryman, Director of the
Alabama Center for Automotive Excellence was one of the guest speakers at the
three events which were held in Birmingham,
Huntsville and
Montgomery.
The
availability of E-85 Ethanol as a motor fuel is rapidly spreading across the
country. A large number of automobiles and trucks are now Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFV’s)
which enables them to use either E-85 Ethanol or unleaded gas. However, none of
the stations currently exist in Alabama. B-20 Biodiesel can be used in any
diesel vehicle today. While there are more than 20 stations currently offering
B-20 in Alabama additional stations are needed especially along I-65.
For more information contact Tom Berryman,
(205) 929-3483 or
tberryman@lawsonstate.edu.
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