Pub. 1 2019 Issue 6

PORTSMOUTH, NH — A partner- ship between Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth and Seacoast Harley-Davidson is helping to fill a growing need for qualified motor- cycle technicians in an industry that’s ready to welcome an influx of talented, young workers. Great Bay began offering a certificate in Motorcycle Maintenance and Repair in 2018 in partnership with Seacoast Harley-Davidson. Like other motorcycle dealerships, Seacoast Harley-Davidson has strug- gled to find qualified service techni- cians for the past five or six years. The partnership is helping to fill that void, said Al Contois, the dealership’s owner. Students receive real-world training at Seacoast H-D, learning a range of skills through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on education at dealership service bays. Student-technicians work with electronic diagnostic equipment and technical manuals to diagnose and solve problems. Students learn to use a variety of tools, including manual and high-tech equipment, and partic- ipate in the evolution of a motorcycle from the time it comes off the delivery truck in a crate, through its assembly in the shop to its final polish for the showroom floor. This past spring, students in the class built a custom Harley-Davidson chopper, the Great Bay Bobber, as part of a national Harley-Davidson competition and promotion highlight- ing the relationships between edu- cational institutions and dealerships across the country. The Great Bay Bobber was selected as a national finalist in the chop class. More than 42,000 voters participated in the national online contest. The field of motorcycle technology is growing increasingly sophisticated and complex, said Paul Giuliano, who chairs the program. The Great Bay certificate program prepares students with the latest technology. “The Great Bay program is unique because stu- dents are learning in a live dealership environment, from people who are actively working as Master Level technicians, on the latest models and technology available,” Giuliano said. Most programs in motorcycle repair are in the Southeast and South- western U.S. “New England has a very robust market for motorcycles,” Giuliano said. “New Hampshire ranks No. 2 in the number of motorcycle registrations per capita. Vermont and Maine are also very high on that list. This is important because motor- cycling is an important part of our economy and lifestyle. Through our partnership with Seacoast Harley-Da- vidson, we can offer an affordable career opportunity in New England.” Contois said it was “exciting and empowering” to work with Great Bay to create a program that addresses an identified need in the community and the industry. Tim Alexander, Service Manager at Heritage Harley-Davidson in Con- cord, praised the program for its hands-on shop setting. Heritage recently hired Great Bay graduate Shamis O’Hanlon to work in its shop to fill a variety of roles. “I can’t stress the importance and value of techni- cal training in our industry enough,” Alexander said. “I think the oppor- tunity Great Bay provides to people interested in our trade is excellent. The chance to have exposure to a real Harley-Davidson service department is rare and should be acknowledged. Technicians are in very high demand in the power sports industry.” Daniel O’Brien enrolled in the program this past spring and participated in the Great Bay Bobber project. The suc- cess of the Bobber project represents the creative approach to education that Great Bay encourages, he told WMUR-TV in a report on the project. “That’s the whole point of going to Great Bay Community College,” he said. “That’s what they teach you; to use your mind, be creative, and make things happen. That’s what we did.” 19 N E W H A M P S H I R E