The Ed Morse Automotive Group is creating opportunities and making a difference for SouthTech Automotive Technology Academy students to receive practical experience to achieve success in the field.

It has developed an ongoing partnership with the school’s academy in Boynton Beach, which has included training and hiring students who have received certifications in the school’s program. SouthTech students have received opportunities to shadow employees and managers at their Ed Morse dealerships in Palm Beach County.

Ed Morse has donated vehicles, toolboxes, uniforms and other items to SouthTech. It also facilitated the construction of a Hunter Engineering Company training center at the school. The Hunter team provided equipment as students receive experience using alignment and machines. The equipment is also upgraded every two years. Ed Morse has a presence at the school as representatives will attend recruitment open houses and career fairs to speak to parents and students about the industry.

Richard Danahy, director of fixed operations for Ed Morse Automotive Group, said the academy prepares students for a career in the industry.

“The students are learning the core curriculum and learning a trade and skill that is going to be applied,” he said. “The students who embrace the program and come through have a head start on their training and certifications. It makes a difference when they get out of school. They remember seeing what they have experienced in the program and can apply what they learned. They are more ready to go into the path that they want than what most college students end up in. We have students who come through here who are now working in our shops. Once they gain traction in the shops, they can make a pretty good living doing this.”

Danahy, who has been with Ed Morse since 1992, credited SouthTech’s automotive and collision academy instructors for their effort with the students.

“It’s a great partnership and the instructors here are committed and will go to the wall for these students,” he said. “The students are polite and professional. The instructors have instilled it. They learn the basics at SouthTech and get a lot out of it. We definitely have a need to fill our shops.”

SouthTech features an automotive and collision academy, which has more than 150 students enrolled and four instructors. The program has an abundance of vehicles through donations from dealerships and private individuals. The students have an opportunity to select one of the academies and receive instruction and training to industry standards in the classroom and shop. The students learn how to use the equipment properly and identify tools. They receive training about safety and accident prevention, how to diagnose issues with vehicles and how to plan a course of action for repairs.

SouthTech students have an opportunity to earn industry certifications, including Automotive Service Excellence. The entry-level certification program is designed for high school students. SouthTech automotive students achieved a total of 221 certifications this past year, which is the highest mark since students started enrolling in the academy. The previous highest amount was 168. Each student has an opportunity to earn up to 10 certifications in school. If they pass all of their school certifications, they have an opportunity to head to a testing center to earn a professional certification, which can last for up to five years.

Tim Brown, who has been at SouthTech since 2008, serves as an Automotive Technology Academy instructor and department chairman of Transportation Programs. Brown, a former experience lead technician in the industry, said their goal was to become an Automotive Youth Education Systems school, which would include receiving support from local business partners, dealerships, direct manufactures and tire chains. He walked into Ed Morse Delray Toyota back in 2018 to hand out a flyer about their program and what they were trying to accomplish. He had the opportunity to meet directly with a fixed operations manager and created a relationship with the dealership for further discussions. Brown said they were able to implement the partnership with Ed Morse beginning in 2020.

“It puts us at the top for schools in the area mainly because we have a partnership with Ed Morse,” Brown said. “We are connected with a partner that has got the latest and greatest technology. The students can get into other areas besides automotive and can take advantage of that. They promote within and I love that.”

Kevin Menjivar, a former student at SouthTech’s Automotive Academy, received a part-time job with Ed Morse a year before graduating from SouthTech in 2019. He started as an apprentice and is currently a line technician at Ed Morse Delray Toyota.

“SouthTech was a starting point for me and we had amazing teachers,” he said. “It’s where I was able to start with the basics. I learned a lot and I have evolved. It’s important to put in the effort and work hard to move up the ranks quicker.”

Menjivar said he has a passion for his job and is taking courses to pass modules and reach the highest level of certification, which is master diagnostic.

“I like working with my hands and fixing something.” he said. “I have a learned a lot and received support from the managers. “I want to continue to get certifications and achieve more.”

Juan Hernandez, who participated in the collision academy at SouthTech, graduated in 2021. He had an opportunity to earn employment with Ed Morse during his senior year in high school. He is currently an auto painter at Ed Morse Cadillac Delray Beach.

“I gained experience at SouthTech,” he said. “It was a starting point for me. I am getting paid now for what I love to do. My co-workers are really helpful and my managers are very understanding. It’s allowing me to live a good life.”

Armando Davila, who serves as the Ed Morse Cadillac Delray Beach service director, said SouthTech helps students interested in opportunities to gain employment in the automotive industry.

“When I was in high school, I wanted to be a part of a program like this,” he said. “I am now able to see the younger generation have this experience. This is very important for the future of our industry. We are in need of more people. It’s great to see them get their start. We are then able to help teach them more and they continue to grow.”

Brown said he is looking to arrange a field trip for their students to take an interactive tour at an Ed Morse dealership.

“The students in our academy have opportunities to move higher up with their company,” he said. ” Ed Morse sees the value and understands the final product of someone coming aboard.”