Universal Technical Institute in Norwood Earns Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce "Large Business of the Year" Award

NORWOOD, Mass., March 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Technical Institute (NYSE:UTI), the leading provider of post-secondary education for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians, was presented with the Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce (NVCC) "Large Business of the Year" award for 2013 during a ceremony at the Chamber's annual awards meeting on Thursday, January 23, 2014.  

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140304/LA73833 )

This prestigious "Large Business of the Year" award is presented to an NVCC business member who demonstrates outstanding achievement in general management, employee relations, business growth, product innovation, and community and social responsibility. 

"UTI impressed our selection committee with the way the campus and its employees embody each of the award traits - in particular, their efforts to support STEM initiatives in Massachusetts and nationwide, their support of the Chamber's Education and Business Committee, and their positive involvement in the community," said Thomas O'Rourke, NVCC President and CEO. 

The NVCC serves the needs of businesses in a twelve-town region southwest of Boston, and supports the business community and economic development efforts by providing leadership, advocacy, and opportunities for expanded and enhanced relationships among business, government, and the community.   

During the awards ceremony O'Rourke commended UTI-Norwood for partnering with industry to help solve the labor skills gap, culminating in the New England Skills Gap Expo: Solutions Through STEM event that UTI hosted at its Norwood campus in November of 2013, an event that brought together business, education, and community leaders to discuss ideas that could help bridge the skills gap and highlight initiatives that advance STEM education. This is the second annual event that UTI-Norwood has hosted to help raise awareness about the need for greater collaboration between industry and education in creating curricula that prepare students with the relevant STEM-related skills needed to achieve employment. 

UTI-Norwood is an active member of the NVCC's Education and Business Committee, hosting and participating in the Chamber's annual Student Seminar which allows students from schools in the Neponset Valley region to discuss career paths with members of the local business community.

"It is a great honor to receive this award on behalf of UTI and the staff in Norwood who work every day to make a difference in people's lives by connecting them to jobs and by giving back to our communities," said Chuck Barresi, Campus President for UTI-Norwood and Vice President, Operations Eastern Region. "We look forward to continuing to support the efforts of the NVCC."

UTI-Norwood employees and their families, as well as students, have a strong tradition of being actively involved in the community. Several times each year the campus participates in blood drives where staff and students donate more than 375 units of blood to the American Red Cross. Additionally, in 2013 the campus hosted the Boston Strong Car Meet, an event that featured over 800 cars and 1200 attendees with 100% of the proceeds donated to The One Fund Boston to support the victims and families affected by the bombings at the Boston Marathon.

The UTI-Norwood campus opened in June 2005. Approximately 95 employees work at the 240,000-square-foot education facility.

About Universal Technical Institute, Inc.:
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) is the leading provider of post-secondary education for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians. With more than 170,000 graduates in its 48-year history, UTI offers undergraduate degree, diploma and certificate programs at 11 campuses across the United States, as well as manufacturer-specific training programs at dedicated training centers. Through its campus-based school system, UTI provides specialized post-secondary education programs under the banner of several well-known brands, including Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI) and NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech).

For more information visit www.uti.edu. Like UTI on www.facebook.com/UTI or follow UTI on Twitter @UTITweet, @MMITweet, and @NASCARTechUTI.

SOURCE Universal Technical Institute, Inc.