respective skill levels, versus workers accruing additional debt by continually purchasing toolsets on their own - a major hurdle to bringing in and keeping the talent this industry desperately needs. THE GENTHE AUTOMOTIVE DIRECT PURCHASING MODEL Take Genthe Automotive, a group of Michigan-based automotive dealerships that has been family owned for more than a century and recognizes that a successful career in service and repair starts with a strong foundation -- proper training, a solid work ethic, and reliable tools. Genthe created its own TechJump Program which trains technicians on well-defined, crystal-clear career progression pathways to start their respective automotive service and repair careers. What sets Genthe's program apart is its goal of equipping trainees with the right professional tools at the right time. Genthe provides each technician with toolsets and corresponding toolboxes to alleviate the initial burden of tool costs for new technicians. Common barriers to entry, such as tool debt, do not fall on the 38