Technology
High School Students Win $59,000 in Scholarships at Universal Technical Institute’s Top Tech Challenge, an Automotive Skills Competition

Winning Students Received Scholarships and Snap-On® Tool Sets
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – April 2, 2019 – On Saturday, March 30, two-person teams from 21 high schools across Southern California tested their knowledge and expertise in automotive technology at the Top Tech Challenge event hosted by Universal Technical Institute – Rancho Cucamonga (UTI), a leading educator for professional automotive, diesel and collision repair technicians. The competition included theoretical and hands-on testing on vehicle parts, brakes, diagnostics and electrical systems. The best-of-the-best won UTI scholarships and Snap On® tool sets for their schools (tools value up to $2,365).
“UTI’s Top Tech Challenge is a great opportunity for high schoolers across Southern California to flex their technician skills as well as test drive what a future career in the automotive industry is like,” said Migdalia Vazquez-Valle, campus president at Universal Technical Institute – Rancho Cucamonga (UTI).
The U.S. Department of Labor projects that, by 2026, there will be more than 1.2 million job openings in the automotive, diesel and collision repair industries.1 To help reach that total, the transportation industry will need to fill more than 120,000 technician job openings annually, on average. UTI students can complete their training and be ready to fill those jobs in as little as 11 months.
Third place winners Andrea Vasquez and Cecilia Ulloa from San Fernando Senior High School in San Fernando work together to test their engine automotive skills in the Ford FACT Lab.
Students use electrical troubleshooting skills to generate power in the automotive skills competition.
First-place winners from Rowland High School in Rowland Heights, Dustin Demetria and Rodrigo Ramirez, celebrate with their auto shop high school instructor. Each student won a $10,000 scholarship to UTI plus a Snap On ® tool set for the classroom.
Second-place winners from William Workman High School in the City of Industry, Rafael Mendez and Marco Contreras, are all smiles after being awarded $7,500 each in UTI scholarships plus a Snap On ® tool set for the classroom.
Third-place winners from San Fernando Senior High School in San Fernando, Andrea Vasquez and Cecilia Ulloa, stand proudly next to new Snap On® tool boxes. Each competitor also won a $5,000 UTI scholarship.
Top Tech Challenge is an annual scholarship opportunity held at multiple UTI campuses nationwide.
About Universal Technical Institute, Inc.:
With more than 200,000 graduates in its 53-year history, Universal Technical Institute, Inc is the nation’s leading provider of technical training for automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians, and offers welding technology and computer numerical control (CNC) machining programs. The company has built partnerships with industry leaders, outfits its state-of-the-industry facilities with current technology, and delivers training that is aligned with employer needs. Through its network of 12 campuses nationwide, UTI offers post-secondary programs under the banner of several well-known brands, including Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI) and NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech). The company is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona.
For more information, visit www.uti.edu. Like UTI on www.facebook.com/UTI or follow UTI on Twitter @UTITweet, @MMITweet, and @NASCARTechUTI.
1 Source: Based on data compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2016-2026), www.bls.gov. The projected number of annual job openings by job classification is: Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, 75,900; Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists, 28,300; and Automotive Body and Related Repairers, 17,200. Job openings include openings due to growth and net replacements.
Business
Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce to Lead California Delegation at GITEX GLOBAL 2023 in Dubai

Fostering Technological Synergy: Bridging the Tech Gap with Global Partners
Demonstrating the Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce’s (IERCC) commitment to global tech collaboration and innovation, the organization will lead a California delegation to the world-renowned GITEX GLOBAL event in Dubai from October 16-20, 2023. Though the original invitation extended to IERCC’s President & CEO, Mr. Edward Ornelas, Jr., he will not be in attendance. Instead, the California delegation will be spearheaded by the Chamber’s newly-appointed CTO, Mr. Gabriel Rangel.
Organized by the Dubai World Trade Centre, GITEX GLOBAL 2023 promises to be grander than ever. The event is set to host over 6,000 exhibiting companies and startups, drawing more than 170,000 tech and business executives from over 170 countries. The mega-event will sprawl across 41 vast halls and, for the first time ever, will be held at two prominent venues – the iconic Dubai World Trade Centre and the new Dubai Harbour for Expand North Star, making it the host for the world’s largest startup event.
Mr. Edward Ornelas, Jr. commented, “While I regret not attending GITEX personally, I am proud to have Mr. Rangel at the helm of this effort. I’m confident that our delegation will foster new collaborations and present the Golden State as a tech powerhouse.”
This year’s conference adopts the compelling theme of “The Year to Imagine AI in Everything”. Attendees are poised to witness the grandest showcase of AI tech giants and industry frontrunners. Additionally, it promises to kindle profound dialogues and debates concerning the socio-economic implications of burgeoning AI technology.
“Leading the California delegation at GITEX offers us an unmatched platform to nurture and solidify relationships with global tech partners,” said Mr. Gabriel Rangel, CTO of IERCC. “As the technology landscape continues to evolve, it’s critical for us to be a part of these international collaborations. I’m honored to spearhead this mission on behalf of the Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce.”
An integral part of the California delegation, Mr. Ram Thanapandian, Principal Technology Consultant to the State of California and Chair of CA State Treasurer Fiona Ma’s Technical Advisory Commission, will be present, providing invaluable insights and representing the State of California Treasurer’s Office.
IERCC’s leadership in organizing this delegation underscores the crucial role that California plays in the global tech ecosystem and mirrors Dubai’s ambitious vision as encapsulated in the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33). This strategy aims to substantially expand Dubai’s economic landscape in the upcoming decade, securing its stature among the world’s leading global cities.
Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President of the Dubai World Trade Centre and CEO of KAOUN International, remarked on the invaluable contributions the California delegation will bring to the event. She looks forward to an event marked by knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and pioneering discussions.
For additional information on GITEX GLOBAL 2023, please refer to: GITEX 2023 Preview.
Business
Navigating the Digital Frontier: The 2023 Cybersecurity Update

Industry Experts and Enthusiasts Converge for a Comprehensive Deep-Dive into Advancements, Trends, and Challenges in Cybersecurity
The Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce and the County of San Bernardino are pleased to announce the 2023 Cybersecurity Update on Thursday, June 29th, from 2-4 PM at The Enterprise Building in San Bernardino.
The event, themed “Cybersecurity: Advancements, Trends & Challenges in the Digital Frontier”, is a must-attend for IT professionals, cybersecurity enthusiasts, and anyone keen on understanding the state and future of digital security.
“Cybersecurity is a growing concern in this era of digital transformation. With the ever-present threats from AI-driven risks to complex network vulnerabilities, it’s more important than ever to stay informed,” said Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce President Mr. Edward Ornelas. “This event is designed to bring together industry experts and interested individuals to discuss these topics, exchange ideas, and forge potential collaborations.”
The afternoon will commence with a keynote address from a leading authority in the cybersecurity field, examining the changing dynamics of cybersecurity, the progression of technology, and potential future developments. An interactive panel discussion will follow, focusing on a variety of pressing cybersecurity topics, including the role of AI, IoT security, blockchain security, and the evolving nature of cyber threats.
Attendees will have the unique opportunity to engage with industry experts, pose questions, and gain valuable insights into the current cybersecurity landscape. The event will also provide an excellent networking platform for participants to connect with like-minded individuals and explore new collaboration opportunities.
Don’t miss this chance to participate in critical discussions shaping our digital lives. Seats are filling up fast, so secure your spot today.
To register for the 2023 Cybersecurity Update, please visit the Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce’s website or click here to register directly.
Opinion
These are tech companies Americans want to work at most

Google is where Americans want to work the most in tech, receiving more than 487,000 searches a month Apple and Tesla take second and third, respectively
New research reveals that Google is the tech company Americans most want to work at.
The new study from document management company SmallPDF analyzed monthly searches for openings at the biggest tech companies in the US to see which brand was getting the most interest in job opportunities.
It found that Google comes out on top for searches, with ‘Google jobs’ receiving more than 339,000 searches a month on average in the US and the term ‘Google careers’ receiving more than 148,000 searches a month, adding up to a whopping total of 487,000 searches. This is more than 200,000 searches a month higher than second place.
Apple comes in second place on the list, thanks to 180,000 searches every month for ‘Apple jobs’ and 99,000 searches a month on average for ‘Apple careers’, adding up to 279,000 searches a month.
Coming in third place is a multinational automotive company, Tesla, with an average of 185,000 monthly searches for opportunities at the company. This is split down into 109,000 searches monthly for ‘Tesla jobs’ and 76,000 searches monthly for ‘Tesla careers.’
Facebook takes fourth place in the list, with 94,000 searches for ‘Facebook jobs’ and 49,000 searches a month for ‘Facebook careers’, which adds up to a total of 143,000 searches a month on average for Facebook work opportunities.
Rounding out the top five is Microsoft, which receives more than 141,000 searches a month for openings at the company. ‘Microsoft jobs’ receives 66,000 searches a month, and ‘Microsoft careers’ receives 75,000 searches a month on average.
|
Company |
“Jobs” searches |
“Careers” searches |
Total |
1 |
|
339,000 |
148,000 |
487,000 |
2 |
Apple |
180,000 |
99,000 |
279,000 |
3 |
Tesla |
109,000 |
76,000 |
185,000 |
4 |
|
94,000 |
49,000 |
143,000 |
5 |
Microsoft |
66,000 |
75,000 |
141,000 |
6 |
Salesforce |
52,000 |
41,000 |
93,000 |
7 |
Verizon |
45,000 |
41,000 |
86,000 |
8 |
Spectrum |
43,000 |
38,000 |
81,000 |
9 |
Netflix |
45,000 |
34,000 |
79,000 |
10 |
AT&T |
37,000 |
31,000 |
68,000 |
Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson from SmallPDF said: “While some of the US’s most well-known tech companies do indeed make their way into the top ten, many do not, indicating that the job searches for many people are varied and job seekers in the tech field are keeping their options open. The companies at the top of the list benefit from the prestige that their brand holds, which helps them attract the best talent, which helps them continue to lead the industry.”
The study was conducted by SmallPDF, which offers easy PDF conversion tools, allowing you to be more productive and work smarter with documents.
Source: smallpdf.com
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