Moving Up Masters and Seniors

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

John Sasek

Nissan SCOPE Master

Robert Allen Nissan Helena

Helena, MT

Jack Sasek has seen and done quite a bit in over 50 years working on cars. He became interested in cars while in a high school auto trades class and his dad was a technician back when they were still called mechanics. After high school, Jack joined the Navy, and after that, he started working with Nissan at a Datsun dealer in 1980. Thirty-five years later, he still loves what Nissan has to offer. Jack says: “I know about other brands but I’m familiar with Nissans. The way they are designed and work makes sense to me. I highly recommend them.”

Sasek has been a certified master technician for one year. Since he lives far from the training center in Seattle, it took a while to coordinate those classes. “It is 600 miles to Seattle, so it wasn’t cheap to get me there,” he said. It is something that he wanted for a long time and he is grateful that his dealership invested in him. Jack has these words of wisdom for technicians seeking their master technician certification: “Study the basics. Things like electrical current flow. It’s still about volts and ohms.”

When away from the dealership, Jack enjoys time with his wife of 24 years, Karen Richey, and his three daughters: Darbee, 36, Britney, 33, and Casey, 22. He is an avid woodworker typically carving ornate jewelry boxes and furniture. He loves vintage cars and owns a rare ’65 Corvette with a 425 hp 396 engine and 4-speed. He also owns a street-rodded ‘49 Ford Pickup with a 454 and a flat bed.

Jeffrey Dana

Infiniti KEI Master

Atlantic Infiniti, Inc.

Jacksonville, FL

Jeff Dana enjoys the sun and warmth of Florida, but was born and raised in Cedar Grove, Wisconsin. He lives in Florida with his wife of nearly four years, Amanda, and they share their home with three dogs and two cats. They enjoy hiking, fishing, biking, motorcycle rides on his 2014 Yamaha R1 and relaxing at the beach. Jeff says: “But we have our most fun shooting clay pigeons. Amanda even has her own shotgun. Sometimes she drags me out to shoot.”

“I always liked ripping things apart when I was younger. Cutting them open to see what makes ‘em tick. I was always adventurous as a kid. I liked climbing trees a lot,” Dana says. When he attended WyoTech in Laramie, Wyoming, he was more interested in custom bodywork and less interested in automotive mechanical repair. He adds: “I really just wanted to chop tops!” But the rest is history, and he has happily been an Infiniti automotive technician for seven years.

Tools and training are keys to success to Jeff. Of all the electronic diagnostic options available, Jeff likes the power to choose. He says: “It depends on the problem. Sometimes ASIST, CONSULT, or TECH LINE; it really just depends.” He also likes Virtual Academy. “I definitely like the rundown and test after.” For younger technicians, he recommends: “Stick with it. Don’t get sidetracked. Get your ASEs.” And Dana says a focus on training is important: “It keeps you enthused to get to classes. Learn and use CONSULT and know how it works. It allows you to see values and reprogram parts.”

Bernard Davis

Nissan SCOPE Master

K.C. Summers Nissan, Inc.

Mattoon, IL

Bernard Davis was born and raised in Mattoon, Illinois and still works about 5-10 minutes from his home. He is single, but he has plenty of company from his two hound dogs, Bo and Daisy Duke, named from “The Dukes of Hazzard” television show. He enjoys taking the dogs out to hunt rabbit or squirrel. He also enjoys time on his ‘09 Harley Super Glide.

He attended UTI in Glendale Heights, Illinois and scored an apprentice job at the Nissan dealer in Glendale Heights. “The master technician there taught me a whole lot of stuff.” Davis has 10 total years with Nissan and one year as a master technician. “I like engine work and getting deep into the inner workings.”

To stay fresh, he goes through ASIST in the morning, checks TSBs and revisits old Virtual Academy courses. His advice to younger technicians: “Apply yourself and start with ASEs. Work your way through manufacturer training. Keep working. Great things come from being a master technician, especially the respect of other techs.”

When asked about Nissan and Infiniti vehicles, he said: “I am a big fan! I have owned a ’93 240SX, a Frontier and an Xterra. I even got my mom into a Frontier and my dad into an Altima; it was my dad’s first Japanese vehicle.” He added: “My favorite Nissan is a ’96 240SX.”

Jason Hollinger

Nissan SCOPE Master

Ken Garff Nissan of Orem

Orem, UT

Jason Hollinger is an example of how perseverance pays off. He has worked his way up from tire guy, through to line work and now he is a master technician and foreman. Jason has worked for Nissan for almost 6 years and says a key to success is: “a lot of hard work. I go the extra mile and figure things out.”

He also has some thoughts about Nissan tools and vehicles. “The C-III plus gives you a better understanding of what these systems should read. It really helps diagnose the car.” Hollinger has this to say about Nissan vehicles: “I love the GT-R. I love that it is a $100,000 vehicle that keeps up with the cars that are half a million to a million dollars plus.” He adds: “I drove a Titan forever and loved it. They are very stout.”

Jason has some keen insight on the path to master technician certification. He is grateful that he had the opportunity. “Becoming a Master is a pretty big achievement for me. My company values me and they put the time and money in to train me.” His advice for technicians about becoming a master technician: “Stick with it. There will be a lot of jobs and things you work on that are going to fight you and those jobs will get you to higher levels.”

He does not have much free time since he is a foreman, but he looks forward to spending time with his wife when he does. “Every little bit of extra time I have I want to spend with her.”

Andrew Muns

Nissan SCOPE Master

Lynnes Nissan West, Inc.

Stanhope, NJ

Andrew Muns had an interest in cars that started when he was young. As a teen, he decided he wanted to fix things himself rather than rely on someone else. He graduated from UTI in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has been with Nissan since 2006 and achieved his master technician status in 2014.

Andrew likes Nissan for its vehicle quality and technical resources. He likes the vehicles since they “stay current with technology and have great attention to detail.” In February, he attended LEAF training and he likes that there are “not many issues with the hybrids.” He likes the C-III plus tool: “It is great. I like the reports and that it is able to record data.” He also finds that TechTalk on ASIST is a valuable resource. He likes the systems’ coverage that helps with better understanding.

His advice to newer technicians for repairs: “Fix it right. Double-check. Don’t forget preventative maintenance.” For training, he recommends that new technicians: “Focus on hands-on training, take advantage of online training and get your ASEs.”

Andrew enjoys his time at home in Hopatcong, New Jersey, which is 7 miles from work. He has a son, Chase, who is 3-1/2 years old and a long-time girlfriend, but no wedding plans in the near future. He likes boating and fishing on Lake Hopatcong and working on cars, but most of all, he enjoys watching his son fix his own Power Wheels® vehicles.

Anthony Jacobsen

Nissan SCOPE Master

Dennis Dillon Nissan

Boise, ID

Newlywed Anthony Jacobsen really enjoys Idaho with his wife of just 8 months, Rachel. They enjoy time outdoors with their Border Collie mixes, Abbie and Annie. They especially enjoy time at their Lake Cascade getaway.

Anthony really appreciates Nissan vehicles: “We owned a LEAF and enjoyed it a lot. It was nice to drive and I liked talking to customers about it to increase awareness. We saved a lot of money on gas with it, too.” His thoughts on quality are: “Nissans are very good quality and I hope there is a 2015 Murano in our future!” Nissan’s best technology in his opinion is: “I like the I-Key. It is so easy to just have the key in your pocket.”

High school shop class was Anthony’s first experience with automotive repair and he really liked it. After high school, he attended the Idaho State University Automotive Technology School. He has been working on cars professionally for 11 years with 10 years at Nissan. He really appreciates his bosses who “worked hard to get me to the Master classes” so he could achieve his master technician certification.

His advice to novice technicians about becoming a master technician: “Don’t take the easy stuff and be sure to blend technology with hands-on repairs. Be sure the bosses know you really want it.” Great advice!

Devin Byars

Nissan SCOPE Master

Gastonia Nissan

Gastonia, NC

Devin Byars has known he wanted to work with mechanical things since he was young. He grew up racing dirt bikes with his dad and helped repair and rebuild them. He enjoys taking things apart and understanding how they work.

Devin followed and still follows a path of continuous learning. He started by attending NTI Moorseville, North Carolina and took the Nissan specialization track. This gave him a great advantage toward his master technician certification that he achieved in only 2 years on the job! Devin has a healthy outlook on continuous learning and the master technician certification. He suggests: “Have a great attitude. Keep up on Virtual Academy and watch other Masters. I liked that Masters could do more things. A GT-R certified Master showed me a lot of stuff. My goal is to be GT-R certified.”

Byars has a tip for newer technicians, “Listen to the customer.” He finds that the hardest problems to diagnose are wind noise and rattles. “You need to experience what the customer does. Many times it is at a certain speed or temperature. You may hear something different than they do.”

When away from work, Devin likes to travel around, especially on weekends to hair scramblers events with 4-wheelers. He also likes to autocross in a Mazda Miata. It is owned by the dealer’s Parts Manager and is track-ready with race parts and soon-to-be-installed Hoosiers. He wants to race at a regional event in Georgia in March or April. Devin also plans to get married in September to Terra Roberts, his girlfriend of five years.

Harlan Jackson

Nissan SCOPE Master

Germain Nissan

Columbus, OH

Harlan “Jeff” Jackson was born and raised in the Columbus area and is raising his family there as well. He has been married for 8 years to his wife, Jessi, and has a 4-year-old daughter, Zoe. Jeff and his family like to get away once or twice a year on vacation to Cancun, Mexico where they like just “hanging at the pool.” Jeff also enjoys flying RC helicopters, “especially the 450, but I can only fly the smaller 125 and 200 in my backyard.” He has been flying them for the past 8 years and really enjoys it.

A seasoned Nissan veteran of 15 years, Jeff has seen much. The best parts of work are the friendships he has made. “I like seeing the guys I work with. It makes it enjoyable.”

His path to master technician status was: “The school of hard knocks and the help of a Nissan Master tech.” He became a master technician in October 2013 when he decided it was finally time after putting it off for a while. “It was a very good experience and I like the extra respect.”

Jeff’s advice to technicians seeking a master technician status: “Get a lot of training. Nissan provides great training.” He especially recommends Virtual Academy and the SIR videos. Another nice perk of becoming a master technician: “You get your own copy of ASIST.”

James McCreight

Nissan SCOPE Master

Robbins Nissan

Humble, TX

James McCreight is a native Texan, born and raised in the Houston area. He still lives, works and plays there with his family. His wife of 14 years, Michele, is a Registered Nurse, and he has two children: Madeline, 13, is a 4th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and Joseph, 7, is a Green Belt in Tae Kwon Do. Their favorite family activity is wakeboarding and waterskiing on nearby Lake Houston.

James started out in high school working at the local go-kart track. One day, a man noticed him tinkering and mentioned he would have a job in automotive repair for him after high school – and he did! He began his career in 1994 and was self-taught until he had on-the-job training opportunities. He had a stint as a Navy aircraft mechanic but eventually returned to automotive repair.

McCreight was an avid drag racer before having kids. His favorite was: “a ’69 Charger I had at 14 years old. It was an original 440 car, but it had no powertrain, so I put in a 383 stroker. It was an 11-second car with slicks and good traction.”

James said this about his master technician certification: “Lately I get thrown into a lot of electronics. Unusual stuff.” He added: “I like the scan tools. I can fix more lately with a pen than a wrench.” His advice for younger technicians is: “Learn electronics and diagnostics. The CAN systems. You can’t just be a grease monkey anymore. You need to be an IT person and think about the engineers when they designed it. Consider all aspects.”

Michael Dicapua

Nissan SCOPE Master

County Line Nissan

Middlebury, CT

Michael “Mike” Dicapua was born and raised in Shalton, Connecticut, 30 minutes from work. His stepdad was a drag racer and was also into muscle cars. Mike followed his stepdad’s interest in speed and started out with BMX and go-karts, then he ventured into cars at age 14 with a ‘70 Chevelle. He bought a 1999 Mustang new as a high school senior and spent $20,000 in upgrades on it. It had a ProCharger supercharger with 12 pounds of boost. Those days are gone and no more project cars are in his future.

Mike started his training at Gateway Community College in North Haven, Connecticut, and then got his Associates in Auto Technology from the University of New Haven. He has been with Nissan since September 2006 and enjoys his work. He stays current by accessing: “Virtual Academy online weekly and focusing on the little details.” He also likes the ASIST Database searches and TECH LINE if he gets into a tough spot.

His advice for newer technicians looking toward a master technician certification: “Study electrical. Don’t take any shortcuts. Check for voltage drops first thing! Go for a ride with the customer. Get insight to specifics. Don’t make any assumptions.”

While away from work, Mike likes: “Smoking cigars and shooting pistols at the range.” He and his fiancée, Amanda Dezolt, plan to be married in the Dominican Republic within a year. “I would like to get her into shooting,” he adds. On Nissan vehicles, he mentions: “The Rogue is very reliable. My fiancée owns a 2012.” Mike is looking forward to the 2016 Maxima: “I can’t wait to see it!”

Terrance Obanner

Nissan SCOPE Master

Hilton Head Nissan

Hardeeville, SC

Terrance Obanner was born and raised in the small town of Estill, South Carolina. “Auto mechanics run in my family. Both of my grandfathers are mechanics. They helped me learn when I was young. I was even helping with engines and transmissions.” He continued: “I am a real car enthusiast. I am always working on cars, from detailing to rebuilding.” One of his current projects is a 1984 Monte Carlo with a fuel injected 572 Big Block.

Terrance really values continuous learning, both formal and informal. He received his formal education at UTI Moorseville, North Carolina. He stays current through Virtual Academy. “I stay up on new stuff. It helps me diagnose problems.” His thoughts on CONSULT-III plus are: “I love it! The remote trigger is great to help track down problems.” His advice for younger technicians is: “Don’t give up. Learn and get faster each time you repeat a repair.”

Obanner is glad to work at Nissan. “Nissan is one of the best car brands out there.” He likes the quality and durability, how the products hold their value and that Nissan stands behind their products and helps the customer.

Terrance really enjoys time away from work with his family: fiancée Nathesia, 7-year-old Tanesha and 3-year-old Terrance. He and Nathesia are also excited to have a baby on the way! Until the new bundle arrives, he will continue to enjoy time at the park with his children. He says: “They really love to run around and swing on the swings!”

Tyler Givart

Nissan SCOPE Master

Boardwalk Nissan

Redwood City, CA

Tyler Givart works at a dealership that is consistently the nationwide leader in LEAF sales. And so, it is a good thing that EV and HEV systems are among his favorites to work on. An 8-year Nissan veteran, Tyler has been interested in cars since childhood and looks forward to the challenge that comes with working on these and other cutting edge systems. He sees Nissan as a “great brand that offers a lot of high-end technology.”

Outside of work, Tyler is an avid sports memorabilia collector. The path to master technician certification is one built on sustained commitment and excellence, traits reflected by the three recent World Series Championships of Tyler’s favorite team, the San Francisco Giants. He has collected autographs of every player from the 2010 and 2012 championship teams and is hoping to soon complete the same for the 2014 team.

For technicians just getting started, Givart’s advice is: “Be passionate about your work and strive to be the best every day.” As technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, he feels that concentrating on electrical systems is a great place to focus.

Tyler resides in San Mateo, California with his wife Angela and their three children: Mariah, Cassidy and Noah.

Congratulations to our Nissan SCOPE & Infiniti KEI Senior Specialists

Leslie Morgan

Infiniti KEI Senior Specialist

George Harte Infiniti

West Haven, CT

Dylan Ramjohn

Infiniti KEI Senior Specialist

Warren Henry Infiniti

Miami, FL

Chris Husson