Avery’s Automotive Joins CFCC as a New Apprenticeship Partner

Cape Fear Community College is excited to welcome Avery’s Automotive as a new apprenticeship partner for the Automotive Systems Technology program. The partnership is already off to a great start with first-year student Cooper McDonald, who was eager to find an apprenticeship when he enrolled at the college.

“I started in August,” Cooper said. “Back in Rockingham, I took automotive classes throughout high school. In my senior year, I got to do a pre-apprenticeship at a local Chevrolet dealership, and I loved it.”

“Everyone told me it’s better to keep learning in a shop while you’re in school, so I knew I wanted to do that here too.”

After moving to Wilmington to attend CFCC, Cooper contacted CFCC’s Career Services and Director Gina Mecca connected him with Avery’s Automotive.

Cooper didn’t take long to start putting classroom lessons to work. “We just learned about brake boosters and master cylinders in my brakes class, and I got to do that in my first week here when we had to bench bleed a master cylinder,” he said.

Learning from a CFCC Graduate

At Avery’s, Cooper is learning alongside CFCC graduate Damon D’Andrea, who knows exactly what it’s like to start where he is now.

“I graduated in 2017 from Cape Fear with my Associate in Applied Science in Automotive Systems Technology and my Associate in General Education degree,” Damon said. “I didn’t always work in this field. I was a mortgage broker, but I couldn’t sit still. I’ve always liked tinkering with my own car, taking things apart, fixing them. So, I decided to go back to school for it.”

That leap of faith led him to an entirely new career. Damon has been at Avery’s since 2020 and says the job is a perfect fit.

“Completing a job, seeing everything work perfectly, and handing the keys back to the customer is rewarding. If it’s something you enjoy, do it, because you’ll never work a day if you love doing what you do.”

A Life Built Around Cars

Avery’s Automotive owner Tim Lewis couldn’t agree more. “Automotive has always been in my blood,” he said. “I’ve always worked on cars. My family was in the automotive business, so I grew up around it.”

Tim sees apprenticeships as a win-win.

“It’s huge. Students get that classroom education and then come in here and apply it. They learn something in the shop, take it back to class, and bring it back again. It’s a good give-and-take.”

When Damon suggested connecting with CFCC, Tim knew it was the perfect opportunity. “I needed to hire another guy, and Damon recommended reaching out to the college,” Tim said. “It’s been a great fit for both sides.”

After only a short time in the shop, Tim is already impressed with Cooper.

“He is a go-getter. He’s got his ears open and fits right in. I can tell he’s going to go a long way.”