Join us for a webinar on Wednesday, August 12, at 11:00 am 

NADA / ASE Service Technician Apprenticeship in a Box

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The technician shortage is no longer a looming challenge; it's a daily operational reality for dealerships across the country. Longer service appointment lead times, reduced shop capacity, rising recruiting costs, and burnout and retirements among existing technicians are affecting both profitability and customer satisfaction. While many dealers continue to compete for the same limited pool of experienced technicians, hiring alone is not keeping pace with demand.

The most sustainable solution isn't just finding technicians, it's developing them.

The NADA / ASE Apprenticeship in a Box (AIB) is designed to help dealers build a technician pipeline from within, creating a structured, repeatable pathway to grow skilled technicians over time. It is not a one-size-fits-all solution; it's a flexible framework that can be adapted to fit a dealership's size, brand mix, and service operation. Whether a dealer is just beginning to develop entry-level talent or looking to formalize an existing mentoring approach, the program provides a foundation that can grow with the business. This allows entry-level employees to gain confidence while contributing meaningfully to shop productivity.

OADA is pleased to welcome Megan Dolan, Director of Program Development for NADA, and Mike Coley, President of the ASE Education Foundation. Megan and Mike will discuss the critical value of apprenticeship programs, the Apprenticeship in a Box resources, and the unique opportunity presented by the Department of Labor's recent award to the ASE Education Foundation to support service technician apprenticeships. 

Megan Dolan is the Director of Program Development for NADA, where she manages the creation of curriculum for NADA's educational offerings. She has been working in adult education for more than three decades and led the development of the NADA / ASE Apprenticeship in a Box. She is an NADA Academy graduate and holds a Doctor of Education from Florida Atlantic University.

Mike Coley has been with ASE for more than 30 years, serving as President of the ASE Education Foundation (formerly NATEF) since 2019. Prior to that, he served as Sr. VP for ASE, directing operations, test development, customer service, and IT workgroups. Before joining the ASE staff, he managed a family-owned auto repair business in San Antonio. Mr. Coley has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from SMU, an MBA from George Mason University, and previously taught Automotive Emissions classes at Northern Virginia Community College.

There is no connection fee for OADA members. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.