A Love for Cars

Abu Muhit has loved cars since he was a child. “I grew up in Bangladesh where only the very wealthy have cars,” states the Oshkosh resident. “When I moved to the United States at age 19, I was amazed to see that everyone here has a car. It didn’t take me long to realize that I wanted to make a career out of working with automobiles.”

Now 25, Muhit is putting his technical diploma from Fox Valley Technical College’s Automotive Technology program to work. He was hired at Car-X as an auto technician before he even graduated. “I first came to Fox Valley Tech’s Oshkosh campus to improve my English,” he says. “I then enrolled at the college’s Appleton campus where I learned how to maintain vehicles in a great facility where everything I needed to know was at my fingertips.”

Muhit recalls having to work a little harder to succeed due to some language and cultural differences. “The instructors took time to work with me,” he says. “And they had all the latest equipment. I currently handle all types of work at Car-X. Whatever comes in, I can deal with it.”

Quick Facts:

• 98% graduate employment rate for graduates of all FVTC’s automotive-related training programs, year in and year out
• 7 different automotive training programs offered at FVTC, more than any other college in the state.

Taking a New Route

Casey Kovalaske was working retail while attending a four-year college, but he just didn’t feel like he was going anywhere with his life. The 21-year-old Van Dyne resident had always been interested in transportation and decided it might be time to change course.

“I answered a Schneider ad for truck drivers and then attended a four-week training program at Fox Valley Tech last summer,” he says. “Now, I’m earning a great living and seeing places that I never thought I otherwise would!”

Headquartered in Green Bay, Schneider National, Inc. has provided expert transportation and logistics solutions for over 75 years throughout North America and China. The company is also one of Fox Valley Technical College’s biggest training partners.

“Schneider came to us to start this most recent training partnership because of our nationwide reputation,” states Dan Poeschel, associate dean of FVTC’s Transportation department. “There is a shortage of drivers. If you’re a good, safe driver, opportunities are available in this industry.”

Kovalaske found the program to be both enjoyable and effective. “We were in trucks the very first day and continued to get real on-the-road experience throughout,” he states. “We learned skills like precision parking, as well as how to prepare for pre-trip inspections and manage a log.”

Quick Facts:

• 8,000 truck drivers are needed in Wisconsin each year, and FVTC is the state’s number one training provider to fill this demand.
• 41,000+ of expanded square footage to FVTC’s J. J. Keller Transportation Center welcomes students in fall of 2014 as a result of passing a public referendum.