PowerSport Institute Hires Bernie Thompson and Revs Up!
The new motorcycle technician training program at Ohio Technical College is growing by leaps and bounds. The PowerSport Institute or PSI, a division of Ohio Technical College, is turning the heads of some of the biggest players in the motorcycle industry.
Recent developments in the program are attributed to PSI’s new Director, Bernie Thompson, who joined PSI in September coming from AMI in Florida and from the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI) in Florida where he served 13 years as the Director of Education for the motorcycle training school. Those schools are now the competition for PSI which is the only major motorcycle technician training program of it’s kind in the northern and midwestern parts of the United States.
Just in his first two months as PSI’s Director of Education, Thompson has already made great strides with industry and improving the program with more exciting partnerships to come. “This program has come a long way just since Bernie has joined us,” said Gene Burgess, PSI’s Education Coordinator and instructor. Burgess and Thompson previously worked together at another motorcycle training school “I have been wanting us (PSI) to get this guy for a while now,” Burgess said.
The consensus among the rest of the PSI instructors and OTC management is that Bernie was the missing puzzle piece. Recently, Thompson has been instrumental in getting support from companies such as KTM, Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda and Kawasaki to name a few.
Bernie believes that gaining the trust and support from WISECO, a world leader in the manufacturing of hi-performance, forged pistons for the Powersports market., Bel-Ray Lubricants, Yuasa Batteries, and Battery Tender are critical to providing quality products that support the training at PSI.
Marc Brenner, President of Ohio Technical College is also trying to acquire additional space in the building PSI is located in to make room for additional manufacturer training space including Honda. “Honda is committed to PSI and wants to train our students in the Honda way just as BMW has its own training facility inside OTC.” Brenner announced.
With a Honda training school, students would get a program supported with the latest in technology, training aids and product. PSI is committed to quality education with the training aids needed to enhance the student's learning experience. Brenner and Thompson also have plans to attract Harley Davidson for this same type of specialized training program.
