
On Tuesday, RV Technical Institute (RVTI) Senior Manager of Recruitment Justin Rickett will lead 42 high school students through the NTP-Stag Expo in Aurora, Colorado.
Rickett’s student tour is part of industry members’ efforts to expand technician training at a Colorado public school and beyond.
Windish RV and Airstream of Colorado President Whitney Holtz attended Littleton Public Schools (LPS) before taking over the family RV dealership. Holtz said she was intrigued to hear about her community school district’s Explorative Pathways for Innovative Careers (EPIC) campus. At the campus, students can take courses in fields such as construction trades, aerospace, education, health sciences and more.
Holtz said the construction trades pathway aligned with skills needed to become an RV technician. She invited the school’s leaders, including Construction Pathway Lead Marc Finer, to her dealership. After touring one of the dealership’s four stores, the educators decided to implement a summer RV technician program at the campus.
In June, Finer taught a Level 1 RV service tech program for eight students. Windish RV provided equipment for the course.
The school will add a Level 1 RV technician course to the construction trades pathway this fall.
To boost interest, Rickett proposed bringing students to the NTP-Stag Expo next week. The event is held at the Gaylord of the Rockies. Rickett said the distributor was a huge supporter of the outreach.
Andy Morgan, NTP-Stag senior director of marketing, said, “One thing that helps every industry is having participants from all ages involved. So, students who might be interested in our industry are a welcome addition.”
At the event, students will view various ways they can participate in the RV or marine markets. Morgan said he hoped the students will bring a fresh perspective to assist the distributor in better addressing the younger generation.
Holtz said, “It is important for the industry to see these kids because I think that this is the future for us…It is an aging workforce, and we have to invest in that next generation to get them into these dealerships.”
During the show, Rickett will take Finer and the students to each supplier booth, introduce them to attendees and show them products. The students will be at the show between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The students’ Expo debut is part of a continued effort by RVTI to be more involved at the high school level. Rickett said RVTI is eager to engage the younger generation through events such as the NTP-Stag Expo.
Windish RV continues to support EPIC by participating in its internship program. This spring, two interns work between two and three days per week at Windish RV. Holtz said she hoped to hire interns after they graduated.
“It is so cool to spend time with these kids,” she said. “They are so bright. They are driven. They are excited about their careers.”
Windish is working with other industry partners to supply LPS with more equipment and training materials.
Holtz said supporting local schools is “a great way for us to invest and grow that workforce.”
To join similar RVTI partnerships, email Rickett at [email protected].