Through Partnership with Dutchess BOCES CTI, Ruge’s Expands Team

Pictured: Joanne Holmes, Service Manager at Ruge’s Chevrolet in Millbrook, with
Landon Quijada, Dutchess BOCES CTI graduate who has accepted a full-time role as
Ruge’s Service Technician

Millbrook, New York…Ruge’s Automotive today announced the appointment of Landon Quijada, resident of Pine Plains, NY and soon-to-be graduate of Stissing Mountain Senior High School, as a full-time Service Technician. This comes on the heels of a yearlong internship that Quijada completed as a student of Dutchess BOCES Career and Technical Institute (CTI).

Explained Joanne Holmes, Service Manager at Ruge’s Chevrolet, “As a longtime industry partner with Dutchess BOCES CTI, we assist in curriculum development and advising on the ever-changing and growing needs of the automotive industry. Additionally, we offer real-world, hands-on internship and career training opportunities to students engaged in CTI’s work-based learning program, which is how we met Landon Quijada. He came to Ruge’s to gain experience, but opened the doors to an entire career; through his internship with us, Landon learned the real-time process of servicing a vehicle from start to finish, including how to perform a MultiPoint Inspection of vehicles and how to confidently and successfully make repairs and bring issues to resolution. He is excellent at what he does and we are so thrilled to announce that upon graduation, Landon is shifting from his intern role into a full-time position as a service technician!” According to Holmes, Quijada will graduate from Dutchess BOCES with multiple Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Certifications, as well as a New York State Inspector’s License.

“Not only is this a wonderful opportunity for Landon, but likewise for us. When he was interning, Landon consistently demonstrated an impressive work ethic, always eager to work during school breaks and weekends; he works beautifully with everyone here, and is clearly motivated to continue his career path and become an established automotive technician. Hiring him right out of school was an obvious choice, and we are so pleased that he said ‘yes’ to joining our Ruge’s team full-time.”

Holmes noted, “One of the best-kept secrets in our community is the incredible opportunity students have through Dutchess BOCES Career & Technical Institute (CTI). CTI goes beyond textbook and classroom learning experiences, giving young people practical, technical skills that really prepare them for the workforce. Students like Landon get hands-on experience with real vehicles, real tools, and real industry professionals. Not every student, of course, earns an internship opportunity; they must be recommended and approved by their instructors. We also have to give weekly updates on work that was performed by the student as well as comments to pass along to CTI. There are many different roles that someone coming out of the automotive program at CTI can obtain. With the knowledge a student receives upon completion of their program, they can also obtain opportunities like Service Advisor or Parts Advisor. At Ruge's Chevrolet, we have seen first-hand how successful the pathway can be. Like Landon, other students who started as interns have gone on to become full-time technicians here, ultimately gaining opportunities to obtain manufacturer training, certifications, and to build long-term careers. I am a big advocate for the trades. College is not for everybody – but every person who has a car, for example, (college degree or not) needs a tradesperson like Landon who can help navigate and resolve challenges that only a well-trained expert in that field can handle.”

In addition to its collaborative work with Dutchess BOCES CTI, Ruge’s Automotive has supported a wide range of other community initiatives designed to enhance life for community members, including Northern Dutchess Hospital Foundation, American Legion Post 429, Rhinebeck Rotary, and Taconic Little League, among many others.

Reflected Holmes, “Supporting our entire community and region, and particularly trade schools and the next generation of techs, has never been more important. We’re so glad to be a part of the Dutchess BOCES CTI program, and to be involved in so many other programs as well.”

For additional information about Ruge’s Auto Group, visit rugesauto.com.

About Ruge’s Auto Group

Our mission is to give customers a transparent, easy-to-navigate, exceptional automobile sales and service experience delivered by an engaged, cohesive, knowledgeable team who genuinely love what they do. Ruge’s Auto Group aspires to be the most sought-after, unique vehicle sales and service experience in the Hudson Valley.