Westlake High School seniors became car dealers for a day
By Michael Binstock
Acorn Automotive Editor

Michael Maki’s Westlake High School students played GM dealer roles for the day last Monday as part of GMLab, a program that pairs a local dealership with a high school class to learn about real-world career opportunities and responsibility. Maki’s class at Westlake High School is gaining hands-on business skills by participating in an innovative industry education partnership with Silver Star Oldsmobile/Cadillac/Hummer in the Thousand Oaks Auto Mall.

On Monday they operated a simulated auto dealership on campus for a day. Each student involved in the General Motors Learning Applied Business (GMLab) program was part of a different department within the on-campus dealership: business office, finance, sales, parts and service. Mr. Maki’s students invited other classes to participate in their event as "customers." Faculty and staff of Westlake High School and community members joined in the event, held on Monday, May 21, from 8 a.m. to noon.

The GMLab program is designed to introduce high school students to General Motors, dealership operations and numerous career opportunities within the automotive industry. The hands-on project of creating their own simulated dealership allows students to utilize and enhance many practical skills that are necessary for success in virtually any career. Also included in the project were guest speakers from Silver Star Oldsmobile/Cadillac/Hummer and job shadowing activities at the dealership. Led by Sales Manager, Eric Ford, the Silver Star representatives, heads of all the dealers departments, were there to lend their support and experience.

This career exploration and practical skills training is made possible by the support and involvement of EdVenture Partners. The Silver Star dealership provided the class with a $1,200 budget for the creation and implementation of their own simulated dealership and prepared the students by teaching, training and mentoring them throughout the project.

"GMLab has received a wonderful response among students and educators throughout the country," stated Tony Sgro, President of EdVenture Partners. EdVenture Partners is an education-marketing company based in Berkeley, California, which administers GMLab and other industry-education and School-to-Career initiatives for General Motors. Sgro explains, "Compared to the typical classroom project, GMLab gives students a rare, hands-on opportunity to explore career options and discover their own talents. The curriculum model is a unique win-win partnership for business and education."

After a semester of studying the business work model at Silver Star Oldsmobile/Cadillac/Hummer in Thousand Oaks, would-be "customers" entered the "dealership" walking through the motions of purchasing a vehicle, interacting with students playing roles/positions in the dealership.

As a dealership has every aspect of the business model, this program offers high school students an idea of the career opportunities available in all types of business industries in smaller terms.

SilverStar Oldsmobile/Cadillac/Hummer is part of the Silver Star Automotive Group, one of the largest dealerships in the area. I don’t know if any of the participants will go onto a career in car sales, but almost everyone buys a car, some time and this course helps.