MOVING UP - Congratulations to our Nissan SCOPE & Infiniti KEI Masters

Charles “Charlie” Hollis enjoys living in Florida and has been there since 1973 when his family relocated from Roselle, New Jersey. Charlie and his wife, Debra, live in Winter Haven in central Florida and are just a few hours from their grandchildren in Naples, Florida. “We love visiting the grandkids during the holidays,” he says.

Charlie started working on cars so he “would not have to pay someone else to work on mine.” He prefers transmissionrepair and especially the CVTs that are prevalent in current Nissan vehicles. He is an EV specialist and is also hybrid certified, but says: “We don’t see too many in our shop.” He could not live without his 3/8” drive cordless impact due to its ease-of-use and over 300 lbs-ft of torque.

Charlie says Nissan vehicles are “high-quality.” As a testament to this, he owns an Altima himself and would love to own a new Maxima or Infiniti Q50. He recommends Nissan to friends and family and his in-laws own a Murano.

To stay sharp, he keeps up with Nissan Virtual Academy, Motor Trend magazines and information from ASE. As far as advice for technicians seeking a master certification, he advises: “Get lots of handson training; ask a lot of questions; be tech-savvy; focus on electrical; and come in early and stay late.” Wise words indeed from this seasoned master technician.

Master technician Jason Jones’ favorite Nissan vehicle is the 2000-2003 Maxima. “I own one and it has 310,000 miles on it.” Jones says Nissan is: “A well thought out brand that is better than most American-made vehicles by far.” The hardest conditions to diagnose are software concerns. “When we diagnose some electrical problems, it is all free, so those are not as fun.”

By balancing class and job workloads concurrently, Jones achieved his master technician status by gaining first-hand experience. “I worked on the product, went to class, and did all of the on-line courses. Get as much experience as you can if you are a new technician. Don’t turn jobs away that you don’t feel like working on. Though each technician will have strengths and weaknesses, at Nissan we have to work on everything. You need to have a good range of knowledge on everything.”

Jason has two daughters, ages four and ten. They like to ride bikes and go to the park. Jason also loves to play his drums whenever he can.

As a self-professed military brat, Kevin Wolcott saw his fair share of the United States while living in Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, New Jersey and Texas. He currently resides in Oregon where he has lived for over 20 years. This single guy lives about 20 miles west of Portland and enjoys his daily work commute through farm and wine country. For fun, he enjoys running, hiking, snow skiing and craft beers.

Kevin’s first vehicle was a 1983 Datsun 720 4WD 4-cylinder pickup that he still has! It is in great shape and he even rallies it in the dirt. He currently also owns an Infiniti G35 and has previously owned an ’87 200SX, a ’66 Mustang, and various motorcycles. If he had unlimited funds, he would get a new GT-R that he has dreamed of since the 1990s Skyline GT-R days. Kevin says: “I have always been a Nissan fan. I like the quality of Nissan vehicles and I would highly recommend them.”

Kevin started out by pursuing a mechanical engineering degree and received his Associates in Applied Science fromPortland Community College. After college, he understood that he really wanted a more hands-on career and decided to pursue automotive repair. He especially likes the electrical repairs, and if the clock was not ticking, he could “spend all day working on electrical.” His advice for technicians pursuing a master certification: “Have a broad knowledge base, but focus on electrical. Get ASEs and take the training that Nissan provides.”

Joe Rygiel has been with Nissan at the same dealer for the last 21 years. Joe was able to complete training thanks to his boss, who helped him get to school for certifications. His words of wisdom for new technicians are: “Do as much as you can for schooling, and stay up-to-date on classes and on the Virtual Academy. Focus on electrical systems if you do not know what you are doing.”

Rygiel values the C-III plus tool, which he uses everyday and also TechTalk magazine’s articles. He stays current on information in Virtual Academy himself. “I keep up-to-date and make sure that I take every test and stuff like that. It works; it gets you ready to take your tests. I use ASE but the VA is way better.”

Thankfully for Joe, winter is here, and he can get around to his favorite hobby outside of work: snowmobiling in Wisconsin.

Joshua Russo, 28, has been working for Nissan for the last 12 years. He got his start with Nissan through an auto program for youth where he worked after school and in the summer. His sound advice for those interested in becoming a master technician is: “Sweep the floor of the guy that knows more than you. Absorb anything that you can, and respect people that have more knowledge than you. Go to the website and click on everything that has not been done yet.”

Russo says his favorite Nissan vehicle, if he had to buy one, is the Versa because it is practical, but his favorite Nissan vehicle of all time is the 1991 Sentra. He also values the practicality of the Altima and the Rogue, his two favorite Nissan vehicles to repair.

For Joshua, achieving master technician status has meant more money and a greater sense of job security. “It is an accomplishment. There are lots of things that you can start and not finish, so it feels good to finish. I feel like I accomplished it, and I want to do something else. Next, I want to be a photographer.” Film and photography are two of Joshua’s interests outside of cars. Russo’s favorite part of his job is breaking bread with his coworkers. “I look forward to the sense of community, seeing people, eating together and building relationships.”

Of all the parts of a master technician’s job, Karl Knudsen thrives on making customers happy. He says that becoming a master technician has made his job easier. “I’m proud of it. I’m proud to have all the certifications and to be able to work on the product. Stick with it even when it is hard or you think it is too tough, just go to the trainings and do the classes.”

For new technicians, Karl specifically recommends focusing on the On-Board Diagnostic training and the advanced electrical training. For Karl, electrical issues present a welcome challenge and something to keep things interesting.

Knudsen is happy about his employment with Nissan, which he describes as a brand that portrays all-around excellence. “I bought my wife the brand-new Pathfinder and we love it! It gets great gas mileage with no problems.” Karl stays up-to-date on his Nissan education by logging in to the Virtual Academy once a week.

Knudsen has been with Nissan for close to 12 years and has been married for two years. In his time away from the dealership, Karl spends time with his wife and their baby son.

With 30 years in the car business, Michael Lee was able to fast track to master technician status and achieve it in less than two years by testing out of many categories. He says that rather than focusing on one thing, technicians need to see how everything goes together. “You have to have good diagnostic skills, be able to take cars apart and put them back together, and also be able to do electrical work. Everything goes together…new guys have a lot of catching up to do. Technology moves fast, and you have to stay current.”

The Maxima is Michael’s favorite Nissan vehicle and he even works on them in the shop. He says that all jobs have their pluses and minuses, but the toughest jobs to diagnose are intermittent concerns. He finds time for many major pluses in his free time: “In my free time, I scuba dive and ski. I goof off in the yard.” Over the summer, Michael took a trip with his son to the finals of a national advertising design competition.

Nicholas Ching is inspired as a master technician to provide the best service possible. “Honestly, it is just a status that’s all it is. To me, I look at it as: how can I benefit a customer? How can I stand out, be a good technician, and fix it right the first time? Master technician is a status, but I enjoy the journey as far as getting the knowledge, learning from the instructor, talking to engineers, and learning different aspects of the vehicle. You get to see the auto equation during training, and then we do the mechanical side of it. I enjoy the learning process.” He says if you are a new technician and are passionate about being a mechanic, then stick with it to become a master technician. “Learn how things work and learn from other people.”

Of all Nissan vehicles, Nicholas would love to own a 1995-1999 240SX with a unique 5.6-liter engine. As far as work is concerned, Nicholas says: “I like any vehicle that presents a challenge. It has to be a challenge, electrically hard, mechanically hard, anything other dealerships won’t touch or haven’t touched; I like that.” He has fun at work, but when he is not at the dealer, Nicholas plays with his son and spends time with the rest of his family.

Pat Costello is proud to be a master technician. When asked what it means to him, Pat says: “Knowing my personal accomplishments. In my career, I have reached the top.” Costello has automotive work in his blood. “I like engine work. I have always found the internal workings of an engine interesting. I was five when I started looking at cars. I grew up in a family full of technicians. My dad is a master technician. My grandfather was, too. So it wasn’t too shocking that I became one. I like the Nissan brand. I like the company as a whole, and I have worked for a couple different ones. I like the cars and the functionality.”

Costello’s guidance for new guys is motivational: “Take in all the factory training that is available. Take advantage of it. You reach the level of master technician by taking advantage of what’s available from the manufacturer.”

When he is not fixing an engine, Pat spends time with his three girls, ages three, eight and 13. “We do lots of traveling and go to museums. We are going to the aquarium. In the rest of the free time that I have, I work on performance cars.”

Richard Parks says that if a technician is aspiring to become a master technician, his best advice is: “Stick to the online stuff. Stick to the training center courses. Get your trainings done, get to school, do what you got to do. Nissan has a good training system; I was pleased with the training path.” The online training is his chosen method of refreshers for himself. “Whenever I get any down time, I check the Virtual Academy and see what is new, what I have not done yet, and sometimes you get a problem car and you go to the video library. It is pretty neat.”

When asked what he most looks forward to in his job, Richard said: “You can’t have fun at home if you do not make money at work.” In his free time, he says: “I have a garage full of cars that I love to play with; hot rods and things of that nature. I also get out and hang with the family every time I can.”

Richard Sowle shares his love of cars with his father, who has been a mechanic during Richard’s entire life. With Nissan for six years now, Richard says that new technicians with aspirations of being a master technician should: “Work hard, don’t slack, work hard to get your goals.” He also recommends going to any training sessions that come up. For Sowle, achieving master technician status has been a lifelong goal.

Though Richard does not recommend focusing on one specific type of training, he says the most difficult and time consuming concerns to repair are associated with engine drivability. Richard appreciates each of the resources of information available in the shop; the C-III plus, ESMs and Virtual Academy. Sowle is the proud father of three children, and when he is not at work, they spend time together at the house. What is next for Richard? He is considering getting into automotive engineering.

Achieving master technician status, a GT-R certification, and an EV certification means Robert Sitton is qualified to fix nearly any Nissan that rolls into the service bay, and that makes him proud. He says: “If you are a new technician, concentrate on the basic stuff before you get to the technical side of things. Knowing how things work will help you know how to fix them when they break.” Robert stays on top of the newest technology: “I research pretty much everyday the latest bulletin out. I have a photographic memory so anything I see I retain and I know how to fix it or where to go to get the info.”

Happy to be at Nissan, Sitton says: “I think that Nissan is among some of the best quality. I came from the aftermarket world so I have worked on all vehicles. Things that I see in our vehicles versus other vehicles; we are on top of the food chain when it comes to quality.”

Robert most enjoys the problem solving that is associated with the job. In the future, Robert hopes to move into training or management.

Ryan Turvey enjoys fixing cars for his Nissan customers more than any other part of the job. “I look forward to just staying busy and getting customer concerns resolved. It is nice when I can tell that customers are seriously concerned and I get to help them out.”

With Nissan for a little over five years, Ryan began his car education at Wyoming Tech, where he took automotive classes. He worked with two other employers before coming to Nissan, a brand he describes as having: “Very good quality. I got my parents to buy one and I know they like it.” He emphasizes the importance of staying on top of any training that comes out because new information is available all the time. Ryan also recommends that new technicians focus on OBD training.

In his time away from the dealership, Ryan plays softball. He also has two young girls, ages two and five. For fun, they go to the ballpark together for games and also to the regular park to play outside.

Of all of the resources that are available to technicians in the dealership, Stephen Bowen says: “The ASE testing link on the Virtual Academy always helps me calm down and keep my info flowing smoothly. That is a phenomenal link to the Virtual Academy.” He also uses TechTalk and TSBs. “It is all vital information.” For aspiring master technicians, Bowen recommends: “Definitely go online and take whatever testing and classes are available because this product changes everyday. Put your nose in the books and go to school. Look for an apprentice program. Get under the wing of somebody that has been in the business for awhile.”

Bowen has been with Nissan for six years. He says: “Nissan is an innovative brand. Always with new ideas, Nissan is always changing things, tweaking the system, keeping it different, but being competitive in the industry at the same time.”

When he is not at the shop, Bowen also likes to work on big trucks. In the next five or ten years, Stephen is interested in becoming a Dealer Technical Specialist so he can go to dealers and help diagnose problems.

Todd Smetana uses his down time at the dealership to see how he came to certain conclusions in the past so that they become routine. This tip is a great way to follow through on his recommendation for those that are aspiring to be master technicians. “I would recommend study, study, study. Get as much experience as you can, and I guess if you do not know about something either ask people or find it online. Get the experience and knowledge about how things work. You have to have knowledge of a car in order to figure out what is wrong.”

Todd says that once he figured out CAN communication, he felt like he understood everything, and now he enjoys working on all of it. “My absolute favorites would be engine and transmission work, head repair jobs, engine and transmission replacements and timing belt changes.”

Smetana achieved master technician status by having these key qualities: the will, ability, drive and a firm commitment to achieve the certification. He says Nissan quality is top-of-the-line. “I drive a G37, and in my spare time, I work on my 300Z and Firebird, and I hope to get a 240SX soon.”

Zachary Boggs, a shop foreman, says: “The Nissan brand is far and above any other brand I have worked for. They treat us well. The training is spot on. It’s a brand you can learn in years instead of decades.” He has a solid recommendation for technicians: learn the Nissan Text System. Boggs loves this system because: “It hits our phones and emails before it hits the technical bulletin system that they send the Nissan technicians, so we are familiar with problems before the cars with them show up. It’s really nice.”

For Zachary, becoming a master technician has meant many opportunities and different ways to make more money to support his family. He says his road to master technician status included much hard work, studying, and paying attention to masters and technicians around him to learn the field and the product. What is the best part of the job to him? “It is very rewarding to get cars fixed. I like helping people get back on the road.” In his time away from being a shop leader, Boggs has a cabin where he goes to hunt and fish.

Congratulations to our Nissan SCOPE & Infiniti KEI Senior Specialists

Bhavin Patel

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Kraft Nissan

Tallahassee, FL

Matthew Furia

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Conicelli Nissan

Conshohocken, PA

Randy Rafanan

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Tracy Nissan

Tracy, CA

Chris Shelton

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Bob Moore Nissan/Norman

Norman, OK

Drew Hertel

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Thayer Nissan

Bowling Green, OH

Tom Knudsen

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Gerald Nissan, Inc.

Naperville, IL

Cuong Ngo

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Don Davis Nissan, Inc.

Arlington, TX

William Hall

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Fitzgerald Nissan

Chambersburg, PA

Trent Hawks

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Classic Nissan Statesville

Statesville, NC

James Manning

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Bill Cole Nissan

Ashland, KY

Jason Polosky

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

I-90 Nissan

Sheffield Village, OH

James Jones

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Connell Nissan

Costa Mesa, CA

Josue Franco

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

New River Nissan, Inc.

Christiansburg, VA

Shawn Belinda

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

George Harte Nissan, Inc.

West Haven, CT

Matthew Rich

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Boardwalk Nissan

Redwood City, CA

David Trent Jr.

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Joe Machens Nissan

Columbia, MO

Justin Brokke

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Reed Nissan

Orlando, FL

Alexander Smiley

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Thoroughbred Nissan

Tucson, AZ

Paul Riley

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Sullivan Bros. Nissan L/M

Kingston, MA

Thomas Warshefski

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Pinnacle Nissan

Scottsdale, AZ

David Traverse

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Oak Ridge Nissan

Oak Ridge, TN

David Warfield

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Momentum Nissan

Fairfield, CA

Thomas Davis

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Kelly Nissan

Easton, PA

Jonathan Morales

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Central Houston Nissan

Houston, TX

Stephen Young

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Vaden Nissan/Statesboro

Statesboro, GA

Rafael Cordero

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Executive Nissan

North Haven, CT

James Mcelhiney

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Hudson Nissan

North Charleston, SC

Chris Seales

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Massapequa Nissan

Seaford, NY

Richard Powell

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Eastern Carolina Nissan

New Bern, NC

Tony Ortiz

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

West Covina Nissan

West Covina, CA

Justin Howells

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Sutherlin Nissan Orlando

Orlando, FL

David Rawluk

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Nissan Marin

San Rafael, CA

Oren Buchler

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Thoroughbred Nissan

Tucson, AZ

Raphael Rodriguez

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Executive Nissan

North Haven, CT

Johnathan Stelly

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Nissan of Opelousas

Jackson, TN

Godfrey Chong

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

AutoNation Nissan Kendall

Palmetto Bay, FL

Eric Leon

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

AutoNation Nissan Kendall

Palmetto Bay, FL

Lorenzo De La Cruz

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Jim Bass Nissan

San Angelo, TX

Adam Pearce

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Nissan of McKinney

McKinney, TX

Alejandro Bejarano

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Mossy Nissan of Chula Vista

Chula Vista, CA

David Coe

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Hamilton Nissan, Inc.

Hagerstown, MD

Colon Netaliz

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Ron Bouchard’s Nissan

Lancaster, MA

Jason Cramblit

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Hall Nissan Chesapeak

Chesapeake, VA

Jared Redding

Infiniti KEI Senior Specialist

Cerritos Infiniti

Cerritos, CA

Tony West

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Ron Marhofer Nissan

Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Wen Tan

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Crown Nissan Greenville

Greenville, SC

Joseph Foster

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Michael Jordan Nissan

Durham, NC

Horacio Echeverria

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Nissan of McKinney

McKinney, TX