By Tom Greco
Through this blog, you’ve heard me talk a lot about Advance’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and how – and why – we’ve made our DEI agenda a priority. We know a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects the marketplace we serve makes us a better company and has a direct impact on our financial performance. Creating an environment where every team member feels valued, supported and equal also makes Advance a desirable place to work, as evidenced by team member feedback in our annual organizational health survey.
While there’s still more work to do, I’m pleased by the progress we’ve made. I’m also the first to acknowledge that to have the greatest impact possible, the work we do in this area needs to stretch beyond AAP and extend to other parts of the automotive industry. That’s why I am so excited about a new partnership just announced between the Advance Auto Parts Foundation, the charitable arm of Advance, and Wake Technical Community College.
Through a $200,000 Advance Auto Parts Foundation gift, we are creating a targeted recruitment program aimed at increasing diversity among the student body at Wake Tech’s new automotive collision and technology training facility located in Raleigh, N.C. Working with organizations such as Communities In Schools, Juntos (NC State) and North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals, we plan to use this funding to conduct direct outreach in Wake County high schools to encourage diverse populations of students to enroll in Wake Tech’s automotive technology and collision repair degree programs. In addition, we’re providing scholarships to select students to offset their living expenses while enrolled at Wake Tech and provide the tools needed to complete their studies and begin their careers.
Beyond Advance Auto Parts Foundation’s gift, Advance through our DieHard® brand, has committed an additional $50,000 to outfit the school’s tool rooms and provide needed tools and other equipment to support student learning.
This partnership could not come at a more critical time. The U.S. currently faces a worsening shortage of automotive technicians, and there is a lack of diverse representation in this segment, with 91% of technicians identifying as male and more than two-thirds of technicians identifying as white or non-Hispanic. Throughout my career, I’ve seen time and again the beneficial impact programs like this one can have, and I am optimistic the same will hold true for this effort. My sincere hope is that we can take what we learn through the partnership with WTCC and continue to expand our reach in North Carolina’s Triangle Region and other markets across the country. I’m looking forward to sharing more as the program takes hold and we welcome our first class of Future Technicians to the classroom.
