With an influx of young people pursuing liberal arts or business degrees in recent years, there has been a shortage of qualified workers for technical jobs, though they often pay more than positions initially secured with a traditional college diploma. Even President Obama has tried to tackle the issue, and the Mastria Auto Group is doing what it can to help in Massachusetts. Last month, the Mastria family of dealerships donated more than $50,000 worth of automotive parts to the technical programs at Silver Lake Regional High School and Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical High School.
The Mastria Auto Group parts delivery van was busy during the holiday season, dropping off a full load of parts to Silver Lake in Kingston, Mass., on Dec. 11 and then another to Bristol-Plymouth in Taunton, Mass., on Dec. 17. Comprising mechanical, electronic and safety components, interior and exterior trim, and body panels, the parts will ensure that students are learning with the latest methods and technologies that will prepare them for immediate job placement in automotive diagnosis and repair.
"We are extremely grateful to the Mastria Auto Group for the hundreds of donated items that will be used as instructional tools for disassembly, inspection, measurement and reassembly by our student technicians for many years to come," said Elliott Glass, director of the Career & Technical Education Program at Silver Lake Regional High School. "Electronics training in particular is so important for the diagnosis of today's cars and trucks, and the many electronic controls and devices provided by Mastria will help give our students the training they need to make an instant impact at local automotive dealerships and repair shops."
Several Silver Lake alumni have already made a big impact at the Mastria Auto Group's four dealerships and dedicated service facility in Raynham, Mass., where they have emerged as standout employees in the service and parts departments. The company's dedication to Silver Lake has not only included donations of other parts and tools in the past, but also the delivery of cars for diagnosis and repair.
"It isn't often that you get to see a tangible result for a donation that your company makes, but we've had the pleasure of witnessing the transformation of Silver Lake graduates into consummate automotive professionals first-hand," added Rick Mastria, president and chief executive officer of the Mastria Auto Group. "Talented young people in Massachusetts have a world of opportunity in the automotive field, and we will continue to support local technical programs so that they can attract that talent and direct them toward careers that are satisfying and rewarding."
About Mastria Auto Group:
Serving Massachusetts drivers for more than 55 years, Mastria Auto Group has fueled its growth with a dedication to customer satisfaction, working to ensure that its buyers remain customers for life. With more than 900 new and pre-owned vehicles to choose from at its five locations, the automotive group strives to stock the right ride for each customer’s needs. Every new-vehicle purchase is also backed by Mastria’s Tires For Life Program, which covers the cost of tires for the entirety of ownership. To learn more about Mastria Auto Group and its dealership locations, visit www.mastria.com or like the company on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MastriaAutoGroup.