Denver—As the annual SkillsUSA regional and state competitions quickly approach this spring, several tool and equipment and parts vendors who support the event told Parts & People about the importance and significance of participating and the reasons they do.
“It is just the right thing to do,” said Greg Rintula, national sales manager/education for Snap-on Tools. “Once the students have started a Snap-on tool set, they most likely will continue with our product, but the experience of seeing them succeed is what it is all about.”
Snap-on donates tools to the three top winners in all the automotive-related contests at the SkillsUSA state competition, Rintula said, adding that he’s also involved at the national level, serving on the board of directors.
“Being involved at that level, we can make sure the contest has current technology, and it helps to drive and mold tech school curriculum,” Rintula said. “We want them using our tools; it builds loyalty from the beginning.”
Bob Weir, area territory rep for Kent Automotive, echoed Rintula’s beliefs. Weir said he has been involved with SkillsUSA for several years, judging the plastics contest.
“Early exposure to our products builds lifelong customers,” Weir said. “We provide products at reduced rates and product clinics to any school that asks. We also provide products for the contest and prizes for the winners. It is a time investment on my part, but the reward is the good feeling you get by helping these students.
“At the state level (competition) you are seeing the ‘super stars,’ the ones serious about our industry,” Weir said. “You also get to spend time in a friendly atmosphere with other vendors—sometimes even your competitors, and you are all there for the same reason—to make the industry better.”
Nick Ranker, a collision technician at Jewell Auto Body in Lakewood, Colo., was the recipient of many of these tools when he won SkillsUSA state and then nationals as a collision repair student at WarrenTech.
Ranker said the tools he received as a student helped him when he started his career, which is why he said he is so willing to donate his time as a judge.
“I chair the collision portion of the state contest,” Ranker said. “As a tech, I lose pay that day, and it is a major time commitment getting the contest ready, but I want to give back some of what I got when I was a student.”
Randy Miskol, general manager of LKQ Corp. in Denver, has donated body panels, products, and with the help of Lincoln Electric, two welders as prizes for the SkillsUSA Auto Collision Technology contest the last two years.
Miskol said he also feels helping students is more than just good marketing.
“Getting our products in the hands of students is a big plus, but the real reward is the look on the faces of the winners,” Miskol said. “The rewards definitely outweigh the costs.”
Tyler Matthews, operations manager of LKQ Corp. in Denver, is a former vo-tech student himself, and he said he now judges the dent repair at the state competition.
“I like helping the students, as others helped me when I was a student,” Matthews said. “Plus, it gives me a chance to talk with the different school instructors and let them know overall if they are staying current with their teaching techniques.”
“We won three first place awards at the state contests last year,” said Tim Grauberger, collision/refinish instructor from Morgan Community College. “Not only did the students get some great recognition and win some much-needed tools, but the industry stepped up, especially LKQ Corp. They helped the school with the costs of getting all three of them to nationals.
“It would have been disappointing for those students who have worked hard enough to win state to not be able to go to nationals,” Grauberger said. “Most important, these students sincerely appreciated it and will continue themselves to give back. All three of them are now working in the industry. They are the techs of the future.”
The Colorado SkillsUSA contests for automotive technology, diesel, collision repair, refinish, and motorcycle repair are held in April at WarrenTech with the exception of the diesel competition.
For more information, contact Tony Raymond, SkillsUSA Colorado director at tony.raymond@cccs.edu.
