BIZNOTE: West Seattle Autoworks celebrates a first, with new apprenticeship-program graduate

(Michael at center, with Pedro at left and Reggie at right)

The photo and announcement are from West Seattle Autoworks (WSB sponsor), celebrating an achievement by both a staff member and the business itself:

The automotive repair and service industry has been facing a crisis in the shortage of skilled technicians. A return to apprenticeships started about a year ago, with a program called the Independent Technicians Automotive Committee (ITAC) Washington State Registered Automotive Apprenticeship. It gives automotive-repair students the opportunity to work with master technicians at independent automotive-repair shops and earn a fair wage while learning. The ITAC program is registered with Washington State and offers General Services Technician and Master Services Technician certifications. The students graduate from these programs with no college debt, as the independent auto-repair shops support the students’ program.

We are extremely lucky and proud at West Seattle Autoworks to have Michael Crawford, a 2018 Seattle Lutheran High School graduate, to be the first-ever graduate of the General Services Technician program! This is especially impressive as he is also attending South Seattle College, finishing his Automotive Technology associate degree – prolonged due to the pandemic. Michael finds auto repair interesting as he has to use technical and critical thinking skills and he likes working on his feet and with his hands. He took an automotive class at Seattle Lutheran with our co-owner Chris Christensen and that helped seal his interest! We thank Michael for his dedication and hard work and feel fortunate to have a local student and employee!

High-school students not sure of what to do after high school should check it out!

West Seattle Autoworks is in its 11th year at 7501 35th SW.

Sillygoose March 5, 2021 (10:43 am)

Bravo to West Seattle Auto Works for being forward-thinking enough to know the world is in desperate need of craftsmen. Although it is pretty much a tech world we still need the mechanics, carpenters, plumbers, welders, etc. What a great option for young men and women.

The King March 5, 2021 (4:06 pm)

Well thank you for allowing us tradespeople to remain in your “tech world” to help when you need us. I am relieved to hear this.
- Mark47n March 5, 2021 (5:07 pm)
  
  “it is pretty much a tech world”Really? It is? This is a condescending statement and I say that as a master electrician with 24 years in the trade. The trades build your home, fix your car, clean your water, generate the power and maintain the electrical to keep the internet on (because that means more than the lights or heat to many, now) and so, so much more! “it is pretty much a tech world”It’s sentiments such as this that was a part of creating an atmosphere among high school career counselor, parent, teachers and, ultimately, children that the only path to a good life is college. This led to a dearth of those who perform the above listed tasks that are invisible and far more crucial than Facebook’s servers. The people who perform these invisible tasks, thanks to the Clinton push to get everyone into college in the 1990’s, has made our jobs not only even more crucial but also more remunerative. The going rate in the Seattle area for licensed journeyman electrician is between $40 – $50/hr and sometimes as much as $60. I know that other trades in the area are also making comfortable wages and many of us, union or not, earn decent benefits while working only 40 hours a week. I, for one, am thrilled to see any young person take an interest in the trades. If they complete their apprenticeship then they have a job that is truly portable and completing an apprenticeship is by no means guaranteed. A green apprentice often performs the most labor intensive and unpleasant tasks. not as punishment but because they don’t know anything yet and those tasks need to be completed. They will have to go to school while working full time and often learn a large body of complex and sometimes arcane knowledge, not so different than college…except no papers to write. Good on you, Michael Crawford! Even if you don’t do this for the rest of your life you now will have the ability to work almost anywhere and earn a good wage. The world need more of you to keep the wheels turning.