How Brown’s Automotive Created an Innovative Apprenticeship for CNM Students

Brown’s Automotive is setting an example for the entire auto industry here in Albuquerque. In addition to delivering quality repairs and top-notch customer service, they’ve also spun up an apprenticeship program that’s training the next generation of technicians.

For the past decade they’ve worked with CNM to offer opportunities to automotive students still in school or who have just graduated. The company, which has five locations around the city, has always welcomed the College’s students with the goal of building on their education.

“We’re mindful about how they’re treated and what jobs to assign based on their experience level,” says Dustin Brown who co-owns the company with his brother Nolan. “We want to see them succeed, so we take a strategic approach by having them work with more senior technicians to hone their skills.”

The system works. One employee, John Porter, was hired after completing an apprenticeship with Brown’s Automotive as part of his Associate Degree in Automotive Technology at CNM. Within six months he became a flat-rate technician and is now on track to earn his National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification.

Curtis Garand, CNM Transportation Program Director and longtime automotive instructor, praises Brown’s for meeting students where they are, then building them up.

“Apprenticeships at Brown’s give students a chance to use their CNM knowledge in the real world with real customers,” Garand says. “These aren’t training vehicles anymore. They’re actual people with genuine concerns, and these apprentices have the benefit of putting their skills to practice under expert mentorship.”

In addition to the mentorship program, Dustin Brown also serves on the CNM Automotive Technology Certificate Advisory Council, which includes automotive industry leaders from across the Albuquerque area.

“The council helps our program stay ahead of trends and keeps our curriculum relevant,” Garand says. “Members like Dustin help guide our programming and provide real insight into where the industry is headed and what new technologies students need to be trained in.”

For Brown, the partnership with CNM is about more than hiring – it’s a shared responsibility. CNM provides the foundation and employers like Brown’s Automotive provide the runway.

"The work doesn't stop after graduation," he says. "New workers need patient, supportive employers to succeed. Only by working together can we build a thriving New Mexico workforce."