Eide Ford Helps Local High Schoolers Find Technical Career Paths

Eide Ford is teaming up with Ford Motor Company to provide technical training opportunities for high schoolers in Bismarck. 

Ford’s Automotive Career Exploration (ACE) program helps raise awareness and increase interest in career opportunities within the automotive industry, ultimately as a service technician. In September, Eide Ford began sponsoring this program at the Bismarck Career Academy (BCA). 

Ryan Else, Service Manager at Eide Ford, believes the program is a welcome addition. 

“Locally we have a shortage of automotive techs, and this program is a great way to show students what being a tech is like,” said Else, who has served on the board of the BCA for more than 10 years.

Real-World Career Opportunities for Local Students

According to Else, the BCA has been an important source of candidates for jobs at Eide Ford. 

“We’ve had quite a few people come through the program there,” he said. “It’s a great school, and the ACE program is another way we can help get our community more interested in these real-world career opportunities here in Bismarck.”

As part of Eide Ford’s sponsorship, Else visits the BCA twice a year along with a Ford representative to visit with students and to present on various topics. Plus, if the program has enough participation, Ford has promised to donate parts and vehicles for the students to work on. 

Ford Motor Company promotes the ACE program in more than 70 technical schools in the United States. When a local Ford/Lincoln dealership sponsors the ACE program, it is entirely free to the school. 

Through the program, Bismarck Career Academy Students are obtaining valuable knowledge of Ford/Lincoln vehicle systems by completing Ford’s online training courses. These courses are a subset of the same courses taken by current dealership technicians.

One Step Closer

By making these courses available to high school students at BCA, the students are one step closer towards a career in the automotive industry, beginning as an entry-level automotive service technician at a Ford/Lincoln dealership.

Eide Ford’s service department currently employs two BCA students part-time, where they help with oil changes and other routine maintenance tasks. 

Although ACE is intended to increase the number of qualified technicians for dealerships like Eide Ford, it also opens other service-related roles that could be pursued at a dealership. 

“We’re happy to sponsor this program for our community,” said Else. “I’m excited to see more kids in this program so they can see first-hand what being an automotive technician is all about.”

ACE is one of several Technical Career Entry programs offered by Ford Motor Company.
 

Bring your vehicle to Eide’s crew here in Bismarck, and feel confident that it’s being handled by Ford-certified experts. 

Schedule your next appointment online or give us a call. See you soon!

Schedule Service »