(HARLINGEN, Texas) – As collision-repair technology continues to change, Hacienda Ford Collision is searching for technicians willing to keep learning with it.
Hacienda company representatives brought that message straight to Texas State Technical College’s Auto Collision and Management students on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the Harlingen campus.
“What we look for is having technicians with a mindset of continuous learning,” said Rudy Quiroga, body shop manager at Hacienda Ford Collision. “We want technicians who are not only prepared to do the job, but also keep up with the trends that emerge every year.”
Hacienda Ford Collision, which has locations in Brownsville, Edinburg, Harlingen, McAllen and Weslaco, talked directly with students about career opportunities and what skills they’re looking for.
“Having a pipeline of trained professionals is important as we serve customers throughout the Rio Grande Valley,” Quiroga noted.
Jose Vasquez, TSTC’s Auto Collision and Management program team lead, said employer engagement gives students a clearer understanding of what the industry expects.
“One of the biggest things we learn is that industry partners share what they are looking for, how they started in the company and that has a significant impact on our students,” he said.
For students, those conversations also provide an opportunity to connect their hands-on training with potential career paths.
Lucifer Melchor, of San Benito, is pursuing an associate degree. He said the presentation encouraged him to think about his own future.
“What I took away from the presentation was, if you at least try, you will succeed on many platforms,” he said.
Viviana Espinosa, senior manager of TSTC’s Employer Relations department, said connecting students with industry partners is a key part of helping them transition into the workforce.
“We help connect industry partners that wish to hire our students in different ways,” she said.
According to onetonline.org, automotive body and related repairers in Texas earn an average of $51,700 a year. The website projected a 10% increase in the number of such jobs in the state from 2024 to 2034.
TSTC offers Associate of Applied Science degrees in Auto Collision and Management with refinishing and repair specializations at the Fort Bend County, Harlingen and Waco campuses. Several certificate options are also available.
For more information about TSTC, visit TSTC.edu.