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


Chad Jayroe

Nissan SCOPE Master

Cannon Nissan Jackson, LLC

Jackson, MS

“There’s that moment after you work on something, right before you turn the ignition,” Chad Jayroe says. “You go, ‘Is it gonna start?’ And it’s a real adrenaline rush when you hear that engine crank.” Chad first experienced this sense of accomplishment at 14 when he and his father resurrected an old Chevy pickup. When that Chevy engine rumbled back to life, Chad was hooked.

His mentor, Anthony Manicini, did much to define Jayroe’s career path. “He was my inspiration to be a Master Tech,” Jayroe says. “Knowing he knew the things he did—just seeing how he handled things and the professionalism he had—made me want to be a Master Technician.”

Chad says Nissan vehicles are designed to meet the technician halfway. “Nissan vehicles do a lot of self-diagnosis. You can push the door switch several times, then flip the ignition and it’ll run a self-diagnosis on the IPDM, fans, AC compressor clutch and several other things,” he says. “Which really helps you out, you know? And I’ve met techs that didn’t know about that! It’s important to stay curious.”


Josh Box

Nissan SCOPE Master

Newton Nissan of Gallatin

Gallatin, TN

Josh Box got his first car when he was 16—a ‘91 300ZX with two bad injectors. He had never worked on cars, but Josh figured: “What the hell. I can read, I can take things apart, I can figure this out.” Josh bought a repair manual and found both his hunch and his confidence rewarded. He fixed the car and found his calling, all in one fell swoop.

Box takes every class that comes along and embraces the digital side of modern technician work—unless he does not have to. “If I’m on anything 2005 and back, I’ll get the paperback and just start flipping through.”

Josh speaks of his work in terms of recreation and escape. “It’s good to get away from everything and get in there and fix something. It’s like a mini-vacation,” he says. What about veteran technicians who advise aspiring technicians to find a different line of work? Josh laughs. “Oh, it’s like anything,” he says. “You got people that do it because they got stuck doing it and you got people that do it because they love it. I love it.”


Jason Kowalczyk

Nissan SCOPE Master

Bob Rohrman Nissan

Burns Harbor, IN

“In reality, we’re always behind emerging technologies, just by definition,” says Master Technician Jason Kowalczyk. “So you can’t really expect to keep up. The best you can do is not fall too far behind. That’s why education is so important.” Today’s emerging technician will define the industry for decades to come, and technicians must keep pace during this period of transition. “There are bound to be a few bumps in the road,” Jason says. “But new technology is going to benefit everyone in the long run.”

For a guy who fell into the job, Kowalczyk is remarkably tuned-in. As a teen, he knew he wanted to find a trade, but his plans were vague. He was a transporter at a local GM dealership when they approached him about a college sponsorship program.

“I saw an opportunity, and I jumped at it,” Jason says. “They sponsored my Associate’s Degree with a focus on automotive.” Still, Jason did not think he would enjoy the work. He was pleasantly surprised. “I stuck with it, and I really like it,” he says. “I’m locked-in. Especially with Nissan. I definitely enjoy it.”


Wells Webster

Nissan SCOPE Master

Dick Smith Nissan

Columbia, SC

When it comes to working on cars, Wells Webster had no choice. His father had a thing for British cars. And, Wells chuckles: “For every hour you spend driving a British car, you spent two hours working on it. So I grew up working on those.” He remembers two in particular: a ’63 Spitfire and an ‘80 TR8. Technician was not a career consideration though until Wells went to school for something else. “The first day of biology and the second day of chemistry I was like: ‘Wow, this is not for me,’” he laughs.

In pursuit of the Nissan certification, Webster enjoyed remarkable management support. “Right away, my manager got the ball rolling,” he says. And the training center staff helped him test out of four of his required classes.

“Being a Master is about pride,” Wells says. “It shows I care about what I do. It shows that Nissan cares too.” Though he spends fewer offhours under the hood, Wells still loves his cars. He keeps two Porsches—along with the same Spitfire and TR8 he cut his teeth on. “I can’t get rid of ‘em!” he says.


Minh Tang

Nissan SCOPE Master

Autocomm Nissan of Walnut Creek

Walnut Creek, CA

There are plenty of reasons to become a Master Technician, but the most obvious one does not always get mentioned. Minh Tang, however, is unabashed. “I did it to get paid better,” he laughs. “You know? It’s more money!” After chuckling for a bit, Minh concedes a few other points. “Also, in order to get to do everything. [When you are a Master Technician], you can work on everything because you know everything about Nissan.”

Tang caught the technician bug in high school. He relishes the challenge of a new repair job, likes working with his hands and experiences a deep satisfaction when he gets a machine back up and running.

Since becoming a parent, recreational technician work has fallen by the wayside for Minh. “There’s not much you can do,” he laughs. “I have two kids, one is 7 and one is 4, so the weekends are for family now.” He expects he will return to cars-as-a-hobby as soon as the children get a little older. In the meantime, there is plenty of enjoyment to be had as a father and Nissan Master Technician.


Allan Risch

Nissan SCOPE Master

Deacon Jones Nissan, LLC

Goldsboro, NC

Allan Risch was not a Master Technician yet he found himself doing Master Technician jobs. “I was getting upper level work and not reaping any of the benefits,” he says. “You really struggle if you don’t have the proper tools and the ability to quickly, efficiently diagnose cars.” He is referring, in large part, to what he calls “the little shortcuts, the ins and outs” of technician work imparted by Master Technician training.

Once he dove in, Risch found the training process geared toward his success. “The practice tests on Virtual Academy really helped,” he says. “I studied on there a lot. That’s where I got all my test material. I read it through a couple times, then I took my practice test. The areas I had trouble are where I looked at the study material. I probably studied about three months for the first four tests and about 35 days for the last four.”

This smart, systematic approach paid off. The day he received certification, Allan’s general manager threw a dealership lunch and publicly congratulated him. Says Allan: “My only regret is that I didn’t do the training a lot sooner!”


Josh Avila

Nissan SCOPE Master

Streater-Smith Nissan

Conroe, TX

It all started with a blown-up engine. Josh Avila was a junior in high school, unimpressed by pretty much everything until his buddy bought a Turbo Eclipse. At first, they just tinkered with it. Then they decided to race it at a nearby track. Every night. They installed an intercooler and a bigger turbo—but they left the motor stock. Block, meet rod.

The two high schoolers ripped the engine out and improved the rebuild by hand, by themselves. Eventually that Eclipse was back, better than ever—and Josh’s career path was set. He got an Eclipse of his own and tore into it.

After graduation, Avila made way for UTI Houston where he fell in with Nissan. “I like everything about Nissans,” he says. “They’re easy to work on.” Avila took a careful, patient approach to Master Technician training. In the end, he is one of those rare technicians who passed every class on the very first try—even Automatic Transmission. “I’d heard the horror stories,” he says. “I’d heard that nobody passes it the first time, so I wanted to be ready.” He chuckles. “I guess I was because I passed it!”


William Healy

Nissan SCOPE Master

Ron Bouchard’s Nissan

Lancaster, MA

“It’s super helpful” is how William Healy describes Master Technician training. He uses CONSULT-III plus as an example. “When you first become a technician and you haven’t gone to any classes yet, you’re just experiencing CONSULT for the first time. There are certain aspects you would hopefully have an idea how they work, but when you go to Master training, they show you so many different things you can actually do with CONSULT-III plus. It changes your whole way of looking at it.”

Healy garners real satisfaction from the process. “Two classes ago, I learned you can actually do a short crank on an Intelligent Key equipped car,” he says. “It just never occurred to me, like bumping a key on a regular car, you can do that on Intelligent Key equipped vehicles. I went to the CONSULT-III class and I saw that, and it was mind-blowing to me that you can still do that.”

The New England-based technician developed his love of cars as a teenager playing Gran Turismo. These days, he is less into drivingintensive games although he does not mind the occasional road-burning interlude in a GTA or similar type game.


Michael Hendrix

Nissan SCOPE Master

Benson Cadillac-Nissan

Spartanburg, SC

Excellence comes when you let it happen. Michael Hendrix never actually said those words, but they inform his whole attitude. He is a laid-back, personable guy who became a Master Technician because it “just seemed like the right turn to do.”

Hendrix fell into wrenching and never “chose” it as a career. “When I got married, it dawned on me,” says Hendrix. “I said: ‘Oh, I’m going to do this the rest of my life!’” That was 30 years ago—Master Technician status just brought a plaque to the equation. “It hasn’t changed my day-to-day,” Hendrix says. “I just wanted to get it done.”

Michael is an umpire for baseball on the side as he has done for years. But his big obsession is relatively new. “I like to get on my bike and ride,” he says. “The kids are getting older so my wife and I bought a Suzuki last year. We live in a good area. There is a little Tiki bar up in North Carolina, another place you can go see all these waterfalls. It’s pretty neat. We’re just enjoying getting old together.”


Brandon Terry

Nissan SCOPE Master

Bob Bell Chevrolet/Nissan

Baltimore, MD

Sure, racing is universal. But in places like New Mexico, it is a whole other deal. There, wide open spaces seem tailor-made for racing and oil-rich car nuts poured seas of money into the dirt track circuit. Brandon Terry grew up on this scene. His friends’ fathers were all drivers and the track was where they lived. “I just liked the way it sounded,” he says. “The atmosphere, how fast the cars went, I think that played an important part in getting me into automotive.”

For schooling, Brandon chose the local college over the usual UTI/Wyotech classes. “For the money, I also got an Associate’s Degree and they set me up at a BMW dealership. I worked there during the day and took classes at night,” he says. “It’s a really good way to learn.”

Terry works hard, but “home time is home time” and “home time” means one thing. “I play guitar,” he says. “I played in a punk band back in Fort Worth, and I joined a cover band when I moved here to Maryland. We do shows around town. It takes up a lot of my time!”


James Gray

Nissan SCOPE Master

AutoNation Nissan Clearwater

Clearwater, FL

Book smarts or street smarts? It is an age-old debate. James Gray sees it like this: “Books and theory tell you how something works in a perfect world. In the real world, tons of other factors cause impacts you won’t even think about if you just go by the book. You might trace an issue, but maybe something’s lodged under the car causing a noise…the book can’t account for that.”

Still, James wishes he had started training earlier. “If I’d gotten into the dealership and into training straight out of high school, I’d have six years on where I’m at now. Who knows where I’d be? I thought I was good at electronics, but once I learned how everything interacts….Way more goes on than I thought!”

Gray likes long-term projects. Right now, those include a ’53 Chevy 100 and a ’92 Celica All-Trac. Gray does not take his passion for granted. “I’m glad I got into the field,” he says. “Especially the shop I’m at. If I could help anybody, I would tell them to push themselves and get all the certifications they can. Knowledge can never be taken away.”


Marlon Castillo

Nissan SCOPE Master

AutoNation Nissan Kendall

Palmetto Bay, FL

Marlon Castillo wanted to work on cars. He had no formal training, had not done an apprenticeship, had not gone to UTI—never even took an automotive class in high school. What he had was a car obsession that stretched back to childhood when he spent hours and hours building model cars.

The local parts store seemed to offer some kind of entry. Marlon got a job there and schmoozed like hell with everyone who came through the door. Eventually, he befriended some folks from the Honda dealership and parlayed that connection into a lube technician job. Once management recognized his drive and determination, everything else “happened pretty fast.”

These days, Castillo races cars and hones his skills at AutoNation Nissan Kendall. He relishes the variety of work. “Nissan has big trucks, nice performance cars, electric cars,” he says. “I work on lots of different things, whereas with Honda you are kind of limited in what you can do.” The Nissan location gets way more work than Honda, too. So, thanks to his grit, ambition and love of cars, Castillo finds himself one happy—and busy—Nissan Master Technician.


Donaldo Garrido

Infiniti KEI Master

Infiniti of Gwinnett

Duluth, GA

Virtually all of Donaldo Garrido’s co-workers completed the same automotive program at Maxwell High School of Technology. Infiniti supports the program, which brings students to the dealership for a real-world, on-the-job technician introduction. “It’s a good learning experience,” Garrido says. “We just hired another one of their students; he comes here after school.” Garrido has nothing but praise for the program. He says it is great for the students and helps produce excellent technicians for the dealership.

Meanwhile, Donaldo has concocted the ultimate formula for his off-hours leisure time. “I play guitar,” he says. “Swamp rock like CCR. Stuff like Jimi. Some metal, you know, Metallica and Slayer. And I like to fish. I’m actually going on a fishing trip when I get off tonight, and I’m gonna bring my guitar. So we’re gonna jam and then we’re gonna fish.”

But wait, there is more. “We do a lot of drifting events, too. We’ve got Road Atlanta here, Atlanta Speedway. We just went to Formula Drift, this weekend event.” Drifting, fishing and Slayer? You cannot beat that, can you? Garrido laughs. “I just do what I feel, you know?”


Jeff Hoffman

Nissan SCOPE Master

St. Charles Nissan, Inc.

Saint Peters, MO

Jeff Hoffman is not sleeping. He has a 3-yearold, a 5-year-old…and a 1-month-old. So, no indeed, Jeff Hoffman is not sleeping. Still, the Master Technician sounds amiable and chipper—if somewhat laconic—for his TechTalk interview. He always envisioned himself doing technician work—it is where his interests and talents perfectly overlap.

“I was always into cars,” Jeff says. “I got a job as a lube technician when I was 16. I became the shop manager two months later.” He came to St. Charles Nissan during his studies at Ranken Technical College.

Master Technician status has not changed Hoffman’s workday much. “I still do the same things,” he says. “I still get the same pay. I’ve been doing the same thing for the last nine years. Nissan just recognizes me now.” What advice would Hoffman have for aspiring Master Technicians? “I guess, go for it,” he says. “The training is interesting and you definitely learn stuff while you’re there.” As for his ongoing sleep deprivation, Jeff has been through this twice already. He knows not to freak out. “It’ll get better,” he chuckles. Let us hope he gets some rest tonight.


John Gieffels

Nissan SCOPE Master

Passport Nissan Alexandria

Alexandria, VA

John Gieffels has a specific point of view about technician work. “The biggest thing is how it works,” Gieffels says. “Once you understand how it works, you know which way to go. Nowadays, independent shops don’t send you to school.” They used to. He cites his father-in-law who received extensive training years ago as a Goodyear technician. These days, he says: “You have to be at a dealership to receive proper training.”

Nissan represents John’s first dealership gig. He arrived three years ago, fresh from the independent scene, and hit the ground running. “They definitely make you feel like you’re worth something, you’re not just another body, you’re doing something worthwhile,” he says. The most important thing is to stay focused on training. “When you learn everything you can, the sky’s the limit,” he says. Long-term, John plans to pursue an engineering degree. He is fascinated by the way a multitude of separate parts can come together to create one seamless, functioning machine. “That inspires me,” he says.


Osman Dominguez

Nissan SCOPE Master

Palmetto 57 Nissan

Miami, FL

“I‘ve been around cars my whole life,” says Master Technician Osman Dominguez. “I went to the shop with my dad every weekend and after school. When I found out how everything comes together to make a car work, I fell in love with it. Everything’s perfectly designed and even the smallest thing in a car can make a difference.”

Learning more about cars inspired Osman to become a Master Technician. He says: “I love going to the training center. You get a lot of information from the instructor, and you see other technician’s ideas on how to figure stuff out. You learn from them; they learn from you.”

Dominguez says new technicians should get the Master Technician certification as fast as they can. “Don’t think you don’t need it. It’s definitely going to change your career, and it’s going to make you a better tech.” Off hours, Dominguez enjoys his project cars, including a 1988 Nissan 240SX. He also practices Brazilian jujitsu three to four times per week.


Joshua Dame

Infiniti KEI Master

Infiniti of Kansas City

Merriam, KS

KEI Master Technician Joshua Dame started working on cars with a couple of car-crazy pals in high school. “I learned a little from them,” he says. Then, tragedy struck. Before high school was even over, he says: “They passed away in a car accident.”

Six months after the accident, Dame bought the car his friends always talked about and decided to build a motor for it. “It was a tribute, and a way to remember them,” Dame says. The trouble was, he did not know all that much about technician work. “So, I bought the manual and started reading it,” he says. “When I had a question, I’d ask someone on an internet forum. That was my first jump into really working on cars.”

Josh has this advice for new technicians: “Get your ASEs as fast as possible. That shows whoever you’re working for that you have the incentive to move up. Then, they are more likely to send you to training.” Away from technician work, Josh helps coach sports and watches his 4-year-old.


Jim Welch

Infiniti KEI Master

Bonita Springs Infiniti

Bonita Springs, FL

Jim Welch, an Infiniti KEI Master Technician says: “You need to know where to look for the resources” in order to do the job right. He feels that the Virtual Academy is one of the best resources available to technicians, and it is one he utilizes frequently.

Building on an interest in cars that dates back to high school, Jim recently completed his goal of a Master Technician certification. He highly recommends the program to other technicians who may be considering certification. Not only is the recognition gratifying, Jim is quick to point out that the information he learned in the modules is very helpful in his day-to-day work.

While he still “enjoys turning a wrench,” Welch also looks forward to the challenging and unique jobs that his Master Technician Certification has opened up for him. Away from work, Welch enjoys golfing and dirt bike racing across the state of Florida.


Robert Eiffert

Nissan SCOPE Master

Bill Korum’s Puyallup Nissan

Puyallup, WA

“I want to be able to work on anything that comes through the door,” says Rob Eiffert. “I don’t want to pass anything off to anyone else.” Being a Master Technician plays right into that agenda. “It makes me more profitable; it makes the dealer more profitable.”

Eiffert thinks Nissan training in his region is especially helpful, thanks to a particular instructor. “We have Mike Rail out here in the Northwest,” he says. “He’s very knowledgeable. He’ll take the time and stay late, if need be. I had trouble with something and he was willing to work with me, and I got through it no problem.”

In Rob’s view, loving cars is the key to any technician’s success. “If you don’t love what you do, you’re not going to get very far.” Rob’s last remaining certification is GT-R. He is working on it now. Once he has that, he will be fully certified, authorized to tackle any job that enters the bay. “If anybody was on the fence about taking Master Technician training,” he says. “I would say definitely go.”


Max Perez

Infiniti KEI Master

Sawgrass Infiniti

Tamarac, FL

Max Perez has always enjoyed everything about cars, especially the satisfaction of fixing them himself. When it comes to getting the job done with his own hands, he says: “It’s a good feeling knowing that I did it on my own.”

Having recently achieved a personal goal of earning his Master Technician certification, Max knows what it takes to follow through on a challenge. “The title is not going to just be handed over to you,” he points out, adding that technicians looking to achieve the same goal can expect to put much effort and get much back in return.

As an Infiniti KEI Master Technician, Perez takes pride in his work and looks forward to the more challenging jobs that require him to put his unique skills and training to use. When he is not at work, Perez enjoys spending time with his friends and family, working out, and following his favorite sports.


Jesse Shriner

Nissan SCOPE Master

Empire Lakewood Nissan

Lakewood, CO

Most people are lucky to live out just one of their dreams in life. Jesse Shriner has done it twice – once in following his love of baseball into a minor league career, and now taking his love of cars to the next level in earning his Master Technician certification.

Jesse notes his Master Technician training has allowed him to diagnose cars faster, adding: “Some of the information they give you is information you can’t find anywhere else.” That information can be quite a bit to take in, but Jesse advises that fully committing to the training is worth the effort. He finds great satisfaction when his training helps him solve a unique or challenging problem.

Shriner’s advice to technicians thinking about becoming a Master Technician is, “Keep it simple.” If you follow the steps you learn in your training, success will follow. In his spare time, Shriner enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, as well as camping, fishing and snowboarding in the Colorado outdoors.


Daniel McNamara

Nissan SCOPE Master

Lancaster Nissan, Inc.

East Petersburg, PA

For Daniel McNamara, tinkering and mechanical aptitude have always come naturally. Whether working on a go-kart as a kid or fixing his first car as a teenager, he thrives on learning what makes things go.

Now a Nissan SCOPE Master Technician, Daniel brings that passion to his daily work. He enjoys the brand insight his training provides and sees the value in constantly learning, noting that: “There’s always something someone can teach you.”

McNamara sees taking pride in his work and doing his best on every job as the keys to his success. His advice to aspiring Master Technicians: “Make sure you want it and that you’re doing it the appropriate way.” The time and hard work pay off with the satisfaction that comes when customers ask for you by name.

Daniel is quick to point out the help he had along the way. “It’s not all me. My parents had to believe in me; my management had to believe in me.”

In his time away from work, McNamara enjoys riding and working on motorcycles.


Lucas Hopkins

Nissan SCOPE Master

Blackburn Nissan

Vicksburg, MS

When Lucas Hopkins first tinkered with cars, it was all about simple guesswork. He learned as he went. Fast forward a few years through technician school, past dealership experience, and Lucas is now a Master Technician.

“I think the Master Technician program is set up well,” Lucas says. The classes get to the point quickly and focus on the important details, so training can be completed in an efficient amount of time. Technicians can learn quickly without spending too much time away from their families. “The more you know about the vehicles, the deeper you’re able to get into their operation,” Lucas says. Since becoming a Master Technician, Lucas feels that he is better able to relay information to the Service Advisor which, in the end, improves the overall customer experience.

In his spare time, Hopkins enjoys spending time with his wife and children. He is happy that his certification is now official and looks forward to the challenging work and recognition it will assuredly bring.


Thomas Laurie

Nissan SCOPE Master

Russ Darrow Nissan, Inc.

Milwaukee, WI

Thomas Laurie’s uncle was a heavy line diesel technician. If there was wrenching to do, his uncle handled it. “So, in all honesty, I never really thought about cars,” Thomas says. He took high school automotive class out of disinterest in the alternatives. “It just seemed like a good hands-on activity,” he says. “I was more keen on doing that than some boring AP English class.”

Senior year, pressure crept in to make some “adult decisions.” But college held little appeal for the Wisconsin native. Building on high school automotive class, Laurie went to UTI in Sacramento. He loved the climate change—and the California car scene. “Where I’m from, everything rusts out after ten years,” he says. “I’d never seen cars like the ones I saw in California.”

Not even the California sun could shake this man’s focus. Thomas landed a dealership gig back home during one of his holiday breaks and switched to Nissan after graduation. He had wrapped up his Master Technician certification by the age of 22—the youngest Master Technician ever to work in his shop.


Amor Aquino

Nissan SCOPE Master

Hanlees Hilltop Nissan

Richmond, CA

Any technician carries around a wealth of different tricks that make the work easier. Some of these tricks come from formal training and some come from everyday experience. Others are just obscure bits of shop wisdom. Master Technician Amor Aquino thinks a well-rounded technician has a balance of all these. In that, Amor says, “Master training is essential.”

Aquino also tries to help out younger technicians when he can. “For example, a lot of guys have a multimeter, but they don’t know how to use it,” he says. “They have their ASEs, but they don’t know how to check for resistance. So I’ll try to explain it to them.”

In 35 years of wrenching, Amor has seen the entire industry turn upside down. He has seen the zenith of nuts-and-bolts muscle cars, the arrival of electronic components, computer diagnostic tools and the dawn of assisted driving. How does a technician keep up? “Oh, you’ve gotta like what you do,” Amor laughs. “That’s the main thing. You might complain here and there, but if you don’t like what you do, give up. That’s it!”


Yourn Shila

Nissan SCOPE Master

Metro Nissan of Redlands

Redlands, CA

For Yourn Shila, the decision to become a technician was simple. “Finding steady work is hard,” he says. “I like cars. I like to work on cars. Everybody has a car and needs to get it fixed from time to time. So that’s what I decided to do.”

Yourn says Master Technician training is a great day-to-day tool, especially on the diagnostic side. He thinks all technicians should seriously consider Master Technician training. “Nowadays, technology is moving so fast,” he says. “And it’s really up to the individual to keep up.” He acknowledges the length of some of the classes can be daunting. “Four days is a long time to be away from home and your family,” he says. “But I recommend it, for sure. It’s a good career opportunity.”

When he has time, Shila likes to fish. His sons are all in their teens, and fishing trips are a great way for them to hang out together. “Even if I don’t catch anything, I have fun,” he says.


Terrance Price

Nissan SCOPE Master

Melloy Nissan

Albuquerque, NM

Terrance Price’s technician career began in film school. Price was attending classes when one day, he says, an instructor came clean. “He said: ‘The film industry is extremely cutthroat, and you’re probably going to work for free for the first two years.’” That is all Price needed to hear. “I said, ‘I’m out.’”

Terrance reevaluated. He remembered hotrodding a ‘69 F-100 with his dad. “That truck was so much fun,” he says. “Back then, you could get away with more than you can now, and we used to have a blast.” Terrance’s true calling was right under his nose, and he decided to pursue a career in automotive technology.

These days, the Albuquerque car scene is pretty different—what with city racing now a felony. But Price’s technician career has taken on a life of its own, thanks in part to Dave Miller, his previous team leader at the dealership. “I always just did the bare minimum as far as certifications,” he says. “But Dave pushed me to better myself. That was the spark I needed to become a Master Tech.”


Jesus Navarro

Nissan SCOPE Master

Temecula Nissan

Temecula, CA

Jesus Navarro knew what it took to earn his Master Technician certification, having already done so 16 years ago for Infiniti. Now also certified on the Nissan side, Jesus enjoys the product line and has a wealth of experience to share with technicians who are thinking about doing the same. One piece of advice he shares is that: “You have to have patience to get the job done right.”

Navarro adds: “Put your time in and concentrate on what you are doing,” noting that understanding the fine details can make the difference in diagnosing a problem and making the repair.

Dating back to the age of ten when he worked on cars with his dad in the backyard, Jesus has viewed cars as a passion – a passion that is still going strong today. In addition to his car-related hobbies, Jesus enjoys deep sea fishing. His best catch to date involved a two-hour struggle reeling in a blue marlin.


Brian Bonneau

Nissan SCOPE Master

Lancaster Nissan, Inc.

East Petersburg, PA

Maybe mechanical aptitude is hereditary, hardwired into the DNA. Brian Bonneau thinks so. “It’s in my blood!” he says. His father is a Ford technical instructor and field representative. Brian grew up working side-byside with his dad on all things motorized.

Unsurprisingly, Bonneau is a big believer in training. “If you learn how a system works, it will always make the system easier to fix.” Of course, time and simple practice do not hurt, either. “If you’re new to the field, it’s like: ‘How am I gonna get to that?’ After a while, though, it’s like: ‘Oh, all I need is this extension and this and this, and I’m good!’”

Having a family keeps Brian away from recreational wrenching though he does tinker with his Harley from time to time. “It’s a relaxing change of pace,” he says. As for long-range plans, does Brian plan to become a technical instructor like his father? “Maybe,” he says. “It’s a totally different pace. It might be nice to do when I get older.” Either way, he is definitely wired for it.


Matthew Cordell

Nissan SCOPE Master

Tri-State Nissan

Winchester, VA

“There was never a doubt in my mind that working with cars was going to be my profession,” says Master Technician Matthew Cordell. Having achieved his Master Technician certification before turning 21 years old, he was quick to turn his dream into reality.

“I like face-to-face interactions with customers,” Matthew says, noting that his Master Technician certification dispels any doubts that customers may have about his age or experience level. While he enjoys a wide variety of jobs, Matthew relishes the opportunity to dissect wiring diagrams and tackle electrical problems. New safety technologies interest him as well, especially as they continue to evolve and grow brand-wide.

Cordell’s advice for up-and-coming technicians is to learn as much as you possibly can from everyone around you and to learn from your mistakes. “If you work for what you love to do, the rest will fall into place,” he says. Many of Cordell’s hobbies revolve around his passion for cars, but he also likes being outdoors and fishing the Shenandoah River.



Congratulations to our Nissan SCOPE & Infiniti KEI Senior Specialists

Jeremy Cotton

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Colonial Nissan

Charlottesville, VA

Garrett Marlow

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Carousel Nissan

Iowa City, IA

Manny Rodriguez

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Paul Miller Nissan, LLC.

Fairfield, CT

Troy Contee

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Tischer Nissan

Laurel, MD

Wilson Reynolds

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Newton Nissan of Gallatin

Gallatin, TN

Luis Macias

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Autocom Nissan of Walnut Creek

Walnut Creek, CA

Truman Miller

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Timbrook Nissan

Cumberland, MD

Mario Estrella

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Rockaway Nissan

Inwood, NY

Lito Martinez

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Melloy Nissan

Albuquerque, NM

Ivanhoe Guzman

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Kelly Nissan, Inc.

Oak Lawn, IL

Larry Fuller

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

World Car Nissan

San Antonio, TX

Daryl Hrnack

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Courtesy Nissan

Richardson, TX

Mike Harris

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Lynchburg Nissan, Inc.

Houston, TX

Felix Torres

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

D’Addario Nissan

Shelton, CT

Ronald Miller

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Buckeye Nissan, Inc.

Hilliard, OH

David Everidge

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Harrisonburg Nissan, Inc.

Harrisonburg, VA

Todd Caruso

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Malboro Nissan

Marlborough, MA

Dean Boninu

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Exton Nissan

Exton, PA

Scott Benjamin

Infiniti KEI Senior Specialist

Austin Infiniti, Inc.

Austin, TX

Mark Kornoski

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Nissan 422 of Limerick

White Plains, NY

James Faust

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Pine Belt Nissan/Keyport

Keyport, NJ

James Monroe

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Galesburg Nissan, Corp.

Galesburg, IL

Zach Koppari

Infiniti KEI Senior Specialist

Bob Moore Infiniti, LLC.

Oklahoma City, OK

Brett Gutshall

Infiniti KEI Senior Specialist

Infiniti of Mechanicsburg

Mechanicsburg, PA

Ben Burns

Infiniti KEI Senior Specialist

Infiniti of Palm Beaches

West Palm Beach, FL

Jeff Ward

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Bondy’s Nissan, Inc.

Dothan, AL

Austin Richards

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Wharton Nissan

Parkersburg, WV

Joey Himuro

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Nissan of Burlingame

Burlingame, CA

Roberto Morales

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Town Nissan

East Wenatchee, WA

Brian Bradley

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Firkins Nissan, Inc.

Bradenton, FL

Antonio Roland

Infiniti KEI Senior Specialist

Infiniti of Naperville

Naperville, IL

Joseph Skeen

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Ray Schultens Nissan

The Dalles, OR

Nick Wood

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Nissan 24

Brockton, MA

Jim Hardcastle

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Nissan of Marin

San Rafael, CA

Don Allen

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Mid City Nissan, Inc.

Chicago, IL

Michael Morrissey

Infiniti KEI Senior Specialist

George Harte Infiniti

West Haven, CT

Floyd Gavin

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Hoffman Nissan

West Simsbury, CT

Mitchell Brown

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Nissan of Chesapeake, LLC.

Chesapeake, VA

Alberto Nieves

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Don Davis Nissan, Inc.

Arlington, TX

Sargon Audysho

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Mid City Nissan, Inc.

Chicago, IL

Nicholas Corbitt

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Tim Dahle Nissan

Murray, UT

Tristan Kocis

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Ray Brandt Nissan Inc.

Harvey, LA

Jim Prestwood

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Crown Nissan

Redding, CA

Kasey Shiroma

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Kamaaina Nissan

Hilo, HI

Alex Covert

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist

Coggin Nissan at the Ave.

Jacksonville, FL