NORTHERN WISCONSIN — Northwood Technical College partnered with the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin to deliver an Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair Technician program designed to build skills and support workforce development within the tribal community.
The program was developed following workforce advancement discussions in March 2025 and was funded in part through a grant from the Wisconsin Technical College System.
For the tribe, the program is about more than technical training, it’s about strengthening the community through skill-building and long-term opportunity.
“We’re focused on creating clear pathways for our students to build skills and move into the workforce. That training strengthens the community as a whole because those skills stay here and continue to support the people and services around them,” said Dr. Odawa White, tribal education director for the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin. “Over time, that kind of investment creates opportunities that extend to future generations.”
Students who complete the program earn an Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair Technician technical diploma. The 11-credit program is embedded within Northwood Tech’s Automotive Services Technician program, allowing students to apply those credits toward the 54-credit diploma if they choose to continue their education.
Classes were held at the tribe’s Roads and Construction building, providing training within the community and increasing access for participants.
Ten students enrolled in the program, with eight completing the training. Throughout the course, students developed hands-on automotive repair skills and gained experience aligned with industry needs under the instruction of Tony Petty. Several participants are already applying those skills in the workforce, with three to four students currently employed in automotive-related positions.
“I’ve been working on vehicles my whole life — I started learning from my dad and my uncles when I was about 10 or 11,” said Jared Beebe, a student in the program. “It’s not every day you get the chance to come into a shop like this and learn from instructors with this much experience. I feel lucky to have the opportunity to be here, working on brand-new vehicles every day and getting as much hands-on experience as I can.”
The program reflects Northwood Tech’s approach to workforce development, focusing on practical training and removing barriers that can impact student success.
“At Northwood Tech, transforming communities starts with supporting solutions that matter at the local level. Early on, we saw students working through challenges together — even something as simple as getting logged into computers, which isn’t always a strong suit for everyone,” said BJ Williams, associate dean of workforce and community development at Northwood Technical College. “They stayed engaged, helped each other and kept pushing forward. That willingness to learn and persevere is what leads to success as they move into the workforce and carry those skills back into their community.”
The training was made possible through coordination between the college, the tribe and statewide support.
“This program didn’t happen overnight. It took coordination, flexibility and commitment from everyone involved to move it forward and keep it going. That kind of collaboration is what makes workforce development work and creates real opportunities for people to step into careers,” said Christy Kobernick, dean of workforce and community development at Northwood Technical College.
The program concluded March 19 with the completion of coursework. Northwood Tech plans to continue its partnership with the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin to support future workforce training opportunities and respond to evolving community needs.
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(Photo Caption: LTR) David Haaf, Ward Staples, Jared Beebe, instructor Tony Petty, Mike Belisle and Mikey Belisle Jr. stand in an automotive repair area inside the Roads and Construction building on the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin Reservation, where Northwood Technical College provided training.
Last Update: Mar 27, 2026 10:12 am CDT
