For more than 10 years, Pointe GMC in Penns Grove has encouraged Automotive Studies students at Salem County Vocational Technical School District on their drive to career success. Salem Tech recognizes the automotive dealership and its service department’s dedication to helping students excel, naming Pointe GMC as its 2024 Business Partner of the Year.
Salem Tech students in the Automotive Studies program can receive hands-on training while earning a paycheck through Pointe GMC’s cooperative education (co-op) opportunities. Students are hired as automotive technicians and are supervised, taught and trained by one of Pointe GMC’s master technicians. After graduation, many of these students find a job opportunity available for them at the business.
“The students we hire are learning from a great program at a great school, and they are excelling at their studies,” said Adam Hartsough, service manager at Pointe GMC. “It is hard to find good automotive technicians, but these students are good, and they stick with us for a long time.”
While at Pointe GMC, the students perform a variety of services, including oil changes and multi-point inspections. Once they graduate, Hartsough supports and encourages his mentees to further their knowledge and earn automotive certifications and licenses.
“Pointe has been a great partner to our automotive program,” said Al Roeske, automotive instructor at Salem Tech. “They work with our students on their training and skill development by providing a safe environment that shows the students equipment, tools and technology beyond what they learn in their vocational program.”