Come learn more about WyoTech’s Motorcycle Technology program at the Daytona campus.

The WyoTech Daytona campus will hold an Open House from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on March 18 during Daytona’s Bike Week.

At the open house, visitors can learn about add-on specialties that can turbo charge their career with:

• Hands-on training using the tools of the trade
• Instructors who are industry professionals
• Fast-paced programs that help students turn pro
• Small work teams and extensive shop time
• Modern tools and equipment
• A real-world learning environment

Visit the Daytona Campus at 470 Destination Daytona Lane, Ormond Beach FL, 32174

Or call for more information: (386) 255-0295

“For more than 50 years, WyoTech has been training the technicians of the future. What better way to highlight the evolution of our organization and the industry than by showcasing the latest automotive technology in an iconic van and motorcycle,” said John Hurd, WyoTech industry relations specialist. “We’re proud to be at the forefront of preparing students to thrive in this hands-on, fast-growing career path, which continues to expand and offer employment opportunities in a variety of fields.”

Ford provided the van to WyoTech and served as a corporate partner for this project. WyoTech graduates  and instructors outfitted the van with era-authentic elements, such as bubble side windows, swivel rear Captains Chairs, a state-of-the-art audio system and custom shag carpeting, and included a 3.5L EcoBoost twin-turbo engine, Gibson performance exhaust with custom-fabricated side pipes and 18” booster wheels to make it a thoroughly modern ride.

“Ford Transit has sparked a van renaissance,” said Tim Stoehr, Ford commercial van marketing manager. “It’s only fitting that WyoTech chose Transit—America’s best-selling and most flexible van—for SEMA and to pay homage to the E-Series conversion vans that have become icons of America’s van culture.”

In addition, WyoTech students and staff customized a Harley Davidson chopper-style motorcycle, which also was displayed in the WyoTech booth at SEMA. Together, the Ford van rebuild and customized chopper illustrated the breadth and depth of training WyoTech students can receive.

MAVTV has documented the Ford van tear down and rebuild process with a 12-part series for “Chop Cut Rebuild,” which will air following the 2016 SEMA Show.

IRVINE, Calif. (Aug. 13, 2015) — Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today announced a three-year partnership with WyoTech, one of the country’s premier technical training institutes, that will allow students to graduate as certified Mazda technicians. WyoTech is part of Zenith Education Group (Zenith), a system of nonprofit career colleges. Mazda will also use WyoTech’s modern training facilities in Blairsville, Pa. and Laramie, Wyo. to train its top dealership personnel in advanced courses throughout the year. The classes, which are offered at no charge, began last month.

“Well-trained technicians are a key component to our customer’s satisfaction, so it is an honor to partner with WyoTech,” said Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO, MNAO. “Mazda is focused on improving the dealership experience and fixing customers’ cars right, the first time. We look forward to this WyoTech program supporting these initiatives and helping make top-tier technicians available to Mazda customers.”

The Mazda certification course offers a curriculum of Web-based modules supplemented by instructor-led classes. To support the program, Mazda has donated more than 20 vehicles and specialized tooling and equipment, in addition to several current model year vehicles rotated out annually for current-year technology.

“It is a privilege to partner with Mazda in offering our students a valuable opportunity to earn in-demand skills and graduate as certified Mazda technicians,” said Karen Turner, senior vice president of student success for Zenith. “Our top priority is ensuring that our students have a clear path to in-demand careers with definitive labor market value and the opportunity for advancement. We recognize that our graduates’ career prospects are considerably enhanced by working directly with the employers who hire them. By working with Mazda and its dealerships, we are able to accurately assess local workforce needs and help match our certified graduates with those job opportunities.”

WyoTech’s Blairsville and Laramie student populations come from all across the country and, through this new program, they will have access to Mazda’s U.S. network of more than 640 dealerships as they seek employment. Mazda has estimated that its dealers will hire about 100 certified graduates from each campus location annually as entry-level technicians. For each pre-certified graduate a Mazda dealership hires, it saves roughly $6,000 that it would otherwise spend sending a new employee through required courses and training.

Beyond graduation, WyoTech alumni employed by Mazda dealerships will have the opportunity to continue their career development and pursue Master Technician certification through the dealership and existing Mazda Training Centers. Mazda trainers will work at the Laramie and Blairsville campuses approximately 12 times per year to conduct advanced training courses using WyoTech’s modern facilities. These courses are open to existing dealership personnel first, with any remaining spots made available to qualified WyoTech students in the Mazda program.

 About Mazda North American Operations

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com.

 About WyoTech

WyoTech was founded more than 50 years ago in Laramie, Wyoming, and has since become one of the premier providers of technical training in the U.S. In its modern facilities, WyoTech offers training for mechanical and technical occupations in automotive, diesel, collision/refinishing, motorcycle and marine technology.

 About Zenith Education Group

Built on a commitment to put students first, Zenith Education Group is a nonprofit provider of career school training, with 48 Everest and WyoTech schools in 15 states and online. We are dedicated to promoting the success of students and graduates — measured by program completion and job placement rates.

Below are some of the key tools and machines found in most custom car workshops:

English Wheel — This is a machine that allows you to form compound curves out of a flat sheet of metal. Shaped like a closed “C,” it has two rollers, an upper wheel and the anvil wheel, which is located below. Anvil wheels are interchangeable and its tension can be adjusted to produce the kinds of curves desired.

Phanishing Hammer — A phanishing hammer is an air-powered tool used to flatten or polish metal that has already been formed by another device, such as an English wheel. It comes in many sizes and styles. Some are bench-mounted, while others come on its own stands.

Shrinker/Stretcher — This tool allows you make custom patch panels by shrinking or stretching metal to form the desired shape. Shrinker/stretchers are often used to create patches for windshield frames, doglegs and trunk openings. It works on steel, stainless steel and aluminum.

Power Hammer — Power hammers are corded or cordless devices used to automatically drive nails or bolts through metal. Automotive customizers use power hammers to attach panels to a car’s frame.

Louver Press — A louver press allows you to punch louvered vents into a piece of sheet metal. Louvers help air escape from car bodies, which can increase the aerodynamic qualities. And some are just added for aesthetics.

Oxy-Acetylene Torch — This device combines oxygen and acetylene gas to produce a super-hot flame used to cut and weld metal. The oxy-acetylene torch is one of the primary tools used in all metal fabrication, including car customization.

Street Rod and Custom Fabrication at WyoTech’s Laramie Campus

You can learn to use all these specialty tools, and many more, as a student in WyoTech’s Street Rod and Custom Fabrication specialty program. Offered at WyoTech’s campus in Laramie, Wyoming, the Street Rod and Custom Fabrication specialty is available as part of the Automotive Technology, Diesel Technology or Collision Refinishing career education programs.

As a graduate of WyoTech’s Street Rod and Custom Fabrication specialty program, you’ll be prepared to work in specialty auto body shops or auto repair facilities throughout the United States.

For more information on WyoTech’s Street Rod and Custom Fabrication specialty program in Laramie, contact WyoTech today!

Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

WyoTech’s faculty selected the four students involved in the engine customization on the basis of their superior skills and enthusiasm.

“We’re not going to shortcut anything,” said Chris Johnston, one of two WyoTech instructors overseeing the project. “We’re going to try to spend just as much attention on detail as we would if we had two months to build.”

“Chop Cut Rebuild” is an Emmy-nominated reality show that airs on MavTV, a basic cable channel. Now in its 10th season, the show chronicles custom car builders as they transform older vehicles into gleaming show cars. The series is produced hosted by Canadian actor Dan Woods.

The episode featuring WyoTech’s Blairsville students is scheduled to air in early October 2014.

For information on WyoTech’s Automotive Technology career training program, contact WyoTech today!

Here are the seven most commonly damaged car parts based on a survey of nearly 20,000 auto collisions in 2010:*

1. Front Bumper (28 percent) — This is no surprise, since the front bumper is the first part of a car to hit another object when in forward motion. Even though bumpers are designed to resist low-speed impacts (under 5 mph), any collision at normal driving speeds is likely to cause significant damage to this essential safety feature.

2. Headlights (21 percent) — In a front-end impact, which is the most common, the headlights are the next thing to go after the front bumper. That they’re made of plastic and glass only increases its chances of shattering, even in a relatively low-speed crash.

3. Fender (21 percent) — Fenders usually take the brunt of side-end collisions. They often suffer minor damage as well when drivers, trying to maneuver through tight spaces, brush up against garage door frames, fire hydrants, etc.

4. Grille (20 percent) – The front grille is right behind headlights in front-end crash vulnerability. The only reason grilles are not quite as likely to be damaged as headlights is that drivers seeing an impending impact are likely to swerve, which tends to make the resulting angle-of-impact slightly off-center.

5. Wheels (15 percent) — Wheels get damaged not only in side-impact collisions, but also as the result of running over potholes and road debris.

6. Hood (10 percent) — Hood crumpling is an intentional, engineered response to high-speed front-end crashes. Automakers design hoods to crumple and absorb the energy of front-end impacts rather than stay rigid and be pushed back into the driver’s compartment and become low-tech guillotine blades. In this case, better the hood be damaged than your body.

7. Taillights (9 percent) — Like headlights, taillights are highly vulnerable to attacks from both the rear and the side. If your car is struck from behind, chances are your tail lights will suffer in the impact.

Train to Become an Auto Collision Repair Specialist with WyoTech

Do you like working with your hands? Would you like to become part of the $23 billion/year collision repair industry? Then consider getting the training and experience you need to turn pro at WyoTech.

WyoTech is one of America’s leading schools preparing students for jobs in the auto industry. WyoTech offers the Collision/Refinishing Technology course at its campuses in Blairsville, Pa., and Laramie, Wyo. At whichever campus you choose, you’ll enjoy hands-on training in a modern workshop setting. Your teachers will be industry pros. You’ll get to learn and practice using the same equipment used by many 21st century auto repair shops.

When you graduate, you can get further support from WyoTech’s Career Service professionals. They can help you with everything from writing a winning resume and practicing interview techniques to setting up interviews with local employers.

Get More Information

For more information on WyoTech’s collision/refinishing and repair career training, contact WyoTech today.

Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

* Source: http://www.answerfinancial.com/insurance-center/crash-the-most-often-damaged-auto-parts-in-collisions-infographic

The Mack Trucks scholarships will be managed by the Wyoming Technical Institute (WTI) Foundation. WTI provides scholarships to students attending WyoTech campuses throughout the United States.

The DATE program is offered exclusively at WyoTech’s Laramie and Blairsville campuses. Its comprehensive curriculum complements WyoTech’s core Diesel Technology training programs to help prepare graduates for entry-level positions servicing and repairing Mack trucks. Students enrolled in the program receive specialized training on Mack engines, electronics, emissions, powertrain and chassis components.

To date, WyoTech has placed 100 percent of its DATE graduates in diesel service center positions.

Mack is one of North America’s largest producers of heavy-duty trucks. Mack trucks are sold and serviced through an extensive distribution network in more than 45 countries. Mack trucks and diesel engines sold in North America are assembled in the United States. Mack is also a proud sponsor of Share the Road, an American Trucking Association’s public information campaign aimed at enhancing the safety of our nation’s roadways.

For more information on WyoTech DATE training or other automotive career training programs, contact WyoTech today.

Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

The Volvo Trucks scholarships will be managed by the Wyoming Technical Institute (WTI) Foundation. WTI provides scholarships to students attending WyoTech campuses throughout the United States.

The DATE program is offered exclusively at WyoTech’s Laramie and Blairsville campuses. Its comprehensive curriculum complements WyoTech’s core Diesel Technology training programs to help prepare graduates for entry-level positions servicing and repairing Volvo trucks. Students enrolled in the program receive specialized training on Volvo engines, electronics, emissions, powertrain and chassis components. DATE is designed to produce advanced apprentice technicians with a potential for an accelerated path in the VistaTech program.

Through VistaTech, Volvo technicians complete instructor-led and Web-based training courses to develop their skills and attain advanced certification levels as they work toward becoming a Volvo master technician. The VistaTech certification program continues to support Volvo master technicians in the Volvo Trucks dealer network.

To date, WyoTech has placed 100 percent of its DATE graduates in diesel service center positions.

For more information on WyoTech DATE training or other automotive career training programs, contact WyoTech today.

Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

In the interview, Combs reveals that her decision to go to WyoTech was motivated, in large part, by the rude reception she initially received from auto shop owners when she tried to get work as a custom car builder.

“When I lived in Denver, I went to many local fab shops to try and get my foot in the door. I was denied like the plague, so I chose to get a legitimate education,” she states.

She credits WyoTech with helping launch her career as a street rod fabricator.

“While getting my degree in Custom Automotive Fabrication (a.k.a. Street Rod and Custom Fabrication program) at WyoTech in Laramie, Wyoming — at the top of my class I might add — the marketing department offered me a job to try out a new student program — to build show cars and use them as a marketing tool for the school,” she explains. “So technically, before I graduated, my classmate Ben Bright and I had immediate employment building a ’64 Mercury Cyclone, affectionately titled the ‘Super Cyclone.’ ”

Comb’s Super Cyclone featured a custom three-link suspension, roll cage, carbon fiber panels, bodywork, paint and interior. WyoTech displayed the build at the 2004 SEMA show, where it was an immediate hit.

“About three weeks before the show, I was offered the position to be a host/technical producer for Xtreme 4×4,” Combs continued.

The PowerBlock TV show helped establish Combs as a media figure and led to hosting and appearances on a variety of auto-themed cable TV programs, including All Girls Garage, Overhaulin’, TruckU, Pirate 4×4 Live, SEMA Show Special and The List: 1001 Cars Things to Do Before You Die. She has also been featured on Discovery Channel’s popular MythBusters.

Combs says she’s always aware she’s a minority in the testosterone-charged world of auto building and racing.

“For as much as I am put under a microscope and scrutinized for any tiny imperfection, I can understand why there are not a lot of women taking on this role. The good thing is that I know what I am capable of and have proven to millions that I am passionate about what I do and have the skill set to teach millions.”

You can read the complete Jessi Combs interview here: http://www.rodauthority.com/features/leading-ladies/leading-ladies-this-month-we-feature-the-it-girl-jessi-combs/

Learn Street Rod Fabrication at WyoTech

If you share Jessi Combs’ passion for hot rods and custom cars, WyoTech’s Street Rod and Custom Fabrication concentration can prepare you for a career in this exciting field. Offered as part of WyoTech’s Collision/Refinishing Technology career education program, Street Rod and Custom Fabrication is available at campuses in Blairsville, Pa., and Laramie, Wyo.;

For more information on WyoTech’s Street Rod and Custom Fabrication concentration, contact WyoTech today!

Financial aid is available for those who qualify.