Milwaukee Area Technical College this week celebrated the opening of a new automotive education center on its downtown campus, backed by a public-private partnership, to train more students in automotive careers.
The Al Hurvis/PEAK Transportation Center is a 7,400-square-foot lab that includes seven auto repair bays, an analyzer bay and a wash/detailing bay. MATC invested $1.4 million to repurpose a former auditorium space in the school’s Technical and Applied Sciences Building for the new center, along with an additional $1.4 million to renovate adjacent classroom space.
The center is home to MATC’s new RevUp program, which is aimed at training students for highly skilled technician jobs in the automotive service industry and also in creating repair software for mechanics. It also offers to high school and middle school outreach events to expose students to automotive careers.
Programming at the new center is funded by gifts from businesses, individuals and a challenge grant from Tom Hurvis, chairman of Old World Industries LLC, the parent company of the Peak automotive brand.
“We are excited to see a vision come to fruition with our partner Tom Hurvis and new program supporters, so that young people can become engaged in the in-demand world of automotive careers at MATC’s Downtown Milwaukee Campus,” said MATC president Vicki Martin.
Donors have pledged $3.23 million for the programming. Hurivs gave $1.1 million in seed funding and has matched every subsequent pledge and gift.
Hurvis and his lifelong friend Chas Mulcahy established the Al Hurvis/ADAMM Education Foundation in 2015 in memory of Tom’s father Al, an executive with Heiser Ford in Milwaukee.
“We couldn’t think of a more deserving population than the future leaders of the Greater Milwaukee area,” Hurvis said. “My father spent many years mentoring his employees in the automotive industry. Partnering with MATC on this endeavor will help many future generations of students and young adults better themselves. I am excited about the variety of programs this new transportation center will open up for the MATC community.”
