BLOOMINGTON, MN (BRAIN) Feb 8, 16:09 MT—QBP is teaching some of its employees how to work on bikes, in hopes of expanding their career horizons and perhaps encouraging them to ride more.
The distributor set up the QBP Mechanic Institute and some shop-savvy employees taught a 40-hour course on bike mechanic skills over a five-week period. The institute graduated 16 employees recently.
“At QBP we have many great employees who are passionate about bikes, but do not have a background in bike mechanics,” said Kate Kowalsky, QBP HR manager and QMI co-founder. “Providing them this training allows them to grow in their personal and professional development, and opens opportunities for them to move into roles at QBP that they would otherwise not be eligible for.”
For the fifth and final session of the course, the QMI grads volunteered for a day at Sibley Bike Depot, a non-profit community bike shop in St. Paul.
QBP plans to offer another QBP Mechanic Institute in January 2013.
