Advocating for a successful future: Teaching and learning with Mike Kennelly
From the shop floor to the classroom, Mike Kennelly has been in the auto care industry for 18 years, seeing the industry transform and thrive. With the constant changes and developments, the industry is facing, Mike knows the importance of his role as an instructor with Fanshawe College and I-CAR Canada to inspire the next generation of auto care professionals and teach apprentices and technicians how to conduct safe, quality vehicle repairs.
Mike Kennelly, I-CAR Canada Instructor
How long have you been in the industry?
I have been in the industry for 18 years—seven years on the floor as a technician and 11 years as a full-time instructor at Fanshawe College. There are two groups of students I teach. One cohort is those who are brand new to the trade, so in a way, it is like a sales pitch for the industry, showing them the career opportunities available and the reasons why people stick around and stay in the industry for so long. The second group consists of apprentices, who develop themselves to learn the industry.
Aside from working at the College, I am also an I-CAR Canada instructor. In this role, I teach technicians with a range of experience, anywhere from three years to 30 years, I work with the technicians on skills development, welder troubleshooting and certification testing.
Have you always wanted to work in the automotive industry?
I fell into it. My initial plan was to be a mechanical engineer, but a collision shop in high school headhunted me. At the time, I was doing a lot of drawing and murals, and the shop reached out and asked to see if I was interested in taking the school’s auto body program and working with them and doing airbrushing.
After completing the necessary coursework and taking auto body for three years, I got my first work placement at one of Ontario’s first aluminum repair facilities. I really enjoyed the industry, great technicians, a healthy variety of differing repair workday to day to keep you on your toes.
When I transitioned into the teaching role the need for continuous training became evident, ever as an instructor, lessons changed year to year as procedures developed and new practices became common place. Whether that was aluminum repair, self-piercing riveting or ADAS. When I started, it was like the Wild West; people were fixing cars, and there was minimal next to no options for training. In recent years, more and more programs and training opportunities are being provided to keep technicians current.
What would you say is the importance of continued collision training?
No two cars, or even repairs are the same. Every year, there are differences as materials develop and vehicles are created. Materials are lighter, some have alternate fuel considerations, repair considerations. Even the required repair tooling and equipment is frequently changing. You must stay on the cusp of what is required of these new developments and technologies; the I-CAR Canada training does that.
When I talk to technicians, we all agree that this is the minimum standard for what it takes to repair a vehicle safely. Continuous collision training is a launching pad for people to learn the baseline of things, and then they can further develop and specialize their skills in niche corners of the industry.
This training is essential to continuously learn about the industry and its developments and stay up to date with the latest technologies, trends, and challenges.
Why should technicians and companies consider I-CAR Canada training?
Training and certifications will give employers a pulse on how much they can rely on their technicians. As technicians age or retire from the industry, I find their skills are either not being transferred to younger generations or are atrophying. It could be due to cataract vision issues or the loss of fine motor skills. It is no longer a given that older technicians are the most qualified to perform intricate, complex procedures. Some procedures are not always straightforward—they can be complicated for even the most seasoned tech. When you go deep in a repair, the foundational layers of the repair need to be precise. When staff undergo I-CAR Canada training, business owners can rely on the course results and have the confidence to plan for their business to stay on track with competent technicians.
What is the most important aspect of being an I-CAR Canada instructor?
The most important aspect of being an I-CAR Canada instructor is having the opportunity to have candid conversations with technicians about how to properly and safely repair vehicles. I have the opportunity to have honest dialogue with technicians about the reality of equipment use and limitations, repair considerations and complexities and even an honest look at their own competencies. With the hands-on training I have the privilege to teach and give them feedback and help them evolve and progress as a technician. I am with them on their training journeys and it’s a humbling and rewarding opportunity.
About I-CAR Canada
I-CAR is an international organization that provides the information required to perform complete, safe, and quality auto repairs.
I-CAR Canada is a training and recognition program run by the Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA Canada), a not-for-profit organization representing, supporting and leading innovation in Canada’s $37.8 billion auto care sector.
Aimed at up-skilling tradespeople in the collision industry, I-CAR training has been available in Canada since 1979 and has been operated by AIA Canada since 2010.