By TR Robertson
For the past several years, North County Ford General Manager Frank Pierce and dealership team members have committed time, energy and enthusiasm to educate and inspire students from Vista High School, General Murray High School, Alta Vista and Rancho Buena Vista High School about all aspects of the automotive industry. The automotive career education explores everything from how the industry works to service and parts, to management, to sales. The approach uses classroom education, tours and hands-on experiences as well as team members visiting the local high schools. Frank Pierce, General Manager of North County Ford, said this is a program he has taken to heart and feels is needed for schools everywhere, especially if they still have automotive programs in the school. He said the North County Ford program is a career training, skill-based career approach to provide opportunities for Junior and Senior students to explore the many phases that make up the auto industry. The 7-week program involves 15 students at a time, working in groups of 5 rotating through various departments at North County Ford.
North County Ford also sponsors field trips to the dealership, giving students a chance to get an overall look at what goes on in the auto industry. The tour is more than just a dealership visit. It is also a chance for students to see another side of the workforce and the additional opportunities available to them. Frank and some of his team members also visit high schools for classroom presentations.
He said that Vista School District Superintendent, Dr. Matt Doyle, has been nothing but supportive of NC Ford’s program. He also said it is unfortunate that the automotive classrooms that used to fill numerous schools everywhere have disappeared from the majority of high schools. Only 1 auto shop class is in Vista Unified and only 9 in all of San Diego Unified. The NC Ford program provides an opportunity to show students that automotive repair and the automotive industry do provide a great opportunity for students to find jobs that are needed, worthwhile, and provide a chance to advance within the industry.
Along with the on-site program, North County Ford takes part in events like the Vista High School College & Career Futures Fair, the Vista Chamber of Commerce Rising Star Program and grants given to the Vista Education Foundation. One goal Frank has is to one day have the equipment needed installed at Rancho Buena Vista High School to begin an automotive engine repair class taught at the school. Frank would also like to develop a Top Tech competition between schools, hopefully working with the Palomar Junior College Automotive program. North County Ford also recently teamed up with Vista Community Clinic in a food drive that ended up delivering 4 box trucks filled with 7 pallets and 4,902 lbs. of food for delivery to Vista Community Clinic, along with a box truck for the clinic to use. NC Ford is also the main sponsor for the Vista Christmas Parade and one of the main sponsors for the Strawberry Festival.
From the North County Ford web page Community section – “At North County Ford, community involvement isn’t just something we do occasionally – it’s part of who we are. We take pride in supporting local schools, events, and organizations throughout Vista and North County San Diego. Whether it’s through educational experiences like this, community events, or partnerships with local programs, our goal is always the same: To create opportunities, build relationships, and give back to the community that supports us.”
