Ribbon-cutting on expansion of SCC automotive training center

By Jim Hills

Ribbon-cuttings are usually ceremonies to launch the work that has already been done.

On Tuesday, June 8, Shoreline Community College drew about 400 people to a ribbon-cutting that did the usual, inaugurating a $4.2 million expansion of the Professional Automotive Training Center, and then it did more, much more.

“I’m here to announce Phase 3,” said Pam Nelson, President of the Puget Sound Auto Dealers Association and owner of Foothills Toyota Scion in Burlington, Wash. “In this technological automotive world, education is critical in maintaining the sophisticated transportation systems we now drive.

“So, in partnership with Shoreline Community College, we will expand once more. More international automakers will join us at this facility and hundreds more young people will have the opportunity for excellent high pay, high growth sustainable automotive jobs.”

Nelson, a third-generation auto dealer, said the college training center is a “partnership between auto dealers and automakers that creates jobs, improves lives and does it efficiently and economically.”

Nelson’s announcement was made possible after a recent PSADA Foundation meeting during which board members voted to spearhead the fund-raising efforts for the next expansion of the training center. At this point, no further details have been announced about the drive.

Photo:  Bill Bergen of Toyota University shakes hands with SCC President Lee Lambert.  Courtesy SCC.

The current expansion added 26,000 square feet to the original 32,000-square-foot center that opened in 1992. While it nearly doubled the size, the expanded center is already full with new industry partners and previous partners now offering more training and education. Current training center industry partners include: Toyota, Honda, GM, Chrysler, Volvo, Hyundai, Snap-on, Hunter Engineering with full-time presences and others such as Subaru, Kia, Volkswagen and Raytheon also using the center.

The Tuesday ceremony was emceed by SCC President Lee Lambert. Speakers included:

•  State Rep. Maralyn Chase, D-32nd Dist
•  Bill Bergen, Toyota University
•  Vicki Giles Fabre, Washington Auto Dealers Association
•  Pam Nelson, PSADA Foundation and Foothills Toyota Scion
•  Frederick Brookhouse, Snap-on Industrial
•  Frank Ferrara, Hyundai of America
•  Paul Svenkerud, Honda of Seattle