Moving up

Congratulations to our Nissan SCOPE & Infiniti KEI Masters

Robert “Bobby” Leveck

Desert Nissan

Las Vegas, NV

Bobby says that while growing up his hero was his father who was a mechanic. He says he remembers holding the flashlight for his father while he worked on cars in the backyard. Bobby started working on cars professionally in 1986 at a Nissan dealer. He stayed there for three years before joining an Infiniti dealer for the next 17 years. While working there he became an Infiniti Master Technician in 2000. Two years ago he started working at Desert Nissan where he became a Nissan Master Technician.

Leveck likes to work on the electrical systems in cars because it is more of a challenge. He says, “Electrical concerns are harder to diagnose because you can’t see the current move in a circuit like you can steering linkage. Once you understand how to diagnose an electrical concern, finding out where the problem is located in the vehicle is easier.” He goes on to say that this will be a major part of a technician’s job with electric and hybrid cars becoming more popular.

Bobby has a 17-year old son, Nicholas. When not at the shop, you can find Bobby and Nicholas camping or golfing. He also likes off-road racing, but it is a very expensive sport.

Patrick Dulaney

Sheehy Infiniti/Annapolis

Annapolis, MD

Patrick says he first became interested in becoming a technician when he couldn’t afford to pay someone to fix his 1980 280Z. He started reading about how to replace the parts that broke and started repairing his car. He says, “To become a Master Technician you must be willing to put in the work and the struggle it takes to achieve it which also shows you take pride in your work.” “You must be willing to talk to the customer, when needed, because listening to their concerns will help you know how to repair their vehicle.” He goes on to say, “Once you become a master, it shows that you have put in a lot of time to learn everything that is needed to do your best, which means more than just taking classes and passing tests.”

Patrick is single with a 13-year old daughter and a 10-year old son. In his free time, he likes to play video games, do yard work, go fishing and camping with his kids.

Dulaney says his favorite car is the 300 ZX. He says it is a great car and likes it even better than the GT-R. “You have to really know how to drive a car to enjoy the 300 ZX,” he says. “However, the new hybrid cars and electric cars are the wave of the future. These cars will require the technicians to be able to be proficient with C-III plus diagnosis so they can repair these vehicles right-the first-time.”

Steve Hackney

Harper Infiniti, Inc.

Knoxville, TN

“Diagnosis, electrical skills, and diagnostic equipment usage are the most important things to understand in becoming a Master Technician,” says Hackney. “You need to know more than just how to operate the equipment; you’ll need to know what the readings mean in order to be able to diagnose and repair the difficult concerns with cars,” he adds. Being able to communicate the diagnostic results to TechLine when you’re stumped is also very helpful.

Hackney says he first became interested in becoming a technician while he was in high school. He had a teacher that was interested in rotary engines and his teacher’s excitement about cars inspired Steve to start to think about auto mechanics as a career. He started working at Mazda dealerships before starting at Harper Infiniti where he has spent the last six years. “The people here are very good to work with and want you to succeed,” he says.

Steve is married to Rhonda, and they have three adult children. In his spare time, he likes to build bird houses, or cabinets from wood. He says he found this is a good way to get his mind off work and relax.

Thomas Mendoza

Miller Infiniti, Inc.

Van Nuys, CA

Mendoza started working on classic cars with his father when he was 12 years old. He liked it so much that when he got older he decided to attend a community college that had a technician program with Nissan/Infiniti. Thomas has been with Miller Infiniti ever since graduating from the program eight years ago. He says the best way to become a Master Technician is go to school to learn everything starting with the basics. “Then try to get paired with the right technician t0 work with that can help mentor you and teach you the specifics of the brand.” He goes on to say, “becoming a Master gives you the experience and technical training you’ll need and provides you with the ability when working on cars to fix them right the first time. You’ll also get more respect from your peers and your customers.”

Thomas says his favorite car to repair is the G37 coupe. He says, “With all the electronics on the car, you have to use your brains more than your hands to diagnose and figure out what is wrong. Once you figure out what the possible root cause is, then you can repair the vehicle with more confidence.”

Tom is engaged to Cynthia and the couple has a child on the way. When not at work, you’ll find him in the garage working on either on his ‘64½ Ford Mustang, or his ‘67 Chevrolet C-100 pickup. This may change in a few months when he is changing diapers and enjoying his newborn.

Oscar Del Toro

Continental Motors, Inc.

Countryside, IL

Oscar says that the hardest conditions to diagnose are noises and vibrations. “They take a lot of patience to diagnose, so get as much information as you can by talking to the customer. If needed, you may need to take a test drive with them to make sure you understand their concern,” he says. He also says, “it takes time diagnosing these and a lot of experience before you can become proficient in repairing this type of concern.”

Oscar is married to Lauren and they have a 3-year old daughter named Bella. You can find Oscar playing with Bella or playing any type of sport in his free time. He says he just likes to stay active and fit.

Del Toro has always loved cars. He remembers growing up playing with Hot Wheels cars until later when he was big enough to begin working on cars in his backyard. After graduating from high school, he went to Lincoln Technical to learn the trade before starting at Continental Motors. He is excited about the new LEAF especially with the high cost of gas and says he would like to own one someday. He says that the higher gas prices will make the hybrid and electric cars more popular and economical to drive.

Byron Holmes

Kendrick Nissan

Lafayette, IN

When he is not working at Kendrick Nissan, Byron can be found hunting or target shooting any type of firearm because he is an avid gun enthusiast. He also likes hanging out with his wife, Jenelle, and family and friends whenever he can.

Holmes says that to become a Master you’ll need to listen to what the older technicians at the dealership have to say, and apply their knowledge and advice to your efforts on the job. You’ll also need to take all the training classes you can to learn how the different systems operate. “The most important thing to learn is how to use ASIST and become versed with the different scan tools because without them, it will be very difficult to diagnose and repair today’s vehicles,” says Holmes.

Byron says he got started in the business while in high school when he joined a jobs program that placed him at Kendrick Nissan as an apprentice. He’s been at Kendrick’s for eight years now. He says, “The most rewarding job that I do is repairing vehicles that have electrical concerns because once you repair the root cause of the problem; you can see that the repair has fixed the concern. He says, “There is a noticeable difference in how the system performs before and after the repair which gives me the self-gratification of knowing I’ve repaired the vehicle correctly.”

Matt Hallet

Gandrud Nissan

Green Bay, WI

Hallet says, “When I’m not at work, my wife, Julia and I like to ride our Harley Davidson motorcycles, and get out and enjoy the scenery.” Matt says he grew up taking things apart just to see what made them work. When he got his first car, he did his own work to maintain the car and make any necessary repairs. Matt says his favorite Nissan vehicle is the Juke because of the new turbocharged engine.

Matt began working at Gandrud Nissan 10 years ago. When he first started, he was a Chevrolet technician because Gandrud sells various manufacturer’s vehicles. But after a while he became a Nissan technician for them which he likes better because he was given the opportunity to work on anything on the vehicle. He says, “Working on the same system all the time gets boring. With Nissan, I can work on brakes in the morning and then diagnose and work on an engine problem in the afternoon. The variety keeps the job interesting, as well as challenging.”

Hybrid and electric vehicles and their new technology is exciting to Hallet who says that they will have a positive impact on Nissan and the automotive industry. “The technicians that work on them will be impacted with the need for additional training on the high voltage electrical systems, and need to learn how to work on them safely.”

Joseph Ochoa

Town North Nissan

Austin, TX

Joseph, who is married to Melissa, says they don’t have any children yet. So, when not at work, they like to spend their time together shooting rifles, fishing, hiking and kayaking. Joseph said that he became inspired into becoming a technician because his father and grandfather were both mechanics. He said that his grandfather owned his own shop so he was allowed to spend time there as often as he liked. After graduating high school, he went through UTI’s Nissan program and then joined Town North Nissan after graduating four years ago. Joseph is a LEAF and GT-R certified technician. He says he really likes to work on them because they are new which allows him to learn more about their technology. He says, “I also like the new C-III plus because it is easier to use and faster.” Being a LEAF technician, relies on using the new tools.

Ochoa says he calls TechLine occasionally when he runs into problems diagnosing a vehicle. “They are very helpful and steer you in the right direction so that you can fix the vehicle. If they don’t have the answer, they will contact Engineering and call you back when they have further information,” he says.

Jason Lackey

First Nissan

Simi Valley, CA

“Ten times better than the C-III,” is how Lackey describes the new C-III plus software tool. “It is faster and easier to use than its predecessor.” He says. He also likes the new ASIST and believes that the best way to embrace change is by using it from the outset. “Because the old system will go away eventually, and then you will be forced to learn the system while everyone else is already proficient with it.”

Jason says that he is following in his brothers footsteps in becoming a technician. He is married to April, and has a 17-year old stepson. When not at work, he says you will probably find him either working on his Buick Grand National, or racing it at the drag strip.

Lackey said that he recently called TechLine for assistance, when he couldn’t pull a DTC or duplicate a customer’s concern on a vehicle. “The TechLine can check into their database, and let you know right away, if there’s a reference to a known possible condition.”

Frank Backus

Infiniti of Springfield

Springfield, MO

Frank likes to work on vehicles with engine performance concerns because he says that once you fix the problem, you’ll be able to see a difference in how the car runs right away which always gives him a sense of self-gratification. He says, “first look at ASIST for campaigns and TSBs to rule out any known issues before starting to diagnose the vehicle, it will help you save time.”

Backus says that he grew up around automotive repair on tractor trailers and motor homes. That was because his uncle drove tractor trailers for a living and also worked on them, and his father worked on motor homes, cars and trucks. Their ability to determine what was wrong, make a repair and see it through until the vehicle worked properly, made him interested in becoming a technician. He says that his favorite car is the M56 because of its technology and design, its comfort, and performance while driving down the road.

Frank is married to Dawn. They have two boys, ages 10 and 12, and he also has two adult step-children. When he’s not at work, you’ll probably find Frank winding down on the weekends by cruising on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, or he heads to the lake to enjoy the water with his family on his boat.

Cliff Heater

Hall Nissan Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach, VA

Cliff grew up working on a farm where he enjoyed fixing tractors and machinery and working his hands. When he started thinking about a career he felt that becoming a technician would give him the opportunity to continue fixing things. He says, “All mechanical things on the farm eventually needed repair, and so there will always be a need for someone to know how to fix them. Vehicles are the same, so there will always be work available I enjoy to keep me busy.”

Heater’s advice to anyone considering becoming a technician is to first learn all the basics, and then keep up with all the new technology as it comes out. He says, “Becoming a Master has given me pride in my accomplishments, and being among the best earns you the respect from your customers and others in the dealership.”

“ASIST is faster and easier to use because the information displayed on the screen is specific to the vehicle you are working on,” says Cliff. He goes on to say, “The key word search saves time in narrowing down the bulletins that apply to the vehicle concern so you can repair the vehicle right the first time.”

Edward Thibault

Mossy Nissan Kearny Mesa

San Diego, CA

Edward says that he and his friends all drove older cars when they were young and growing up and had to find some way of repairing them when they broke down. Working with his father on his cars is what led him to becoming a technician. Achieving Master gives him a sense of accomplishment that he’s made it to the top. It has also given him the ability to mentor younger technicians and help them with his experience to learn the right way to diagnose and repair vehicles. Edward says, “To become a master you’ll need to apply yourself every day in your job, stay interested in training and do your best on every job.”

Thibault says he likes the new hybrid and electric vehicles and feels they are a great step in the right direction. He says, “Battery technology will keep on getting better providing more increased range between charging.”

Edward is married to Heather, and does not have any children. Most often in this couple’s free time, they can be found camping, fishing. Or, whenever they can, they’ll be at a motorsports event because they’re racing car enthusiasts. They also like spending time with family and friends and just hanging out together.

Adam Karl

Faulkner Nissan, Inc.

Harrisburg, PA

Karl says that he utilizes all the information he can at the dealer, before he calls TechLine. He says however, they should be used as a last resort because of all the information you have already at your disposal including service manuals, TSBs, SIR videos. It also helps talking things through with the other technicians at the dealership. On the occasion when he has called TechLine, if we’re stuck on a tough problem, they are always very helpful do their utmost to help you get the problem resolved for the customer.

Adam is single but has been dating Amber for the last five years and feels it is only a matter of time before he pops the question. In his spare time, he can be found working on customizing his 2000 Frontier.

Becoming a Master has meant a lot to Karl he says, “Service managers value great technicians.” He went on to say, “I completed my Master certification at the age of 25 which is very young and rare for technicians in my district.” His recommendation to new technicians is to have a good understanding of electrical circuits and improve your diagnosis skills.

Ernest Tarte

Coastal Nissan, Inc.

Pawleys Island, SC

Tarte started working at Coastal Nissan in 1979 and first became interested in being a technician from his father who had an independent repair shop. He says that he remembers removing his first engine from a VW Beetle at the age of 9 with help from his father. He says, “My father and two other technician mentors helped teach me how to diagnose the problem with a vehicle, instead of just telling me what was wrong. This helped me become a good technician and I recommend the same to all new technicians. Find a good mentor, to teach you how to diagnose vehicles, instead of just changing parts.” Becoming a Master has been very rewarding for Tarte who says, “the prestige of being among the best is a great honor.”

Ernest is married to Tammy and they have a 12-year old daughter. When he’s off the clock, he likes to fish and hunt. He also performs as a karaoke show host, which is an activity he enjoys a lot.

The Titan is Tarte’s favorite vehicle; he owns a 2007 model which he says is fast and can pull anything he puts behind it. He would also like to say thank you to Tech Instructor’s Bruce Horn and Bill Keeting for all their help and support while teaching him at the Nissan Training schools.

Bryan Shaw

Bill Seidle’s Nissan, Inc.

Miami, FL

The 370Z equipped with the enthusiast package, and the new LEAF™ are Bryan’s favorite vehicles “because of the technology that went into developing them.” The 370Z has a lot of technology incorporated into it to make it go fast, while the LEAF’s technology helps to reduce the emissions that hurt the environment.

Shaw says he really likes to work on engine performance concerns and perform heavy engine repairs because they can be challenging. He goes on the say, “when you performed diagnosis and have figured out what is wrong, you’ll get instant gratification when the vehicle runs better after you’ve made the repairs.”

Bryan said he has become very interested in Indy car performance along with trying to find a way to becoming an Indy car technician. He is well on his way with his Nissan 240 SX. He is the driver, engineer, and design fabricator on his car. Bryan says he also likes working out to stay in shape and reading books to keep his mind sharp. He wanted to thank Robert Morgan, V0-Tech instructor, for reinforcing his need to read, and to learn about the new technology that is being introduced on today’s vehicles.

Chris Stange

Bell Air Nissan

Bel Air, MD

Chris said he first became interested in being a technician by helping his step-father work on Chevrolet muscle cars when he was growing up. Chris said he started working at Bell Air Nissan when it was still a Datsun dealership, 25 years ago. He says, “To become a Master Technician, you have to want to better yourself and work hard and hold yourself to a higher standard.”

Stange describes the new C-III plus software as much better, faster and easier to use. He also says, “The new C-III plus menu system is easier to navigate and it’s easier to find what you need to diagnose for a vehicle concern.” His CONSULT tool along with the occasional TechLine support has helped him fix the problem vehicles at his dealership. He says he calls them only if a vehicle has come back with the same concern, or when he’s having a hard time determining what is wrong.

After a hard day or week fixing cars, Chris says that he likes to ride his custom chopper to relax. He says that time alone cycling with the wind blowing through his hair helps him unwind. On the home front, he also always enjoys spending time with his 17-year old daughter and his 15-year old son during his time off.