WELCOME TO THE
BMW YOUTH INITIATIVE

WELCOME TO THE

BMW YOUTH INITIATIVE

The BMW Youth Initiative has been created to promote and highlight educational opportunities that can lead to rewarding careers at BMW dealerships throughout the United States starting as technicians.

The 3 Myths

1

It's A Dirty
Job

 

2

You Don't Make
Enough Money

 

3

There's No career
Advancement

 

The 3 Myths

1

It’s A Dirty
Job

 

2

You Don’t Make
Enough Money

 

3

There’s No career
Advancement

 

THE JOB

Break the Myth

The BMW Youth Initiative and BMW STEP (Service Technician Education Program) are here to break the myth about technician careers and career advancement. We want to provide parents and educators with tools & information they need to learn more about today’s automotive technicians and encourage youth to explore a career in the field.

Opening Doors to Lifelong Careers

If you have young adults in your life who thrive outside of the classroom and are passioned problem solvers, this might be the career path for them and you can help influence their career goals.

Changing Technology

Develop life skills that you can take anywhere! BMW vehicles mix computer technology and advanced electronics with traditional automotive mechanics. As vehicle systems become more complex BMW and MINI will need technicians that can meet future job demands. And where else better to start than with the youth who will help build our future?

Job Satisfaction, Helping Others

Integration of modern technologies, such as their rear seat table, allows a wider horizon of comfort and functionality for passengers. Highly skilled technicians with the ability to service these types of technological advances are critical for a premium customer experience.

THE JOB

Break the Myth

The BMW Youth Initiative and BMW STEP (Service Technician Program) are here to break the myth about technician careers and career advancement. We want to provide parents and educators with tools & information they need to lean more about today’s automotive technicians and encourage youth to explore a career in the field.

Opening Doors to Lifelong Careers

If you have young adults in your life who thrive outside of the classroom and are passioned problem solvers, this might be the career path for them and you can help influence their career goals.

Changing Technology

Develop life skills that you can take anywhere! BMW vehicles mix computer technology and advanced electronics with traditional automotive mechanics. As vehicle systems become more complex BMW and MINI will need technicians that can meet future job demands. And where else better to start than with the youth who will help build our future?

Job Satisfaction, Helping Others

Integration of modern technologies, such as their rear seat table, allows a wider horizon of comfort and functionality for passengers. Highly skilled technicians with the ability to service these types of technological advances are critical for a premium customer experience.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A TECHNICIAN

Leo Gutierrez - BMW of Roseville 25 Years in the Making

My BMW story began 25 years ago in 1994 when I began working as a lot porter at BMW of Roseville.

Click here to read more
I was a student attending American River College taking automotive classes at night and working during the day. In 1995 I attended my first BMW class and started my career as a technician. Due to my continued education and training I was fortunate to have the dealer expand my knowledge by sending me to training and I progressed my way up to member, associate, certified, and in 2001 I became a BMW master technician. 2002 marked a great year for my career as I was selected to attend the regional finals for the ACT test competition.

I was awarded a gold ring and a trip to the Derek Daly driving school at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Later that year I was given the opportunity to be the shop foreman at the age of 28 and I accepted. Fast forward to 2009 I joined American river college as chair for the automotive advisory committee where we began to have meetings every 6 months with dealers in the greater Sacramento area as well as independent shops in order to determine their needs in future technicians and advise on curriculum. 2013 a colleague helped me launch the Northern California Shop Foreman meetings and we have been having them at least once a year since then.

In 2014, I was hired at American River College as an Adjunct Instructor and have been teaching there every semester since then. I began teaching basic auto then moved to steering and suspension but really found a home teaching electrical, so for the last 3 years I have taught basic electrical in the Spring and advanced electrical in the fall.

I couldn't image that 15 years after attending the college that I would be back there teaching. I am grateful to a brand, a parent company, and a community who have given me the opportunity to grow into the person I am today. I look forward to being a voice for all of our hard working technicians in the field who I am sure have their own stories to tell so with that, Thank you BMW NA, BMW of Roseville, and American River College for a great career.

My personal life is very filled with just as much excitement and accomplishments. One of my favorite things about the area I live in is the Sierra Mountains where I spend as much time as I can, nature seems to give me the quiet time I need to balance out my busy life. I have a son who has started his career in the insurance industry and a daughter who is going through the nursing program and volunteers at a local hospital. My wife Valarie and I just celebrated 30 years together and 27 years of marriage. Our favorite pastime is going back to Hawaii where she was born and where most of her family still lives. I have a 1995 M3 that take some of my spare time as well but it is the car I dreamed of having when I started my career in 1994. It is a blessing to have a career where you get to do what you love and it rewards you for doing so, and that was the rest of my story.

Leo Gutierrez - BMW of Roseville 25 Years in the Making

My BMW story began 25 years ago in 1994 when I began working as a lot porter at BMW of Roseville.

Click here to read more
I was a student attending American River College taking automotive classes at night and working during the day. In 1995 I attended my first BMW class and started my career as a technician. Due to my continued education and training I was fortunate to have the dealer expand my knowledge by sending me to training and I progressed my way up to member, associate, certified, and in 2001 I became a BMW master technician. 2002 marked a great year for my career as I was selected to attend the regional finals for the ACT test competition.

I was awarded a gold ring and a trip to the Derek Daly driving school at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Later that year I was given the opportunity to be the shop foreman at the age of 28 and I accepted. Fast forward to 2009 I joined American river college as chair for the automotive advisory committee where we began to have meetings every 6 months with dealers in the greater Sacramento area as well as independent shops in order to determine their needs in future technicians and advise on curriculum. 2013 a colleague helped me launch the Northern California Shop Foreman meetings and we have been having them at least once a year since then.

In 2014, I was hired at American River College as an Adjunct Instructor and have been teaching there every semester since then. I began teaching basic auto then moved to steering and suspension but really found a home teaching electrical, so for the last 3 years I have taught basic electrical in the Spring and advanced electrical in the fall.

I couldn't image that 15 years after attending the college that I would be back there teaching. I am grateful to a brand, a parent company, and a community who have given me the opportunity to grow into the person I am today. I look forward to being a voice for all of our hard working technicians in the field who I am sure have their own stories to tell so with that, Thank you BMW NA, BMW of Roseville, and American River College for a great career.

My personal life is very filled with just as much excitement and accomplishments. One of my favorite things about the area I live in is the Sierra Mountains where I spend as much time as I can, nature seems to give me the quiet time I need to balance out my busy life. I have a son who has started his career in the insurance industry and a daughter who is going through the nursing program and volunteers at a local hospital. My wife Valarie and I just celebrated 30 years together and 27 years of marriage. Our favorite pastime is going back to Hawaii where she was born and where most of her family still lives. I have a 1995 M3 that take some of my spare time as well but it is the car I dreamed of having when I started my career in 1994. It is a blessing to have a career where you get to do what you love and it rewards you for doing so, and that was the rest of my story.