George Arrants is currently the Director of Training & Recruitment for the Wheel Time Network, which includes the Wheel Time University.  WTU provides on-line assessments, training and ASE test preparation for Wheel Time member technicians and fleets that are in need of a training program. WTU has designed instructor lead courses to support and enhance on-line training. As part of the recruitment component of the position, he is developing a program to assist the members 200 + locations to fill their workforce needs.

Commitment to Education.
Arrants is an Automotive Education Consultant specializing in NATEF/ASE Accreditation. He Works with instructors and administrators to develop partnership with local business and industry through programs advisory committees.

George also works with ASE, NATEF & AYES to develop and implement an initiative for the medium/heavy truck industry to partner industry and education and open opportunities for student internships across the country similar to what is already in place in the automotive industry.

Supertech.
George also chairs the Technology and Maintenance Council TMC Suptertech Competition from the beginning in 2005 and the Future Technicians Skills Competition. This competition provides recognition and awards for Technicians and their companies from across the country to showcase their skills and abilities. In 2015, he was awarded the Council’s highest honor — The Silver Spark Plug.

George is also a former high school and community college automotive technology instructor.

NATEF & AYES.
While working for a tool manufacturer he co-authored an instruction manual for schools. This manual simplified the industry accreditation process that is approved by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF). George was selected to serve on NATEF’s board of trustees and was the tool company’s liaison to Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES).

Oman listened to George.
Arrants has been a guest of the government of Oman where he evaluated the countries automotive programs and made recommendations to the countries Senior officials including the Minister of Man Power.

DOL.
He also worked closely with U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration where he led the automotive strategic development team that advised the agency’s “High Growth Job Training Initiative”.  He was also selected by the agency to help improve the curriculum and training facilities of the nationwide Job Corps programs in automotive services.  He was a key stakeholder in federal automotive services grants designed to increase training capacity and raise career awareness for youth and other untapped pools of labor.

Education and Family.
He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Marketing from Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin. George holds ASE certifications in Automotive & Medium/Heavy Duty Truck, Parts Specialist (Truck & Auto) and Service Consultant.

He and his wife Mary (Saint Mary) live in Lake Jackson, TX. They have 5 children, 1 girl & 4 boys (2 are twins) and has been married for 32 years. Of the 5 the only child in the auto industry is their daughter.

Major talking points in this interview:

• How to develop a good advisory board for secondary and post-secondary education.
• The need for quality Advisory Boards is a national concern with a local solution.
• George shares how to recruit members for advisory boards.
• Advisory panels are made up of the schools ‘customer’.
• Less than 50% of vocational programs in the US do not have an advisory committee.
• Our industry doesn’t have a career ladder but a career lattice. Once you’ve learned the foundational skills you can go anywhere.
• Ask 21 people what the definition of the technician shortage is and you’ll get 21 different answers.
• Tech Shortage: Do we have a lack of qualified applicants or a lack of applicants. Qualified applicants is a different problem.
• We have young people interested in our industry but they are not coming out of the other end of the pipe the way we want them.
• Super Tech is a skills USA type program for big kids. Everything they do in the competition is what the tech would do on the job everyday. The focus is on process and procedures.
• Between 2014-2024 the industry will need 76,900 technicians on the truck side. 60% of that number is replacement; the rest of the number is a new position. George believes the need on the automotive side is north of 200,000.

George urges everyone to get involved in education.

George Arrants Email

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