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2 Undercar Digest ACDelco Expands Training Leadership with New Technician Recognition Program ACDelco is introducing an awards pro- gram designed to encourage technicians to ex- pand their skills and maintain a competitive edge in the business. The ACDelco Technician Training Excellence Recognition Program launches this summer with more than 500 hours of available training aligned to the core ASE categories. Each technician specialist-training path will combine face- to-face and web-based courses. Technicians will receive personalized plaques with ACDelco Specialist medallions for each completed training path. Shop owners will receive a similar plaque with medallions to recognize their shop's commitment to training. "We want to recognize technicians and shops that invest their time in training because it's hard to do yet is so crucial in the automotive aftermarket," said Dale Tripp, manager of ACDelco aftermarket training. "Training is much more than opening a few storefronts here and there – it's about making it convenient and relevant in an increasingly changing business and learning environment," said Tripp. "Our online courses have made training very convenient and attainable for those who can't always go to a classroom, which is why colleges have been delivering education this way for years." ACDelco has been actively training aftermarket technicians for nearly 60 years. In 2014, tech- nicians enrolled in more than 100,000 hours of ACDelco training courses delivered mostly through ACDelco's Professional Service Center Program. Today, ACDelco has 34 full-time trainers who facilitate classroom training during the day, conduct evening seminars and deliver customized training at the service center. Six General Motors training centers with ACDelco dedicated classrooms are in Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta and New York. An additional 27 dedicated ACDelco training locations share GM Service Training Center remote locations. There are another 120 satellite training locations where ACDelco has partnered with community colleges. Currently, ACDelco offers about 700 combined entry-level, intermediate and advanced cours- es. It's also the first company in the aftermarket to offer training in the core automotive ASE certification categories: Engine Repair; Automatic Transmission/Transaxle; Manual Drive Train and Axles; Suspension and Steering; Brakes; Engine Repair; Electrical/Electrical Systems; Engine Performance and Emerging Technologies. Akebono Forms Partnership with Kettering University's Formula SAE Team Akebono Brake Corp. recently became a Silver Partner sponsor of Kettering University's Formula SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) team for the 2015/2016 season. Akebono made a mon- etary contribution to the team in the amount of $2,500, with the intent of also donating brake components for next season's car. "We are proud to support Kettering's Formula SAE team for the 2015/2016 season," says Eric Roszman, vice president, research and development, Akebono. "This partnership will fur- ther strengthen our relationship with Kettering and allow us to be more involved in the com- munity by helping young engineers reach their goals." Jennifer Carlson, corporate marketing communications manager, and Jason Lewis, senior test engineer, wheel end products, recently attended the university's annual Formula SAE banquet at the Detroit Athletic Club in downtown Detroit, where they were presented with a team photo in appreciation of Akebono's sponsorship. M D Publications, Inc. 417-866-3917 w w w . m d p u b l i c a t i o n s . c o m EXECUTIVE Michelle Dickemann President & CEO EDITORIAL James R. Wilder, Editor jwilder@undercardigest.com Ed Peaco, Associate Editor associateeditor@undercardigest.com Ron Henningsen, Technical Editor Bob Leone, Contributing Editor ADVERTISING SALES Joe Keck Joyce Turner ART DEPARTMENT Lonnie Bolding, Creative Director CIRCULATION Dudley Brown, Circulation Manager Mike Turner ACCOUNTING Donna Blackburn, Credit Manager AUTO TECH EXPO Northern Kentucky Convention Center Covington, Ky. April 7-9, 2016 Bob Jacobsmeyer Exhibit Manager Donna Blackburn Registration Manager CO-FOUNDERS Carol Langsford 1933-2012 Les Langsford 1928-1993 Let Us Hear from You! Undercar Digest looks forward to correspondence from shop operators throughout the country. If you would like to pass along a comment to us there are a number of ways: e-mail jwilder@undercardigest.com ; or visit www.undercardigest.com . By Jim Wilder Undercar Digest Editor