WyoTech, a technical college focused on diesel and automotive technician training, has seen a significant increase in enrollment over the last several years.
In 2018, the technician training program had only 11 students enrolled, according to Cindy Barlow, WyoTech's director of industry relations.
Four years later, under the leadership of WyoTech President and CEO Jim Mathis, and with the development of a strong recruiting team, the Wyoming-based technical school had 650 students enrolled in the various technician training programs, from collision, automotive to heavy-duty diesel.
“We've been working very hard to not only recruit, and to be able to get techs at WyoTech, but also working with industry partners to be able to bring the best employers onto our campus,” Barlow said.
In her role, Barlow has been focused on establishing these partnerships between truck OEMs via truck dealerships and WyoTech to help the manufacturers with supplying the proper equipment for student training, assisting with interviews and job placements, as well as other opportunities to get the manufacturers in front of students.
“I try to guide them through different opportunities like tuition reimbursements, and ways that they can better recruit, and bring technicians in and keep them,” Barlow said of working with industry partners. “It's educating the industry on best practices for developing a continuous technician pipeline and reducing that turnover.”
As it relates to industry partnerships, on a daily basis Barlow could be doing anything from coordinating meetings with potential partners on campus, providing campus tours, as well as discussing monetary or equipment donation opportunities.
With that influx of students, hiring instructors has been a major focus, as well as ensuring there is enough equipment for students to work on during classes. Barlow has worked with industry partners to ensure a continued rotation of equipment like Class 8 tractors for students to diagnose and service as part of the training program.
“I love what I do, being able to connect industry with brand new young techs like I get to do on a daily basis has been incredibly rewarding,” said Barlow.
Barlow has been at WyoTech for two-and-a-half years. Prior to this position, she gained experience through numerous professional roles including working as an elected official in her community. She also held various corporate and business development positions, including in the oil and gas market. In her current role, Barlow enjoys “sharing the importance of the trades, and being that bridge between the school and industry.”
Technology will really drive what happens in the industry, and that certainly includes the requirements of technician training.
“It's so wide and vast to where the technology is going to take us—and probably in a shorter amount of time than we realize,” noted Barlow. “Your everyday tech has changed exponentially from the wrench and the toolbox to the computer. It's humbling to me to see the level of change that's going on within the industry, and where they're going to take us. We have to move as fast as possible to keep up with the technology that's hitting us.”
“It's a conversation that we frequently have at the campus as to what's next, and how do we implement it,” Barlow added.
Addressing the technician shortage
Barlow’s role at WyoTech is focused heavily around networking to make the connections between the school and industry organizations to ultimately aid the industry in building a pipeline of qualified technicians. But, sometimes finding the right person to connect with at those organizations can be a challenge.
“There's so many ways to work with a technical school, whether it's WyoTech, or any other school. It's getting to that decision-maker that can actually help you to form those relationships so that you can help create that pipeline for them,” said Barlow.
This has been further challenged due to the pandemic. While social media platforms like LinkedIn have made it easier to find and connect with the decision-maker, Barlow stressed the importance of follow-through after that initial contact to implement a program that can be mutually beneficial for the school, the organization, and, ultimately, the industry.
Barlow is looking forward to getting back to in-person events, where meeting face-to-face requires full attention and fosters better engagement with establishing a partnership.
“Reaching out to industry, they want to play a part. And being able to be that bridge of communication back to our campus has been a lot of fun. The people that I've met, the ideas that we've come up with, and the things that we've implemented for different programs have been absolutely amazing,” Barlow said.
In addition to working with the organization to find career placement for technicians, Barlow has helped to foster engagement on the other end of that pipeline, by educating middle and high school students on the opportunities available through various trades.
“We do visit high schools and middle schools and try to educate the students on the importance of the trades because at the end of the day at WyoTech, we don't just want to recruit for a pulse, we want to recruit for passion,” Barlow said. “We're hoping that we're identifying students who want to become technicians, and this is helping us to do that.”
Barlow and the WyoTech team have been working to promote an initiative that helps to inform and educate students on the opportunities available for long-term careers in the trades. The program, called Love Trades, provides students with an online assessment tool where they can complete and discover which of the 42 identified trades may be most suitable for their skills and interests.
Industry takeaways
Barlow noted that as a woman, she has found a higher level of inclusion, where job skill and experience has been recognized, regardless of gender.
“I don't believe that those old barriers of being a woman are there as much anymore,” she said. “I believe that we have proven ourselves in such a way and through our efficiency of getting things done and our attention to detail that we've been very well received. And as long as you have the willingness to try, you're going to do great.”
“When you get in there, and you show your grit and your fortitude, they respect you for that,” Barlow added.
Barlow confirmed it can be overwhelming not knowing all the various aspects of an industry. But, for those considering entering the transportation industry, or any industry they may not be familiar with, she suggests not being afraid to ask questions and to never give up.
“That was the biggest thing when I started my job, I wasn't sure where to begin,” Barlow said. “I just never gave up. And now, it's amazing how industry calls me. I really pride myself in that in that. I know that I feel like I've won their trust, and that's really important to me.”
