ORLANDO, Fla. – (October 22, 2009) A special exhibit focusing on careers, education and technology in the automotive industry will be showcased at the Central Florida International Auto Show Thursday, November 26 (Thanksgiving Day) through Sunday, November 29, at the Orange County Convention Center. This exhibit, sponsored by the Central Florida Auto Dealers Association, Inc. (CFADA), will highlight the need for qualified automotive technicians in the automotive industry. Interested attendees can gather information on the multitude of training opportunities available to students in Central Florida and what careers are available to students who complete an automotive training program in high school, vocational or technical school or community college.
“Today’s vehicles feature ever-changing technological advancements with the emergence of hybrids and alternative fuel technologies that require highly trained auto technicians,” said Central Florida Auto Dealers Association Executive Vice President Barbara Miller. “The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that the number of jobs for automotive service technicians and mechanics is projected to grower faster than average over all other occupations during the next decade.”
It is estimated that the automotive industry will need more than 110,000 new technicians during the next decade. In an effort to fulfill this growing need for qualified auto technicians, many secondary and post-secondary schools offer automotive education programs in Central Florida. Some of these programs will be featured at the Central Florida International Auto Show including:
• Orange County High School Dual Enrollment Programs
• Seminole County Apprenticeship Training Automotive Program
• Mid Florida Tech: Automotive Service Technology (AST), Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES) Automotive Service Technology, Toyota T-TEN program, Parts Marketing (PM), Automotive Collision and Repair and Heavy-Duty Truck and Bus.
• Traviss Career/Ridge Technical Center: Automotive Service Technology (AST)
• Seminole State College (SSC) of Florida A.S. Degree Programs: Ford Motor Company’s Automotive Student Service Educational Training Program (ASSET), General Motors Automotive Service Educational Program (ASEP) and the local auto industry’s generic Technicians Automotive Career Training program (TACT). The new CFADA Professional Automotive Training Center (PATC), located on the Sanford/Lake Mary campus of SSC, is a state-of-the-art automotive training facility and one of the largest in the nation.
Exciting vehicles on display in the automotive careers exhibit include the “Big Yellow Truck,” featured in the James Bond 007 movie “License to Kill.” Other vehicles on display include a customized Dodge Magnum, custom chopper built by the Mid Florida Tech Machining Technology program, SSC Top Alcohol Funny Car and the Best in Show winner of the SSC Car Show, held in October.
Also at the show, Snap-On Tools and Matco Tools will offer local automotive students a chance to win racing jackets. Brochures on automotive education and careers will be available, along with information on the Central Florida Auto Dealers Association Employment Referral Service.
The Central Florida International Auto Show is presented by the Central Florida Auto Dealers Association, Inc., sponsored by The Orlando Sentinel and produced by Motor Trend Auto Shows, LLC, the nation’s largest auto show producer and part of Source Interlink Companies, Inc. The auto show will be open to the public Thursday, November 26 (Thanksgiving Day) through Sunday, November 29, at the Orange County Convention Center, located at 9800 International Drive, in Orlando. Parking is available in the convention center lots. The auto show is pleased to offer complimentary shuttle service to and from the convention center parking lots during all show hours.
Show hours are Thursday, from noon to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission to the event is $9 for adults, $5 for military with ID, seniors, students with ID and $3 for children ages 7-12. Children ages six and younger are admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. Save time and money by purchasing E-tickets at www.AutoShowOrlando.com and receive a $1 discount off regular weekday adult admission. Attendees will receive a free one-year subscription to Motor Trend magazine with each online ticket order or box office purchase. Complimentary tickets for Thursday and discount coupons for Friday, Saturday and Sunday are also available at participating locations of Winn-Dixie and Sonic Drive-In. Additional information and directions are available on the official show Web site, www.AutoShowOrlando.com.
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