Some companies and fleet operations take their technical training extremely seriously. They provide some of the best ongoing training available to working technicians. Is your company one of them?
If you’re proud of the training program you’ve established and would like to share that success with others, consider entering the Automotive Training Manager’s Council (ATMC) National Excellence in Training Awards. It’s a great way to showcase what your organization has accomplished and perhaps win one of the most prestigious training awards in the industry.
“These awards serve to recognize the important function that training and trainers serve in the complex business of transportation service and repair,” said Dave Milne, ATMC president, in the 2013 Call for Entries press release. “The technology in the industry is constantly changing, and without talented trainers and effective programs, the ability of technicians and other support personnel to keep vehicles on the road would be greatly diminished.”
The annual ATMC program honors outstanding or innovative training programs designed for service or support in the transportation industry. The awards are open to any person or entity providing training in the industry.
The submissions are judged by an ATMC panel of some of the finest minds in the training industry. The awards are presented to programs that meet a prescribed level of excellence based upon several criteria, including the program overview, needs analysis, learning objectives, program materials/elements, delivery methods, measurement of the program’s effectiveness and program maintenance.
Past winners of the ATMC award represent some of the most familiar names in the market. The 2012 National Excellence in Training Awards recipients include Federal Mogul Technical Training Center, The National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium, The Natural Gas Vehicle Institute and NAPA AutoTech. A quick check of the ATMC website (www.atmc.org) shows that organizations winning the award are in very good company.
Competition improves the breed, or so the saying goes. By helping to identify and spotlight excellence in the training arena, ATMC also creates an opportunity to share ideas and best practices. Continuous learning to keep up with changing technology and process improvements is as much the responsibility of the trainer as the trainee. Comparing your training program to others allows the incorporation of new ideas that can improve your own program or process. It’s worth it just for the chance to see what others are doing.
According to the ATMC website, the National Excellence in Training Award application process is free to all ATMC members and is $150 for non-members. For more information or an application, click on the “Awards” tab at www.atmc.org or call 703-669-6670. The deadline to apply is Sept. 1. The 2013 awards will be presented in a special ceremony during the ATMC reception on Nov. 6 at the Automotive Aftermarket Product Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas. If you’re a training manager and will be at the show, feel free to stop by the ATMC reception and make some new friends. It could be one of the most important stops you make.
