PLEASANTON, Calif.--The College of Automotive Management opened its newest branch in Pleasanton, Calif.

"This is another exciting step for us as we pursue our goal of expanding our college to every major metropolis in the United States," said Eric Andersen, president and chief executive officer. "This new branch will provide recruitment, training and placement assistance to the dealers and lenders in the Bay Area. Our first class of career students from the Bay Area is committed to long-term careers in the automotive and lending industries."

The College of Automotive Management has been recruiting, training and helping place career-minded individuals in the automotive and lending industries since 1992. Graduates of the college are offered to employers at no charge. Most are hired as F&I managers, special finance managers, Internet department managers and corporate sales representatives for companies that sell products to dealers or lenders. They are also hired as loan officers at automotive lending institutions. Employers who want to train their current employees in the areas described can enroll them in classes offered daily in San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County, Calif., and now Pleasanton.

Sharon Van Brunt, a graduate of the College in 1993, is the new associate director of the Pleasanton branch.

"As a previous general manager of a dealership and owner of my own F&I software business, I can appreciate what the college can do for the auto dealer as well as companies doing business with dealers in the Bay Area," said Van Brunt. "One aspect of our company that makes us unique is that the college does not sell any products--only training. That allows the college to do business with dealers as well as product companies and agencies without replacing their relationships with their dealer groups. Dealers can hire our graduates for free or send their employees in for specific foundational training to be promoted from within, and do it all on an as-needed basis without contracts or long-term commitments."

The college offers up to 240 hours of curriculum in sales, Internet department management, F&I and special finance, loan underwriting, legal compliance and desking/deal structuring. All curricula are based on ethical procedures with complete disclosures and legally compliant word tracts.

"We want every customer who does business with a College of Automotive Management graduate to be completely satisfied and to fully understand their purchase when the business is done," said Keith Tuber, the College’s vice president of corporate communications. "We believe that is the source of repeat and referral business for all companies, and that is the backbone of our teaching methods and curriculum."

Graduates also benefit from the strategic alliances the College has forged over the years. Currently, a graduate can earn up to 28 college credits good toward any of Northwood University’s associate's or bachelor's degree programs through a unique articulation agreement with Northwood. The college also utilizes the most current industry software applications, such as Advent, Pro Profit Plus, AVV Web and others, for the benefit of graduates and their employers.