Because there aren't enough people "to do the essential work of keeping today's vehicles safe on the road," Rob Cochran, CEO of #1 Cochran Automotive Group in western Pennsylvania, recently pledged $2.25 million to boost the technician programming at nearby Rosedale Technical College.
The donation will establish the #1 Cochran Technological Excellence Center at Rosedale's Kennedy Township campus in Pittsburgh for students interested in automotive service and collision repair. The money will provide new technology and training equipment, improvements to the automotive and collision classrooms and shop areas, and $100,000 in annual scholarships.
Cochran said his group and other auto retailers in the region will greet program graduates "with offers in hand."
"Our industry, like many others, is in dire need of skilled techs," Cochran said in a statement. "Through this partnership, we hope to raise awareness of the many benefits of the technician profession, including job security, work-life balance and the ability to turn a passion for cars and trucks into a high-paying career."
#1 Cochran ranks No. 61 on Automotive News' list of the top 150 dealership groups based in the U.S., with retail sales of 14,195 new vehicles in 2021.
