BMW Northwest 2020 Magazine - Flipbook - Page 35
Talking Shop
How the RPM Foundation
prepares skilled automotive
technicians of tomorrow
While BMW Northwest has
enjoyed looking back at its 51
years in business, the company is also seeding the future
with their support of the RPM
Foundation and its mission
to promote education in the
automotive skilled trades.
As a board member for
America’s Automotive Trust
(AAT) and the RPM Foundation— the national nonprofits
charged with the promotion,
preservation and education
of America’s automotive heritage—BMW Northwest president Manfred Scharmach
became acutely aware of the
challenges facing the automotive industry in recruiting, training and retaining
the automotive technicians
of tomorrow.
“We face an unprecedented
shortage of qualif ied workers in the automotive sector as a result of years of
cultural emphasis on young
people attaining a four-year
college degree,” says RPM
Foundation president Diane
Fitzgerald. “Part of RPM’s
mission is to de-stigmatize
the skilled trades and inform
young people about the highpaying, stable and rewarding
careers within the automotive industry.
“As high school shop classes
are cut throughout the
nation,” Fitzgerald continues, “it becomes harder to
find qualified students with
the entry level skills necessary
to work in a dealership. More
funding is needed for this
education, because the jobs
are there and waiting.”
To help address this situation,
Clockwise from far left: A
student learning automotive
skills trade. Manfred and
Lori Scharmach meet
RPM students, including
this group of interns from
Oregon, Michigan and
Illinois, during Arizona Car
Week. Indy Racer Lyn St.
James discusses "Young
People & Old Cars: The
Future of Restoration" at an
Up Close with RPM Program.
Participants included RPM
donors, AAT Board Members,
RPM Ambassadors and
Friends of RPM.
BMW Northwest—through the
RPM Foundation (the acronym
stands for (Restoration, Preservation, Mentorship)—funds
scholarships for automotive
tech students at Clover Park
Technical College.
One of the recipients, Levi
McFarland, attained an Associate’s Degree in automotive
and went on to open his own
automotive business.
“I don’t like to ask for help,”
says McFarland. “I like to make
my own way. But I’m really
grateful to BMW Northwest
and the RPM Foundation for
helping me pursue my dreams
and getting me a foothold in
the industry.”
To donate to, volunteer for, or get
more information about the RPM
foundation, visit rpm.foundation
In the Spotlight
MGI BMW Golf Outing, October, 2019
Seattle Hope Gala, September, 2019
Manfred and Lori Scharmach pictured with BMW
Northwest customers and Seattle Hope Gala
event chair Lori Eastes (center back) who, with
friends, family, guest and sponsors raised an
outstanding $567,000 for the American Cancer
Society and set a record with $225,000 going to
fund a research grant.
Allen Deen of BMW Northwest pictured with
Tacoma Golf & Country Club Pro Rob Hardbottle
(right) and 2019 MGI winners Dennis Bloom and
Zach Johnson (left) at Pinehurst Golf Course before
competing in the 2019 BMW Golf Cup International
US Final. Invitation to this tournament is gratis BMW
Northwest—a spectacular prize for winning the
Tacoma Golf and Country Club Member Guest Golf
tournament in July.
BMW Northwest Life 2020
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