Member of the month: George Hritz
Spotlight date: June, 2019
The ASCCA Membership Committee proudly announces George Hritz, Executive Director of the California Automotive Teachers as its ASCCA member of the month for June 2019. ASCCA regularly honors members who go above and beyond in demonstrating ASCCA’s core values of integrity, compassion, professionalism, and unity. Along with these core values, George Hritz also embodies ASCCA’s core purpose: To elevate and unite automotive professionals and give them voice.
George started his Automotive Career at age 15 working in an automotive machine shop where he performed engine disassembly and clean-up. In June of 1968 he graduated from high school and worked as a tire-man at the Firestone Tire Store in Albany, CA. He went on to earn his Industrial Education B.A. from San Jose State University and a M.A. in Industrial Arts from San Francisco State University. Throughout his college years George worked in a variety of automotive related jobs.
Dedicated to educating the next generation of automotive leaders, George began his teaching career in 1975 at San Marin High School in Novato and later taught at the College of Marin, where he was elected to the Vocational Education Department Chair position. George was a BAR Certified Instructor and served on numerous academic committees including the Curriculum, Perkins Funding, Tech Prep, and several instructor selection committees. George then went on to teach at Cuyahoga Community College in Parma, Ohio where he was the Toyota T-Ten coordinator. He participated in industry instructor update training workshops and conference training throughout his teaching career. In 2012, George retired from College of Marin in 2012.
Following his retirement, George has dedicated his time to serving and advancing the automotive industry. George has served on the North American Council of Automotive Teachers (NACAT) Board and was Chairman of NACAT’s Educational Foundation. In addition to his role as Executive Director of CAT, he currently represents automotive educators on the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) Advisory Group (BAG); serves as the Director of the Automotive Technicians Training Standards (ATTS) working to maintain an industry standard for California’s automotive training programs; and is a board member of Automotive Service Councils of California (ASCCA), California Automotive Wholesalers Association (CAWA) and the California Automotive Business Coalition (CalABC).
Outside of his service to the industry, George serves his community through the Sonoma Valley Unified School District; FUTURES Task Force (Fostering Unity Through Responsibility for Excellent Schools); Co-Chair Prestwood Elementary School Environmental Education Program; and the Sonoma Valley Youth Soccer Association and Sonoma Valley Little League. George enjoys hiking and camping and has a goal to visit all the United States’ National Parks.
Thank you, George for your ongoing commitment to ASCCA! Our organization and its members have benefited tremendously from your participation, knowledge, and most importantly, your commitment. Congratulations!
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