For more than 15 years, County Line Auto Body and OC Automotive Resources has been a valued partner of Ocean County Vocational Technical School (OCVTS), playing a critical role in ensuring both Automotive Technology and Collision Repair students are prepared to find success in the industry. The Howell Twp.-based auto body shop has had representation on OCVTS’ Advisory Committee and employed the school’s graduates, as well as students participating in work-based learning.
The years of support and dedication to training the next generation earned County Line the title of OCVTS’ 2024 Business Partner of the Year.
“Evolution is one of our core company values here at County Line Auto Body; we focus on continuous improvement, innovations, learning opportunities and personal growth,” said Megan and Gary Gardella, owners of the auto body shop. “What better way to uphold this value than to involve our staff in the Ocean County Vocational School Automotive and Collision Repair programs where they can put this into practice?”
The Gardellas continued, “The educational pendulum is swinging back to the trades, and we value our partnership with OCVTS to help us ensure that there are students interested in obtaining a career in the Automotive and Collision trades. Our industry needs to develop new employees for our future health. County Line Auto Body believes that to achieve a full employee pool, we must maintain our relationship with OCVTS and push our business partners to get involved, too. Together, our excitement for the Automotive/Collision industry will allow for students to obtain not only employment, but access to a lifelong career that includes opportunities for training, company advancement, employee benefits and competitive wages.”
County Line Auto Body and OC Automotive Resources supports hundreds of students across OCVTS automotive programs. Whether serving on the district’s advisory committee or consistently hiring OCVTS students, employees at the company are dedicated to helping those in the automotive programs prepare for the workforce.
County Line Auto Body has hired many Collision Repair students for Cooperative Education, otherwise known as work-based learning, across four collision repair centers. Many of these students have continued their employment with County Line after graduation. The company also hires graduates from the OCVTS Automotive Technology program.
The Gardellas also facilitated the donation of a vehicle to OCVTS to help students gain hands-on experience with modern cars and systems before graduation. This is just one example of how they have helped students gain relevant skills. OCVTS students especially stand out by having knowledge in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and other complex electronic systems, increasingly needed to repair vehicles after accidents.
In addition to providing employment opportunities, County Line Auto Body has helped students make valuable industry connections. Employees are involved in the OCVTS career fair and bring new partners to the fair. They also take students on facility tours and have connected OCVTS with the ICAR Academy. The ICAR Academy has been integrated into OCVTS’ Collision Repair program, providing students with an industry-recognized credential to validate skills necessary to complete work for insurance companies.
“County Line Auto Body and OC Automotive Resources has been an invaluable partner to OCVTS, consistently going above and beyond to support our students and programs,” said John Biscardi, OCVTS Jackson principal. “Their dedication to shaping the future of the automotive industry is evident in the hands-on opportunities they provide, their ongoing commitment to curriculum development and their unwavering support of our students. County Line is not just an employer—they are a true collaborator in helping our students gain the skills and experience they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving industry.”
