April 13, 2016—The Hagerty Education Program at America’s Car Museum (HEP) will co-host an Arizona Regional Summit Meeting in Mesa, Ariz., May 4 at the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT).
The summit will explore how the high school can support Arizona’s booming automotive restoration and collector car industry by filling the need for skilled craftsmen at local shops.
“Today, many of our young adults are being guided along an educational path that bypasses trade schools such as the East Valley Institute of Technology,” HEP national director Diane Fitzgerald said. “Whether it’s in a shop at the Scottsdale Airpark or on the lawn at Pebble Beach, we want to show students there are countless opportunities in automotive restoration and hopefully ignite the passion in a select number.”
Experts, local shop owners, SEMA members, and school instructors and administrators will discuss opportunities in EVIT’s curriculum that will lead to filling the industry’s need.
“As collector cars grow in rarity, automotive auction houses including Barrett-Jackson, Mecum and Sotheby’s are selling vehicles well in excess of one million dollars. One-of-a-kind and completely restored classics are at the top of the trading block and their prospective buyers’ lists,” Fitzgerald said. “Last year, the automotive auction industry surpassed $1.8 billion in collector cars sales nationwide. There are 12 million cars predating 1981 and we believe this represents a good opportunity for industry growth and job creation.”
More information can be found on HEP’s website.
