You may know automotive technicians are a male-dominated industry. But did you know by how much? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2018, women only account for about 2% of all auto mechanics.
For International Women’s Day, Knowledge Anywhere’s partner New Ford Tech wants to highlight the accomplishments of women in the auto industry, through an interview with a female mechanic in their ACE program. If you’d like to hear more about Courtney's story from her own perspective, alongside other women in the auto-workplace, you can watch the recording of New Ford Tech's live broadcast here.
Brad McClure, the Ford Technical Recruiting Liaison, representing the Oklahoma Ford Dealers, recognized Courtney Parrish, at Riverside Ford of Tulsa, for completing the Ford ACE Technician Training Program Curriculum in the fall of 2020. At the time, Courtney was an Automotive Service Technology student of Tulsa Technology Center and had an Internship at Riverside Ford of Tulsa.
When asked how she decided to become an automotive technician, Courtney said,
“I graduated high school and worked unskilled jobs for a couple years and did not like the work. I have always wanted to work on cars. Because of my dad, automotive repair is in my blood. And the fact I am a little bit of a tomboy, made this my career of choice. I love American Muscle Cars and I want to work on American Made cars. Foreign cars are cool and all that, but they are not what I like. I like American made cars. This past February 2020, as a 23 year-old single mother of a new baby son, I decided to go back to Tulsa Tech for Automotive Service Technology. I have overcome some major hurdles, but it has been worth all the effort. I now get to work on cars, and I love it.”
Working at Riverside Ford of Tulsa for her internship was just what she wanted. Today, Courtney is a graduate and works full time as a Technician Helper, so she can get in more depth experience working on the vehicles. Help us all congratulate Courtney for her great accomplishments and cheer her on for a bright future as a Ford Automotive Service Technician!
The Ford Automotive Career Exploration (ACE) program is a cooperative training program sponsored by Ford Motor Company in partnership with local Ford Dealerships and Career Technical Training programs, in order to help train and certify Ford Automotive Service Technicians. Students in the program get access to Ford Automotive Service Training Web Based Training courses that prepare them for working at a Ford Dealership. These are the same courses that are used in the Ford and Lincoln dealerships. An ACE program student can have over 65 Ford Web Based Training completed courses to transfer when hired by a Ford or Lincoln dealership or joining a Ford Career Entry program.
About the ACE Program
If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a New Ford Tech, visit here, where a representative will reach out to you within two business days.
Do you already have skills and want to join Courtney in the field as a technician? If so, click here to join the workforce.
Are you ready to take your training to the next level?
