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

Alex Wynstra likes all aspects of his work as a master technician. “I enjoy whatever car I happen to have to look at. I work with everything.” He achieved his master status, which he takes pride in and gives him confidence, by being diligent, doing as much training as possible and always working hard.

The guidance Alex offers to up-and-coming technicians is insurmountable: “Just stick with it and do not be afraid to try new things because that is the only way you will learn anything. Do not be afraid to make mistakes.” He also recommends that technicians familiarize themselves with the C-III plus and use Nissan’s training books and videos. “Both tools can really help if you use the books and learn how to use the C-III plus. It’s a good tool. It can do a lot of things for you.” In his free time, Wynstra hunts, fishes and works on cars. He is also looking forward to retirement.

Although he began working on his dad’s racecars at the age of 13, the first Nissan that Anthony Garrison, ever touched was a 1987 300ZX that was owned by his mom. “I fought putting in an alternator while lying in the grass.” From working on cars in the yard to Nissan master technician, Anthony wants to continue his growth right into shop foreman or management.

His recommendations for new technicians coming up include: “Definitely get a head start at trade school instead of just dealer training. It helped me get where I wanted to get faster.” He encourages technicians to study electrical systems but says that the most difficult concern to diagnose is anything involving the EVAP system. When there is a difficult car, Garrison tries to keep it simple. “I will go back in and read how the system works. I just go back to the basics.” While he says he looks forward to his job as a technician every day, he loves to ride dirt bikes in his spare time.

Bryan Hudson has been working on cars his whole life. He came to work for Nissan straight out of high school. “When I got out of high school, the first place I applied was an Infiniti dealer and then I moved to Nissan.” He achieved master technician status by: “Going to school and being on top of my bosses and getting them to send me.” He recommends the same for others looking to become master technicians along with staying on top of prerequisites. The achievement has brought him more money, but mostly he is happy to have the certification.

Soon to be a GT-R-certified technician, Hudson says that the GT-R is his favorite Nissan vehicle. “It is the best bang for your buck. It is an awesome car.” When asked about which vehicle concern he finds difficult to diagnose, Hudson specifically stated: “E1000 codes or electrical shorts.” Outside of work, Hudson loves to ride motorcycles and dirt bikes and play with his kids. He says: “I’m excited to watch them grow up.”

Danny Banker most looks forward to: “Coming in and figuring out what is wrong with cars so I can actually fix them right the first time. It is kind of an everyday thing, but I like it.” Banker has been with Nissan for 13 years. He laughs about the first Nissan he ever worked on: a Pathfinder with a thermostat. He definitely always wanted to be a master technician, and he worked hard for it. Danny said: “It gives me a sense of accomplishment, a sense of pride in the work I do. The dealership has put up pictures of me and the other masters to recognize us, so it gives us pride. “

His favorite Nissan vehicle is the Titan, and he is a proud owner. “I love driving it; it has plenty of power." Banker is happy about quite a few things coming up outside of work this summer. First of all, he loves to play golf. Second, he has quite a few vacations coming up. He is going to Vegas for super cross, and then to Arizona and last to Missouri to visit family.

David Schoff is enthusiastic about Nissan. “I would say it is a great brand; innovation says it all. I own three Nissans now, an Xterra, a Pathfinder and a LEAF.” What is his favorite of the three? “The Xterra, I like to be able to go off road and do anything in it.”

He takes pride in his work as a Nissan master technician. Becoming a master technician has meant very much to David. “It means that I am driving to be one of the best in my field and or the company. It’s gratifying all the way around to help my technicians to do the same thing.”

His guidance for new technicians is wise: “Take advantage of all of the resources that are provided by Nissan and from all the other master technicians in the shop. Listen to what everybody has to say. Be a sponge, and you will learn something new every day.”

Always a lover of Nissan cars, Jeramy Ferrell says: “A 2004 Nissan Maxima was the first Nissan car I ever worked on, but the Skyline got me interested as a kid. Then, I moved right down the street from a Nissan dealership and got hired immediately as a loop technician. This August will be 10 years with Nissan.” Jeramy says he constantly refreshes his memory, educating himself by looking in the manuals. His three-year-old son is interested in cars as well. “Any chance he gets, he loves to come to the shop.”

When asked what his favorite Nissan vehicle is, Ferrell said: “I like most of them, basically all of them across the board. I’m a Nissan guy. I own a Sentra, two Datsun 510s and a pickup.” Ferrell says he uses all of the resources available to technicians: C-III plus, ESMs, Tech Line and the Virtual Academy. “The thing I most look forward to in my job is that I like to be a problem solver.”

The Nissan Titan is John Scott’s favorite Nissan vehicle to work on, and he is lucky enough to own one. “I own a Rogue and a Titan, but I have to say I love the Titan. I am a truck person. It’s a great thing. I have been with Nissan since the 80s, and I have watched the trucks evolve.” Scott says: “I know no other brand. I have worked for Nissan since I got out of high school.” How did he get to his master status? “It took hours and hours of training. You take any training that you can get your hands on. Do it.” He has a couple of other recommendations for technicians seeking master status: “Study electronics as much as you can because the cars change so much.”

When he is in the shop, Scott likes working on: “The old stuff, the different stuff and the out-of-routine stuff, something new and different to look at.” Outside of work, John is looking forward to summer. He has two kids, and they all love to be outside hunting, fishing and camping.

Jose Diaz says his favorite Nissan is the one he owns: the Sentra SE-R. When asked about which jobs he likes to complete, Jose said: “I am an engine guy. I like to do engine rebuilds.” A self-confessed gear head, in his spare time Diaz works on cars and motorcycles. He also hangs out with his family hiking, fishing and being outdoors.

Diaz recommends that technicians begin their journey to master technician by sharpening their basic skill set and focusing on understanding the systems they will work with. He attended technical school to help him get the basics down. He says: “It was a good place to start.” Jose has been working on cars since he was 17 years old, and according to him now, Nissan is moving more toward a luxury line because of the quality, options and cost. Diaz’s studies in school and his hands-on work have certainly paid off. His master technician accomplishment has meant more work opportunities and long-term job security. He is thankful to have a certificate that proves how much he knows.

Joseph Maher was in the Marines working on helicopters in Hawaii for four years before he came to Infiniti in 1990. He started as a parts driver and worked his way up to porter then mechanic. Maher learned everything he knows about cars on the job. In 2011, he switched from Infiniti to Nissan, but his favorite vehicle remains the 2008 M35. “They stood the test of time, and I like the style. I’d have a blue one if I could.”

When it comes to fixing cars, Joseph says the most difficult things to diagnose are drivability concerns. He likes the C-III plus tool. “It gets better every time they upgrade it. It makes the job pretty easy.” He enjoys his job most when he fixes a car with a new problem that no one at the shop has seen. Maher’s strongest recommendation for new guys looking to become a master technician is: “Perseverance. Beg for school, a lot of it; ask for school every chance you get.”

Joshua Reeder has some specific instructions for those that are looking to make the moves to master technician: ”With the nature of cars getting more advanced, focus on the electrical side, CVT and transmission diagnostics.” He also recommends doing the online training. He says: “It is structured well and does the job. You can learn from it.” Achieving master technician status was a huge accomplishment for Joshua. “Stay dedicated and stay on management to send you to classes. It took me 10 years to get there.”

His favorite repairs are anything that involves electrical systems and the AC while he finds the most difficult concerns to diagnose are noises, squeaks and rattles. He looks forward to learning something new every day and trying to keep up with all of the new technology. Reeder’s goals include becoming shop foreman. When he is not fixing a Nissan, he likes to spend time with his family. He has two kids, and they play soccer and raise chickens at home.

Justin Hamilton has been working on cars since he was five or six. Now a Nissan master technician, he says what most surprises him about his job is how rewarding it is. “I like being able to help people when they are on the side of the road or at the dealership. It’s a very satisfying job. I didn’t think it would be as rewarding as it is. I figured I would never interact with the customer at all, but I’ve made so many personal connections.”

Hamilton says his favorite Nissan is the Maxima. “I really like the shape of the fenders. It’s a very classy style, and I like the sporty engine. It’s attainable.” Hamilton likes to repair suspension systems and anything that has to do with the internal combustion engine. “Any repair that lets me tear apart the engine or suspension intrigues me the most.”

In his time away from cars, Hamilton rides motorcycles, mountain bikes, hikes, camps and spends time with his girlfriend and his dog. He also enjoys working on the home he bought last summer as a fixer-upper.

John Ortiz-Luis sums up his road to master technician status in these words: “Hard work and dedication.” Ortiz-Luis has been with Infiniti for 10 years and is happy he achieved his goal of becoming a master technician. His best advice to those who are up-and-coming is simple: “Do not procrastinate. Focus on different types of learning: by yourself reading and hands-on.” Ortiz-Luis learned about cars from his brother, who is also currently his coworker at Infiniti of Montclair.

When asked about what he looks forward to at work, John said: “I like the people that I work with. I love to work on cars, and I like challenges.” John’s favorite work to do on cars also happens to be the kind of work that he finds most challenging: electrical.

His plans for the future include earning a college degree perhaps in engineering. He would like to stay with Infiniti; a brand he says is a great balance between performance and luxury.

With Nissan for almost 10 years, Russell McGuon, his shop’s foreman, leads a meeting every morning for technicians. This action goes along with what he looks forward to in his job: “I like teaching people. I learn through that every day.” His best advice for aspiring master technicians is: “Be passionate about your work, care about what you are doing, and drill your service manager to get you enrolled in classes.”

McGuon’s first car was a Nissan, and he currently owns a ‘73 Datsun 510 and a ‘79 280Z that he repaired for a customer. A year later, the customer gifted him the car by bringing the title and car to the dealership. Having been a lifelong lover of Nissan, Russell describes the brand as: “Great, reliable, high performance brand with top technology. We are the only ones currently mass producing an electric car.”

Russell stays busy when he is not working with his outstanding wife, who is expecting, and a three-year-old son. He likes to fish, ride quads and work on cars.

Scott Lao recommends a wide variety of training for all technicians. He says: “We do bumper-to-bumper. So go through all the requirements for schooling and definitely focus on electrical because everything is transforming to electrical.” He kept his recommendations to new technicians simple: “I have a lot to say but you just need to study a lot, stay in school and from there you become a master technician.” Lao said the best reward for him from his master technician status is job security.

Scott studied cars during high school and college and has continued by taking Nissan’s training. Now he has been with either Nissan or Infiniti for almost 20 years. He likes to work on all systems and vehicles. He avoids feeling disappointment at work by not choosing his favorite things to do. Lao spends all of his free time with his family, including his seven-year-old son. Together they go to movies and play basketball and soccer.

Happy about what master status has meant to him, Scott Ward says the way to become a master technician is to: ”Go to class and get ASE certified, study and put in effort, understand the product, and then put in the time. Ward recommends that new technicians focus on CAN communication systems because: “Things are getting so technical, not basic anymore, and they are related to Nissan only.”

When Ward finished technical school, he could not decide whether to work at Nissan or Ford. He liked the crew more at Nissan, and now he has been with Nissan for 27 years. He describes the brand as: “An upper-end car line, and a pretty high-quality car brand.” He is happiest at work when he is doing big, challenging jobs but overall loves working on the Murano most because he has the best understanding of it.

In his free time, Scott enjoys restoring old trucks, which he has been doing with a friend in Kansas City for years. He says together they have restored a couple dozen old Chevys.

The daily challenges of being a Nissan technician are what keep it interesting for Stephen Jones. “When I come to work, my primary focus is to find a problem, fix it and be done with it. I look forward to fixing the car, learning what I did, finding something new, sharing information and learning something different every day.” Originally a physics major, Jones now considers his master technician work a culmination of everything he has learned and also a lifetime achievement. He started at Nissan: “As the guy that got all the warranty work.” From there, he says, “I just kept going.”

Stephen is a fan of Nissan’s Virtual Academy and the C-III plus tool for learning about cars, but above all, Stephen emphasized the importance for all technicians to learn how things actually work under the hood. He recommends using the Virtual Academy as a tool and says the C-III plus is wonderful. “Nissan does not do things the way other companies do. The way they accomplish certain things in the car is different. You really have to learn your product and understand the car. Underneath it all, you have to understand how things work. That is fundamental.”

TechTalk would also like to congratulate and recognize these Infiniti and Nissan Master Technicians

Congratulations to our Nissan SCOPE & Infiniti KEI Senior Specialists

Shane Baronet

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Peltier Nissan
Tyler, TX

Igor Pasternak

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Conicelli Nissan
Conshohocken, PA

Tom Kruusmagi

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
North Bay Nissan, Inc.
Petaluma, CA

Joel Vazquez

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Paul Miller Nissan, LLC
Fairfield, CT

Arturo Aguayo

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Valley Hi Nissan
Victorville, CA

Brian Dara

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Hall Nissan Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, VA

Nathan Smith

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Pat Peck Nissan
Gulfport, MS

Phillips Sheldon

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Tenneson Nissan
Tifton, GA

James Rebecchi

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Nissan of Huntington
Huntington Station, NY

Jovanni Gamero

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Future Nissan of Folsom
Folsom, CA

Brad Heatherly

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Anderson Nissan
Asheville, NC

Randle McTaggart

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
New South Ford Nissan
Meridian, MS

Raymundo Vargas

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Mossy Nissan National City
National City, CA

Max Perez

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Coral Springs Nissan Inc.
Coral Springs, FL

Jeremy Slaughter

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Future Nissan, Inc.
Roseville, CA

Christopher Davis

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Weston Nissan
Davie, FL

Nicholas Dixon

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
East Tennessee Nissan, Inc.
Morristown, TN

Cher Vang

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Lamb Nissan, Inc.
Prescott, AZ

Colm Brown

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Nissan of Keene, Inc.
Swanzey, NH

Eric Andrews

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Memering Motorplex, Inc.
Vincennes, IN

Kevin Medeiros

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Nissan of Bourne
Bourne, MA

Jason Crawford

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Ancira Nissan, Inc.
San Antonio, TX

Roddy Covarrubias

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Mossy Nissan of Cajon
San Antonio, CA

Andy Chittaphong

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Lithia Nissan of Fresno
Fresno, CA

Greg Pence

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Love Nissan, Inc.
Saint Albans, WV

Erik Odegard

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Nissan World of Red Bank
Red Bank, NJ

Charles Chamberlin

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Alexander Nissan, Inc.
Muncy, PA

Pedro Rodriguez

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Conyers Nissan
Conyers, GA

William Sanderson

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Nissan of Fife
Fife, WA

Marcus Blazquez

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Nissan of St. Augustine
St. Augustine, FL

Billy Murphy

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Trotter Nissan
El Dorado, AR

Matt Rice

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Fuccillo Nissan
Liverpool, NY

Anthony Long

Infiniti KEI Senior Specialist
Infiniti of Tampa
Tampa, FL

Eddy Hanlen

Infiniti KEI Senior Specialist
Southwest Infiniti
Houston, TX

Chris Bennett

Infiniti KEI Senior Specialist
Lake Norman Infiniti
Cornelius, NC

Neil Rice

Infiniti KEI Senior Specialist
Infiniti of Kansas City
Merriam, KS

Watson Waddell

Infiniti KEI Senior Specialist
Holman Infiniti
Maple Shade, NJ

Nathaniel Boggs

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Fred Martin Nissan, LLC.
Akron, OH

Felipe Barreira

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Roland D. Kelly Nissan
Beverly, MA

Edward Young

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Colonial Nissan
Charlottesville, VA

Linh Tran

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Twin City Nissan
Port Arthur, TX

Daniel Jones

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Regal Nissan, Inc.
Roswell, GA

Steven Mayhew

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Marburger Nissan
Shelby, NC

Leslie Jamerson

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Nalley Nissan
Decatur, GA

Roberto Segura

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Serramonte Nissan
Colma, CA

Stephen Gutierrez

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
West Covina Nissan
West Covina, CA

Marc Redman

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Simmons Rockwell Nissan
Horseheads, NY

Windsor Jimenez

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Royal Palm Nissan
Royal Palm Beach, FL

Jamie Garcia

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Economy Nissan, Inc.
Durango, CO

Jose Mercado

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Gunn Nissan, LTD.
San Antonio, TX

Sean Bowen

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Napoli Nissan
Milford, CT

Brian Bonneau

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Lancaster Nissan, Inc.
East Petersburg, PA

Jackson Perry

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Hudson Nissan
North Charleston, SC

Robert Hale

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Nissan of Albertville
Albertville, AL

Alguinado Cardoso

Infiniti KEI Senior Specialist
Herb Chambers Infiniti
Boston, MA

Richard Parrigin

Infiniti KEI Senior Specialist
Ramsey Infiniti, Inc.
Ramsey, NJ

Jason Kohn

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Autonation Nissan Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV

James (Jay) Conlon

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
County Line Nissan
Middlebury, CT

Ramon Hislop

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Country Nissan
Hadley, MA

Thomas Catanese

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Smithtown Nissan, Inc.
Saint James, NY

Reggie Singh

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Hudson Nissan
Jersey City, NJ

Mitch Scheier

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Bergstrom Nissan
Oshkosh, WI

Robert Stephens

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Nissan 112 Sales Corp.
Patchogue, NY

Edward Rodrigue

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Marc Motors, Inc.
Sanford, ME

Nick Moore

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Fenton Nissan West
Oklahoma City, OK

Bret Dutton

Nissan SCOPE Senior Specialist
Fuccillo Nissan
Liverpool, NY