Two East Jordan High School classmates and 2024 graduates now have another life milestone in common: They are now colleagues, too. Hunter Cesaro and Braedynn Kraemer both entered the workforce directly after graduation and chose the same employer: Jim Riehl’s Friendly Ford in Charlevoix.
Both also took the Automotive Technology class, a Char-Em ISD Career and Technical Education program, during multiple years in high school, which helped set them up for post-secondary success.
The two 18-year-olds were recently celebrated by Char-Em ISD with a “Career Tech to Careers” signing event at Jim Riehl Ford in Charlevoix. Career Tech to Careers events were established by Char-Em’s Career and Technical Education Department to recognize high school students who pursue careers after graduation based in large part on their enrollment in career tech classes in high school.
Kraemer first began at the dealership’s service department as an apprentice in June 2023, part-time. Over the course of the last year, he continued to develop his skills and upon graduation, accepted an offer of full-time employment. He credits the guidance of the senior master technician on-site for teaching him further knowledge about transmissions, brakes, engines, and the many facets of vehicle repair.
But first, it was his high school automotive teacher, Matt Wilson, who set him and other students up with basic knowledge and important job connections, he said.
“Mr. Wilson set up tours for us of car dealerships in the area, and my family has always liked Ford a lot, so I was interested in working here,” said Kraemer, who also took Woodworking and Furniture Making at EJHS, along with 3 years of autos.
Each work day can look a little different for Kraemer, depending on the needs of customers. “I am usually back in the shop, helping with anything that comes up for the day,” Kraemer said, “and learning how to do it all properly.”
While Kraemer works in the service center, Cesaro has found his niche in the oil change center as a quick lube technician. He also had gained prior skills working at the location as part of co-op, or “work-based learning,” The co-op program has been reignited by Char-Em ISD career and technical education staff, along with Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates (JMG) specialists from Northwest Michigan Works, throughout the ISD’s 11 school districts.
Co-op allows students to work in career fields of interest with local employers for part of the school day, earning wages and credits toward graduation and honing work skills for after graduation.
Cesaro started in the co-op program nine months ago, and also began full-time employment just days after graduation in June. He credited the JMG specialists at his school for helping get him involved in co-op and ultimately connecting him with a job he greatly enjoys.
“My day starts with arriving at 7:40 a.m. to get ready for the day. I usually walk in, log in to the computer and look at the appointments for each day,” said Cesaro. “My typical day consists of doing oil changes, usually 2-4 per day. On most days, I do whatever needs to be done. I enjoy changing tires, fixing nails in tires, and also driving the manual vehicles that come into the shop that only a few people know how to drive.”
Along with two years of autos, Cesaro also took one year of woodshop in high school. He said Wilson did a great job of teaching about automotive repair and also giving the students real-world knowledge, including “soft skills” like showing up on time and taking direction from supervisors.
Likewise, Wilson praised the two young men for both their willingness to learn and their good attitudes.
“There is definitely a demand for students coming out of high school in the automotive industry, especially for those who have a willingness and desire to work hard,” said Wilson. “They both have great attitudes, as well as the skills they learned in class to get them started.”
Wilson said he’s happy to see dealerships like Jim Riehl invest in young adults and see their potential. “It’s terrific that they are willing to invest in these guys and get them up to speed and help them be successful,” said Wilson.
Both Kraemer and Cesaro, East Jordan residents, work from approx. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each week day, and both are known to be prompt and show up with a positive attitude, said service manager Glenn Bainbridge.
“We feel lucky to have them,” said Bainbridge. “The relationship between schools and automotive companies is critical for students to come out of the classroom and directly into the field. They did a great job of preparing these young men.”
Both of the EJHS grads said they would recommend career and technical education programs to other high school students looking for a career path.
“The classes were fun as well as educational, and you learn how to do things on your own vehicles,” said Cesaro. “You can save yourself a ton of money that way. And it can open a career path, too.”
Char-Em ISD extends a special thanks to the Mansfield Family Foundation for continuing to support these signing events with gift cards for the new employees to purchase necessary tools and equipment for their job.
Photo caption:
Pictured at a recent Career Tech to Careers signing event for Hunter Cesaro and Braedynn Kramer are (seated, from left) Matt Wilson, East Jordan High School Automotive Technology teacher; Jim Rummer, Director of Career and Technical Education, Char-Em ISD; Cesaro; Kraemer; and Glenn Bainbridge, service manager, Jim Riehl Friendly Ford; (back row, from left) Josh Todd, JMG Specialist serving East Jordan High School; Enos Bacon, East Jordan Public Schools Superintendent; Hannah Sanderson, CTE Consultant; Kristyn Lynch, East Jordan High School counselor; and Tory Thrush, Career/College Readiness Consultant for Char-Em ISD.