LRCC’s Kim Stevenson recognized for contributions developing New Hampshire auto industry workforce

LACONIA — Kim Stevenson, instructor and coordinator of the Toyota-Technician Education Network automotive program at Lakes Region Community College, was recently recognized as the Post-Secondary Instructor of the Year at the New Hampshire Auto Dealers Association 2025 Scholarship and Industry Night. This was the first year educators and mentors were honored at the annual event to attract and retain young people in New Hampshire’s auto industry.

Stevenson joined LRCC’s faculty in 2021, after working at Grappone Automotive Group for 19 years. While at Grappone, she worked in a range of roles including technician, service advisor, and dispatcher. She brought her hands-on expertise to her position at LRCC, where she both instructs and coordinates paid dealership positions for students in the T-TEN Program.

The T-TEN automotive program was developed through a partnership between Toyota Motor North America, the Northeast Region’s Toyota/Lexus dealerships and LRCC. It combines state-of-the-art technical training on the latest Toyota and Lexus vehicles with academic course work and paid dealership experience. Graduates who complete the 22-month Toyota Lexus technician education program receive an Associate of Applied Science degree in Automotive Technology and Toyota Lexus certifications in all areas.

“I tell potential students that they start with a job and end with a career,” Stevenson said.

High school automotive instructors and other participants in NHADA’s workforce development initiatives nominated Stevenson for the honor. 

“Kim was nominated for this award by her peers — and for good reason. Time and again, Kim has proven that she is more than a post-secondary automotive instructor — she is deeply committed to building a strong workforce by preparing skilled, educated students to create meaningful careers for themselves. In addition to her full commitment as an LRCC instructor, she has been actively involved in numerous technician initiatives both within New Hampshire and beyond,” said Adam Memmolo, workforce development coordinator at NHADA.

Along with her husband, Ryan, Stevenson developed a program that donates retired state police engines and car parts to high school automotive programs across the state. She also joined a statewide high school tour to promote and celebrate automotive career opportunities throughout New Hampshire and has hosted Girls Inc. at LRCC to give young women an inside look at careers in the automotive industry.

Stevenson discovered a passion for cars in 2001 when she bought a 1989 Audi 80 that needed work. With advice from friends and family and some careful reading of automotive manuals, she taught herself to fix her car. Today, she is a founding member of the Toyota Boston Region Female Technician Roundtable to encourage women to enter and remain in the automotive industry as technicians.

“I love the technical side of working on cars, but I am also energized helping young people discover a career path in the automotive industry. I’m incredibly honored to be recognized as Post-Secondary Instructor of the Year, but my work doesn’t happen alone. I couldn’t do it without partnering with teachers, dealers and many others,” said Stevenson.

For more information, visit LRCC.edu.