The new task force will begin its work by addressing a critical issue facing local and regional companies in the automotive and fleet-dependent sectors — the difficulty in finding and hiring skilled candidates.
The Fort Worth Chamber (FWC) places its highest priority on helping local businesses survive and thrive. This crucial effort, known as Business Retention and Expansion (BRE), is instrumental in fostering economic growth, with the International Economic Development Council estimating that up to 80% of an area’s economic growth can be tracked to BRE initiatives.
With our commitment to BRE in mind, the FWC Talent Committee is proud to announce the creation of an Automotive Task Force, chaired by Talent Committee member Brendan Harrington, president of Autobahn Fort Worth.
The Automotive Task Force will begin its work by addressing a critical issue facing local and regional companies in the automotive and fleet-dependent sectors — the difficulty in finding and hiring skilled candidates. During our BRE conversations, prominent member companies such as Autobahn, American Airlines, Christian Brothers, BNSF, Caliber, and Trinity Metro all reported significant issues with finding skilled candidates to work in the automotive field.
The Automotive Task Force will focus on working closely with Tarrant County College and Tarrant County school districts to ensure that those programs have access to the latest technology and tools, and that students are aware of lucrative career opportunities available in the automotive field.
Task Force Chair Harrington shared his enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, “During my years in the automotive industry, I have been fortunate to be part of previous programs that successfully uplifted youth, bringing them into the industry with career planning, mentoring, hands-on training, and tools. I have seen kids get excited as they engage with the process and realize the opportunities and upward glide path in front of them. Once they reach a core mechanical skill set, the kids can branch off into any desired career direction, whether it’s as an auto, aviation, or body shop mechanic, as an entrepreneur starting their own service business, or in one of the many customer-facing positions. I’m looking forward to bringing this model for success — for students and for local businesses — here to Fort Worth.”
If you are interested in serving on the Automotive Task Force or want to learn more about the FWC’s BRE efforts, please contact Netty Matthews at nmatthews@fortworthchamber.com. Together, we can build a stronger, more skilled workforce for Fort Worth!
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