Ruge’s Auto Group is a third-generation business in Dutchess County with four locations and over 100 employees. Experts in auto sales and service, the group also supports the growth of the next generation by partnering with Dutchess BOCES Career and Technical Institute.
When service manager Joanne Holmes from Ruge’s Chevrolet noticed a shortage in technicians in 2020, she couldn’t think of a solution at first. One night, it came to her. “I realized that if we couldn’t find them, we’d have to build them.”
She called BOCES to inquire about internships and job placement and found that there were many ways to partner together to support young professionals and industry needs.
Ruge’s got involved in the work-based learning program, career week, advisory council, signing days and more, becoming a trusted partner and making an immense impact on the education and careers of CTI students.
“It’s rewarding to connect with these students and see how eager they are to learn and grow,” Holmes said.
On a student’s first day at Ruge’s, Joanne gets them acquainted with all of the departments and processes, and pairs them up with a senior technician.
“I tell them about how they’re going to get little hints and tricks and advice and things that these technicians have learned through the years that will be invaluable,” she shared.
One of Holmes favorite parts of the work-based learning program is the constant communication regarding how the students are doing and what they are learning. “I like that I have to fill out forms every week to report back to the teachers. It keeps the students accountable and we get to share when they succeed on exciting projects like working on an electric vehicle battery.” She added, “One thing we do for incoming students is we start them off with a stocked tool cart. If we hire them and they stay on for three years, we sign over the tool cart to them so they have the foundational tools.”
There are CTI graduates working full-time at Ruge’s Chevrolet, including Noah Scott and Scarlet Stoner.
“This program has a positive impact on our business. We are investing in our future with our technicians. A technician from day one out of BOCES can already do so much, and in a few years they're going to be pulling engines out, transmissions and so much more,” said Holmes.
