A Year of Connection and Outreach
Throughout 2025, dedicated volunteers from shops across Washington represented iTAC at career fairs, speaking with students and parents about the realities and rewards of automotive careers. From Spokane to Seattle, from Arlington to Bainbridge Island, our message reached communities throughout the state.
At each event, we witnessed the same transformation: students who walked in with no idea what automotive technology involved walking out excited about the possibilities. Parents who assumed their children needed a four-year degree discovering a viable, respectable alternative. Teachers and counselors learning about an industry they’d overlooked finding a new pathway for their students.
Industry partners like Mitchell1, Graham Automotive, Swedish Automotive Inc, Tom’s Automotive Service, B&B Automotive, Modern Collision, and many others stepped up time and again, investing their time and energy because they understand what’s at stake.
What This Program Actually Does
Look, iTAC isn’t just about teaching kids to turn wrenches. It’s bigger than that. These young people come in unsure about their future, maybe not knowing what they want to do. What they find is something real. A career with stability, room to grow, and the satisfaction that comes from actually building something with your hands.
Our apprentices get hands on training in actual shops. Real work, real customers, real problems to solve. They’re learning technical skills, sure, but also how to be professionals. How to think through problems. How to work with a team. And they’re gaining confidence because they can see themselves succeeding.
This year we celebrated some amazing graduates. Kids who have finished their General Service Technician and Master Service Technician certifications. They walked in as apprentices and walked out as credentialed professionals ready to work anywhere. That’s what this program does.
Why We Can’t Let This Program Fade
Here’s the reality. The automotive industry has a serious technician shortage. Cars are more complex than ever, and we need skilled people to work on them. Without programs like iTAC, that gap just keeps getting wider. It’s not going to fix itself. But there’s more to it. iTAC gives young people an alternative when a four-year college degree doesn’t make sense for them. They can earn while they learn. Graduated with zero debt. Start careers that actually pay well and offer security. That matters.
Every technician we train is going to serve their community for years. Decades, even. They become the mentors for the generation after them. Some will own their own shops. They’ll support families and strengthen local economies. One person trained creates a ripple effect that goes way beyond just filling a job opening.
This Takes All of Us
Keeping iTAC strong requires commitment. Shop owners need to open their doors and share what they know. Industry partners need to provide support and resources. We need more volunteers at career fairs and to talk to students about what’s possible. These career fairs are also a great way to help promote your business. .
With our expansion in 2026, we’re not just growing a program. We’re building something that recognizes skilled trades have real value and dignity. We’re investing in young people and giving them tools to succeed. We’re making sure this industry stays strong for the long haul.
This work matters. These young people matter. Together, we’re making a difference.
