Niello Shapes Top-Notch Tech Phenoms: Behind the Scenes
Niello Co. and Other Dealerships Prioritize Career Development for Auto Technicians
In the ever-evolving automotive industry, dealerships are recognizing the importance of investing in their employees, particularly auto technicians. One such example is Niello Co., a dealership group based in Sacramento, California, which operates stores for brands like Audi, BMW, Volkswagen, and Volvo.
At Niello Co., the minds of its auto technicians are considered the most valuable tools. This philosophy is shared by Brad Hollingsworth, shop foreman at Niello's Volkswagen dealership, who values the thinking skills required in today's auto technology.
The company's commitment to its technicians is evident in its structured career development initiatives. These include documented career roadmaps, a culture of mentorship and training, ongoing technical and soft skills training programs, and the integration of operational tools supporting skill and accountability growth.
The career roadmaps at Niello Co. are collaboratively developed with shop foremen, service advisors, and factory representatives, ensuring a transparent, repeatable path for technician growth communicated early during hiring. The mentoring programme involves experienced technicians being paired with newcomers for mutual skill development.
Moreover, Niello Co. places a significant emphasis on continuous, role-specific training programs, often customized to dealership-specific challenges. This includes standalone programs for roles that intersect with techs, such as service advisors, who receive specific training to handle daily dealership realities better.
Robert Pane, service manager at a Niello Volvo store, values the prospective technician visits arranged by the Swedish automaker, allowing them to see the environment and meet the staff. This proactive approach to recruitment is a testament to Niello Co.'s dedication to its technicians.
Niello Co. aims for its technicians to be ethical and to go home rich and tired, a testament to the company's focus on employee satisfaction and career growth. The group, which employs about 750 people, has a defined, clear path for technicians' career development.
Rick Niello, president of the Niello group, and his partners, brothers Roger and David, emphasize the importance of treating customers and employees with unyielding integrity and paying attention to people and training. This approach has been instrumental in the group's success, as highlighted by the thriving careers of technicians like Mark Isakson, who has climbed the career development ladder through ongoing training at Niello's Audi store and aims for leadership roles like shop foreman or service manager.
Casey Smith, the assistant service manager at Niello's BMW store, is another example of the group's commitment to career development. The role of auto technicians is changing due to more complex cars and the emergence of electric vehicles, and Niello Co. is well-positioned to support its technicians in navigating these changes.
In summary, dealerships like Niello Co. are fostering technician growth and long-term career satisfaction through mentorship programs, documented career paths, continuous, role-specific training programs, and the integration of operational tools supporting skill and accountability growth. These initiatives collectively create an environment that values and invests in its technicians, ensuring a skilled and dedicated workforce for the future.
[1] Niello Co. website: www.nielloco.com [3] Automotive News: www.autonews.com
- In the pursuit of technologies that shape the future, Niello Co. is not just focusing on electric vehicles but also nurturing the skills of their technicians through education-and-self-development and career-development programs.
- As the automotive industry evolves, with the emergence of electric vehicles, technicians at dealerships like Niello Co. are being equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge through ongoing technical training and education-and-self-development to maintain a competitive edge.
