MADISON, Wis.—Wilde East Towne Honda will once again co-host a Girl’s Auto Clinic in April and May, encouraging and guiding high school girls to defy gender stereotypes in theautomotive industry.
In partnership with Dane County School Consortium (DCSC), Wilde East Towne Honda utilizes the clinic to educate and empower the girls to consider a career field typically dominated by men.
“We have known for a while that women can do it,” said DCSC Instructor Matt Baumgartner.“The basis is to get them started, get them interested and give it a try.”
Baumgartner also noted that the automotive industry is struggling to find skilled labor in trades. According to the US Department of Labor, there will be more than 37,000 job openings in the auto industry on average per year by 2024.
“This clinic is a great opportunity for these girls to learn something new, while also giving them an inside look into a possible new career path,” said Wilde East Towne Honda Service Manager Chris Niemiec. “We cannot wait to see how far their skills progress throughout the clinic.”
In 2020, the clinic ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, Wilde East Towne Honda has implemented extra safety and sanitizing measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19.
The seven week clinic will begin on April 8, 2021, from 5 to 7 p.m., and will run every Thursday through the end of May. There is still time to sign up for female sophomores or juniors interested in getting hands-on experience in the garage. Interested parties may sign-up here.
About Wilde Automotive GroupWilde East Towne Honda, located at 5555 High Crossing Blvd. in Madison, is a full-service Honda dealer and member of the Wilde Automotive Group. The Wilde Automotive Group is a family-owned and operated business, founded by Harold L. Wilde. His automotive career began in 1945 in Michigan, where he opened a two-man used vehicle sales operation. Today, the Wilde Automotive Group has grown to include 12 dealerships in Wisconsin and Florida, with more than 700 employees. Harold Wilde’s legacy continues under the leadership of his wife, CEO Mary Ann Wilde; his son Mark Wilde, president; Pat Donahue, vice president; CFO Sharon Bloom; Jorge Hidalgo, principal partner at Wilde East Towne Honda; and Harold’s daughter, Tracie Pierce, director of marketing. For more information, visit wildeauto.com.
Images from the 2020 Girl’s Auto Clinic Courtesy of Wilde East Towne Honda and the Wilde Automotive Group
