Two alumni employed by Cleveland Brothers Equipment Co. Inc. – Nathan E. Chase, a 1988 diesel mechanics graduate of Williamsport Area Community College (Penn College's immediate predecessor institution) and Joshua D. Ford, who earned an associate degree in diesel technology in 2002 – visited the Schneebeli Earth Science Center on Monday to give first-year students and seniors an exciting look at the future of the commercial trucking industry.The pair spoke to a number of classes about the Tre BEV, a battery-electric vehicle manufactured by Nikola Motor Co. and sold through Cleveland Brothers' regional dealerships. Both men are employed at Cleveland Brothers' Turbotville location: Chase as a technical communicator and Ford as a service manager. Also on hand was Randy Fetterolf, a corporate technical recruiter for Cleveland Brothers, whose frequent attendance at Career Fairs is reflective of the longtime partnership among the college and Caterpillar and its network of dealers.
The college's commercial diesel curriculum covers hybrid and basic BEVs in its Automated & Hybrid Drive Systems course (DSM 278), and Monday's demonstration was presented to students in diesel technology, heavy construction equipment technology and electric power generation technology. Cleveland Brothers, a Corporate Tomorrow Maker that has attained Millionaire's Society status on the college's Donor Wall, has provided technology, equipment and monetary support since 1994.