For Phoenix's East Valley Institute of Technology's (EVIT) automotive technology program, a unique partnership with local industry leaders is a key to success. Due to a highly successful partnership with Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES), EVIT has been named the number one high school automotive program in the United States for placement of its students into jobs with dealerships. As a school recognized by AYES, EVIT has the support of major automobile manufacturers who provide equipment, supplies, and even cars for students to work on. The manufacturers and dealerships want technicians who are trained on the latest in automotive technology, and they are willing to provide the resources to get them. Retention of service technicians has long been a problem for auto dealerships. Dealers are recognizing the advantage of "home growing" their own technicians by bringing in high school student interns through AYES. When they participate in AYES, interns are likely to stick with the dealerships that have employed and supported them early on. The dealers benefit in many ways. The AYES process ensures that the best and brightest students are selected to apply for these internships. For many of them, this is a first job, and that promotes loyalty. Students view the internship as an opportunity to get started in their career and to continue their education after they complete EVIT's automotive program and graduate from high school. This article describes how EVIT's automotive program works with AYES to prepare highly skilled auto technicians.