Work-based Learning Launched CRCS Senior’s Automotive Career

ALBANY – Joe Berube of Cobleskill-Richmondville spent his senior year not only learning at Capital Region BOCES, but gaining real-world experience at Keeler Motor Car Company in Latham.

Now, the soon-to-be graduate is turning that work-experience into a career as he is joining the dealership’s service technician family on a full-time basis.

Berube has worked Mondays and Tuesdays in Keeler’s BMW service shop as part of the work-based learning (WBL)program at Capital Region BOCES.

“It’s been a great experience,” Berube said. “I have learned how they do work in the shop and I have done a good bit of recall repairs.”

Through WBL, students in virtually every Capital Region BOCES program work side-by-side with industry professionals in area workplaces.

“Coming here has helped me learn a lot about many different cars then I would see in BOCES and given me a lot of great experience,” Berube said.

Businesses like Keeler take part in the work-based learning program because it opens the door to future employees and because it boosts their current workers, said Drew McKeough, Service Manager for Keeler Honda.

“It’s a great opportunity for the students to have a mentor to show them around the shop and give them experience in what is expected and how we do things, and it’s great for our people to be able to share what they do with others,” McKeough said.

Berube said BOCES “has opened doors” for him and prepared him well for his future.

“It’s been a great experience at BOCES,” he said.