Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Photos by Cassandra Reich, website and marketing manager, Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships
Scores of Penn College automotive and collision repair students – and the faculty preparing them for careers in those fields – attended a recent open house at Blaise Alexander Chevrolet of Muncy and the Blaise Alexander Collision Center in Montoursville.
It was the second year for the outreach to the future of the industry, and students rotated among three informative stations at each site: "A Day in the Life of a Technician," "Ask a Service Manager" and "Tools of the Trade."
Automotive students listen intently at one of the information stations.
There was ample time for questions during the recruitment event, along with food from Herman & Luther's, games and prizes, and a closing talk about career goals and employment opportunities.
Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships is among the college's Corporate Tomorrow Makers, and has left its mark on the campus community in multiple ways: as a supporter of Wildcat Athletics, as Blaise Alexander Family Scholarship benefactors, as partners in digital signage along Interstate 180 and as the donor of a 1926 Ford Model T for the restoration program.
In addition, Aubrey Alexander, a 2009 alumnus of the college’s business administration program, serves on the Penn College Foundation Board of Directors.
Collision repair instructor Loren R. Bruckhart (second from right) and students listen as employees introduce themselves in the state-of-the-art collision facility in Montoursville. At left is Adam Alexander, vice president of Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships.
Matt Corbett (left), collision technician, and Quintin Helm, a Penn College alumnus and Blaise Alexander's recon manager, speak with students about job opportunities and internships. Helm, who earned an associate degree in collision repair technology in 2016, serves on the program's advisory committee.
David Guild, service technician at Blaise Alexander Chevrolet of Muncy, answers a student's question about how work is distributed among technicians. He earned two diplomas at Penn College in 2005: an associate degree in automotive technology and a bachelor's in automotive technology management.
Aubrey Alexander congratulates William H. Roever II, of Moosic, majoring in automotive technology management: collision repair concentration, who won one of the night's two grand prizes: a $500 gift card from Snap-On Tools.
The other top prize went to Sean P. Lemay, an automotive technology management: automotive technology concentration student from Butler. The dealerships also gave away five $100 Snap-On gift cards.
Ralph Diodata, chief financing officer, gives an introduction and background of Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships.
Joe Cordoni, service technician at Blaise Alexander Chevrolet of Muncy, explains a repair order on which he's working. Cordoni has been part of the Blaise Alexander corporate family for nearly three decades.
Caleb Pearson, collision center director, answers students' questions.
Guests chow down on a meal from Herman & Luther's, 2010 culinary alumnus George Logue is owner/chef of the rustic Route 87 venue, which also boasts a number of Penn College graduates in its employ.
Nick Young, service technician at Blaise Alexander Nissan, shares his experiences in growth and opportunities with Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships.
Aubrey Alexander, the dealerships' property manager, is interviewed by WBRE/WYOU's Zachary Smith.
Joel Breneman, chief operating officer, includes an overview of benefits in his presentation.
Automotive instructor Eric D. Pruden stands between Helm (left) and Master Toyota Technician Jack Kepley during closing remarks by Adam Alexander.
The sun sets on the far-reaching Alexander inventory ... and another event born of Penn College's corporate partnerships.
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