As more new consumers have recently turned to RVs as their preferred travel option, the demand for RV technicians to service and repair the vehicles has also increased.
To keep up with the demand, the RV Technical Insititute (RVTI) is constantly looking for new ways to find and train the next generation of RV technicians, as per the News & Insights report of the RV Industry Association (RVIA).
RVTI went to Austin, Texas for the American School Counselor Association Annual Conference last week. Around 4,000 school counseling professionals, including K-12 school counselors, college professors, graduate students, and school counseling supervisors, attended the conference.
During the event, RVTI partnered with RV Retailer, one of its Authorized Learning Partners, to showcase the opportunities in the RV industry, offering high schoolers an alternative to a traditional four-year college degree.
The discussions included implementing the RVTI training program in public schools, allowing high school students across the country to graduate with Level 1 and Level 2 certifications.
RV Retailer understands the need to train and recruit RV technicians. They also continue to be a leader in the industry for investing in service technicians, as shown by extending their relationship with RVTI earlier this year.
Through the Authorized Learning Program, the partnership provides its service technicians access to the RVTI standardized training, curriculum, and certification resources. The company also has the most RV dealerships nationwide enrolled in the institute’s curriculum.
RVTI and RV Retailer joining this year’s American School Counselor Association conference helps spread the message about the critical need for service technicians to school counselors, many of whom learned about being an RV technician as a career path for the first time.
“We had a great turnout, and the partnership with RV Retailers was fantastic,” said Catherine Barsanti, a content manager for RVIA who assisted the RVTI team with the event.
“They provided two towable RVs, and we had so many curious individuals drawn to the booth because of them. Once we explained the RVTI program, we kept getting feedback such as, ‘This is awesome’ and ‘I had no idea this was an option.’ The exposure and awareness these events provide are invaluable and, with the number of counselors that mentioned the program was something they or a family member or friend would also be interested in, the reach extended far beyond schools alone.”
“School counselors are the gateway to the next generation and can help guide students to look into otherwise unknown career opportunities,” added Curtis Hemmeler, executive director of RVTI.
“Establishing relationships and partnering with K-12 schools across the country is a monumental expansion of our Authorized Learning Partner program. Our team was excited to expand our partnership with RV Retailer earlier this year, and we are pleased to work with their team again. This event is a great chance to put the career path of an RV technician on high schools’ radar.”
Click here to learn more about the RV Technical Institute and its Authorized Learning Partner program.
RVTI and RV Retailer’s initiative to recruit more technicians is delightful! Creating internship opportunities for RVTI students in real RV dealership settings is a splendid move. It not only enhances their skills but also prepares them for a successful RV technician career while allowing them to network and establish industry connections. What a marvelous way to support students’ growth and development! 😊