The California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA) Foundation is helping redefine how California builds its automotive workforce through its strong partnership with the Orange County Regional Consortium (OCRC) and its 10 institutions across the region.
What began in the 1990s as a scholarship fund awarding more than $1.5 million to automotive students has grown into a public charity centered on workforce development and strengthening the pipeline of future technicians.
“We needed a broader approach to connect students, educators, and employers in a structured way that creates a clear pathway into automotive careers,” says CNCDA Foundation President Kim McPhaul.
Today, the foundation serves as a statewide career connector, partnering with dealerships, high schools, and community colleges to guide students from early career awareness through pre-apprenticeship and into employment. Its team supports students at every stage while helping employers build a dependable pipeline of skilled technicians for a rapidly changing industry.
Partnering with OCRC to Strengthen Regional Collaboration
The partnership between the CNCDA Foundation and the OCRC has become an essential part of that mission. Together, they’re piloting BILT (Building Industry Leadership Teams), a structured program that strengthens collaboration between employers and educators.
Supported by the National Science Foundation and utilized by over 100 colleges nationwide, the BILT framework empowers employers to directly shape curriculum and training.
Orange County is the first region in the country to implement BILT at a regional level, uniting the Orange County Automobile Dealers Association, five community college automotive programs, and local high school ROPs and auto departments.
“The beauty of the BILT model is that it brings everyone together—local dealer employers, educators, and administrators—to make sure that what’s being taught in classrooms reflects what’s needed in the service bays,” McPhaul explains. “When multiple perspectives merge, the curriculum becomes stronger and more relevant.”
This regional alignment has streamlined collaboration and improved training consistency. Rather than host dozens of separate advisory meetings, stakeholders now meet in a single BILT session, uniting dozens of participants to exchange feedback, align training, and shape programs that match real-world needs.
Why Community College Graduates Excel
McPhaul notes that Orange County’s community colleges already produce job-ready candidates, and the BILT process will reinforce that the skills taught in the classroom are aligned with the industry’s newest technology.
“Students from these programs come in with significant hands-on experience,” she explains. “They train extensively on the same modern equipment they’ll use in their first jobs, which not only sets them up for success from day one but can also give them an edge over graduates from shorter, private programs.”
Looking Ahead
The CNCDA Foundation and OCRC are expanding their joint efforts to reach students earlier by increasing career-awareness at the regional Automotive Technology Career Day on February 20, 2026. High school juniors and seniors can meet college faculty, connect with local dealers and manufacturers, and explore a wide range of high-skill automotive careers.
“The automotive industry offers high-skill, high-paying careers that are often overlooked,” McPhaul says. “By partnering with OCRC to build awareness and clear pathways, we’re showing students there’s a direct, rewarding route from the classroom to a great career, and it’s right here in their local community.”
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