Maritz, a leading provider of marketing services to the automotive industry, has partnered with Northwood University to help develop the next generation of leaders in the automotive industry. The announcement was made at the Future of Automotive Retail (FAR) 2.0 summit, held in Naples, FL, and hosted by Maritz. More than 100 thought leaders, including executives from a dozen manufacturers, dealers, academics and industry professionals, gathered to focus on the importance of human capital in retail automotive.
In today’s tight job market, the automotive industry is realizing the importance of attracting and developing individuals who can build careers in a field that often struggles with employee retention. As part of its partnership with Northwood, which offers a dedicated Automotive Marketing and Management major, Maritz will offer internship positions to acquaint Northwood students with the business and connect with Maritz clients. The Maritz automotive team also will participate in a series of guest lectures to share its industry experience, as well as learn from the students. In addition, Maritz is creating a scholarship to assist Northwood University students who have chosen to study automotive marketing and management.
“Maritz is a people company, and we help our automotive clients improve their business results by applying our expertise in behavioral science to drive performance,” said Terry Erwin, vice president of Maritz Auto. “We do that within a strategic framework that focuses on attracting, engaging and retaining both employees and consumers. It just makes sense that we understand how the next generation of automotive professionals are preparing for their careers. It’s important to listen to, talk and work with the students who have decided that the automotive business is where they want to be.”
“Northwood has over 60 years of history working with the automotive industry, with more than 8,400 graduates employed in that industry sector,” said Elgie Bright, faculty chair – automotive marketing and management degree. “We’re so pleased to add Maritz to our roster of highly regarded partner companies. Ninety-two percent of our program graduates gain employment in the automotive industry, in large part to the participation of companies like Maritz that help provide a deeper understanding of industry career options.”
Also attending the FAR 2.0 summit were representatives of Northwood University, including several students in the school of Automotive Marketing and Management.
“By attending FAR 2.0 and working with Maritz, I learned so much more about the auto industry and the opportunities available to me,” said Northwood student Kendall Schaus. “I left the conference even more excited to enter into the automotive sector.”
Links:
