The Yamaha Marine Technical School Partnership program (TSP) added ten new schools to its growing list of participants during the last 12 months, bringing the total number to 117 nationwide. Developed in 2015, Yamaha’s TSP program aims to develop a stronger marine technician workforce through a certified curriculum, Yamaha systems access and product donations used in the classroom for hands-on training.

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Coastal Alabama Community College represents the first Yamaha Technical School Partner in the state of Alabama. Through the hands-on training program, the college, which is uniquely positioned near Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, will have the opportunity to work even closer with local marine businesses to develop a strong technician workforce in the area. (Photo: Business Wire)

New program participants include: The Alaska Maritime Education Consortium (AMEC), Fairbanks, Alaska; Andover High School, Andover, Minnesota; Cape Cod Community College, West Barnstable, Massachusetts; Catawba Community College, Hickory, North Carolina; Coastal Alabama Community College, Foley, Alabama; Chapman School of Seamanship, Stuart, Florida; Ft. Myers High School, Ft. Myers, Florida; Mid-Coast School of Technology, Rockland, Maine; Salem High School, Salem, Massachusetts; and William Floyd High School, Mastic Beach, New York.

For Jennifer Castle Field, President of the legendary Chapman School of Seamanship, becoming a Yamaha Technical School Partner was a natural fit for the school.

“Our school offers students the opportunity to learn at the helm. Yamaha’s hands-on training extends our courses to outboards and further broadens the skills we can bring to the table,” said Field. “In a market full of serviceable Yamaha outboards, I can’t imagine a better company to work with as we train the next generation of marine industry experts.”

Coastal Alabama Community College represents the first Yamaha TSP in the state of Alabama. Through the program, the college, which is uniquely positioned near Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, will have the opportunity to work even closer with local marine businesses to develop a strong technician workforce in the area.

“Baldwin County, Alabama, the area we serve, attracts more than 8 million visitors a year, many of whom boat and fish,” said Josh Duplantis, Dean of Economic and Workforce Development for Coastal Alabama Community College. “By teaming up with Yamaha to bring niche programs like marine technician training courses to our college, we can better serve the businesses in our area by helping develop skills locally.”

“The need for quality technicians in this area of the country is so important,” said Matthew Judy, Marine Technical Instructor for Coastal Alabama Community College. “Through this course, we have the ability to reach students of all ages, including those in high school. When these students finish our courses and earn Yamaha Marine certifications, they enter the workforce ready to contribute and add value to the dealerships and service operations in our area.”

The facilitation and growth of Yamaha Marine’s technical school relationships led to the development of Yamaha-sponsored curricula available to technical schools for use in the classroom. The first curriculum, titled “Introduction to Outboard Systems,” (ITOS) includes textbook materials and hands-on learning experiences for students who wish to start a career as a marine industry technician. Students who successfully complete the course receive Yamaha Marine’s Introduction to Outboard Systems Certification. ITOS is a pre-requisite for Yamaha’s new Maintenance Certification Program (MCP), which is based on the 20, 100, 300, 500 and 1,000 maintenance procedures for Yamaha Outboards. MCP students will leave the Yamaha Technical School Partner with certified maintenance competencies that prepare them to be immediately profitable in Yamaha dealership service departments. Yamaha dealerships can take them on as apprentices or full-time technicians to help them continue to develop their skills.

For more information about the Yamaha Technical School Partnership program or to find a Yamaha TSP school partner near you, program, please visit ymutechs.com or contact YamahaTSP@yamaha-motor.com.

Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit, based in Kennesaw, Ga., markets and sells marine outboard motors ranging in size from 2.5 to 425 horsepower. It also markets and sells fiberglass, jet-drive sport boats ranging from 19 to 27 feet, and personal watercraft. The unit includes manufacturing divisions of Yamaha Marine Systems Co., Inc., including Kracor of Milwaukee (rotational molding), Bennett Marine of Deerfield Beach, Fla. (trim tabs), and Yamaha Marine Precision Propellers of Indianapolis (stainless steel propellers). Yamaha Marine Group is a division of Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., based in Cypress, Calif.

This document contains many of Yamaha's valuable trademarks. It may also contain trademarks belonging to other companies. Any references to other companies or their products are for identification purposes only and are not intended to be an endorsement.

REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal floatation device and protective gear.

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