Great Lakes Boat Building School

Volvo Penta Donation Provides Training Opportunity for GLBBS Students

Volvo Penta Supports Student Training at GLBBS with Equipment Donation – GLBBS students are all smiles while checking out the engines donated by Volvo Penta to the Marine Service Technology Program at Great Lakes Boat Building School.

Cedarville, Michigan – August 24th, 2023 – If you were to ask students at Great Lakes Boat Building School (GLBBS) what attracted them to pursue a marine-trades education two answers always float to the top – a love for the water and a desire to work with their hands.

GLBBS is known for providing exceptional hands-on training through their Comprehensive Career Boat Building and Marine Service Technology Programs. Over the course of twelve months, students train on everything from building and repairing, to how to drive and dock a boat. Students graduate with a strong educational foundation and certifications that give them a leg up in establishing a career in the marine industry.

The GLBBS Staff and Board work with leading marine companies to understand the types of training these future employers will need students to gain. Through these partnerships, instructors build or update the educational curriculum to ensure that student’s training is up-to-date with industry needs. To achieve this level of training, GLBBS partners with marine companies who provide the equipment being used in today’s industry. As a non-profit, these donations go a long way in supporting the school’s goal to provide an excellent marine education in a cost effective manner.

With great excitement, the GLBBS students and instructors recently received a large equipment donation from Volvo Penta, a leading supplier of engines and power systems for leisure and commercial boats and industrial applications. The donation included a brand new Volvo Penta V8 430 – a gasoline sterndrive engine which included the electronic vessel control system and digital gauge. The other engine, a KAMD44 Diesel, was used for training by Volvo Penta and will be vital in helping GLBBS start their new diesel program. Matt Edmondson, Lead Instructor at GLBBS, says these engines will provide great opportunities in maintenance, troubleshooting, and other general training for students.

This is just the first step for GLBBS in their partnership with Volvo Penta, which they say will continue to grow in the upcoming years.  “We have Volvo Penta dealer access and are able to assign Technician ID numbers for the students. This gives them access to online training courses and information that counts towards Volvo Penta gasoline or diesel certifications.” says Edmondson, “Eventually we will be able to offer the full certification courses here at GLBBS.”

“Skilled technicians are essential to the boating lifestyle. The work they do keeps boats on the water and customer satisfaction levels high, but it’s our role as manufacturers to make sure they have the tools and training needed to be successful,” said Magnus Gedda, Director of Competence Development for Volvo Penta North America. “We applaud GLBBS for their efforts in providing a hands-on educational experience and look forward to the journey ahead as we work together to develop the next-generation of Volvo Penta marine technicians.”

For those wanting to learn more about the Great Lakes Boat Building School in Cedarville, tours are offered throughout the summer on Friday afternoons at 2pm. More information can be found online at www.glbbs.edu.

About Great Lakes Boat Building School

GLBBS produces qualified students from their Comprehensive Career Boat Building Program (CCBB) and the Marine Service Technology Program (MST), in partnership with Mercury Marine University, with a consistent 100% placement rate.  The School addresses the shortage of skilled trades and craftspeople in the marine industry following graduation. For prospective student enrollment information go to www.admissions@glbbs.org or call 906.484.1081.

Information about the “GLBBS Marine Dealer Education Network” is available by contacting Tom Coates, Director of Development at thomas.coates@glbbs.edu or by calling 906.484.1081.

Great Lakes Boat Building School is a non-profit organization recognized as a charitable organization and is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.