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James Voth was presented the inaugural NACAT Lifetime Achievement Award at the recently concluded Automotive Educator Conference, hosted by NACAT in partnership with California Automotive Teachers, in Sacramento, California.

Voth is recently retired from Red River College Polytechnic in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

NACAT President Ed Martin stated, "It may sound like hyperbole to mention the term lifetime achievement, but sometimes there is no other award which fits the dedication and devotion of an individual across decades. The inaugural award is representative of the lasting impact the recipient has left on NACAT and automotive education. I am honored to present this award to James Voth.''

Voth has spent 26 years as a NACAT member. During that time he has hosted two NACAT Conferences, now the Automotive Educators Conference, hosted by NACAT, at Red River College. Not one to sit idle, he then assisted with hosting the 2013 conference in Quebec City. He is also one of the few individuals to have been awarded the NACAT MVP award on more than one occasion, as he earned the accolade in both 2007 and 2017. He has also served numerous past terms on the NACAT Board, as NACAT Board Chair, and as NACAT Secretary / Treasurer. If something needs done, Voth is first on task.

Unfortunately, James Voth was unable to attend the conference in person, but accepted the award remotely. He stated, "Thank you for this lifetime achievement honor. I feel very humbled to receive this award and can think of many who are deserving of it." He continued, "I have been blessed to be able to serve NACAT for a number of years. My first experience was in 2000 at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan.” He furthered, “NACAT became important to me to learn new technologies and techniques while spending time with family and friends. For many years our family vacation included NACAT and the family members of other attendees. ... I want to thank you once again for this most humbling award. It means the world to me.” Voth also listed and thanked many people who became important to him and his family due to NACAT.

In 2017 James Voth was asked, “What does NACAT mean to me?” He responded that it means going to see friends. NACAT is lucky to have a friend like James Voth. 

Congratulations, James!