Moving UP Masters and Seniors

Congratulations to our Nissan SCOPE & Infiniti KEI Masters

Ansel Walter

Nissan SCOPE Master Technician

McCrea Nissan

Eureka, CA

Ansel Walter attended a trade school in San Francisco for small engines and automotive repair. “I liked the small engines best at first,” said Ansel. After trade school and the Toyota apprenticeship program, Walter worked for a Toyota dealership for a while and then became a commercial fisherman in Alaska.

Ansel said: “Things got slow and I had a car payment.” At that time his parents had a cabin near an Alaskan boat captain’s cabin and introduced him to Walter. “We caught halibut and salmon,” said Ansel. “When I first got up there, I wondered how a big 30 foot boat could be up on a high cliff.” Walter learned that the difference between low tide and high tide in Alaska is 17 feet. “Add a storm to that,” said Ansel, “and that could be 50 feet.” That is how the boats got up there. Walter further stated, “And then my girlfriend hurt her knee and we went back to Humboldt County, California.” Ansel looks forward to going to work in the morning. He said: “I like exciting challenges I can fix.”

For hobbies, Ansel likes cycling and RC cars. “The LEAF is just an upsized RC car,” stated Walter.

Marcos Calderon

Infiniti KEI Master Technician

Infiniti of Modesto

Modesto, CA

Becoming a Master Technician was a truly life changing event for Marcos Calderon. “Getting my Master Tech level was a long process, but totally worth it. I learned more doing that than what I learned in school. It was a big accomplishment for me. My boss was so happy that he made me the shop foreman,” Marcos explained. Calderon is a do-it-himself kind of guy, but he is not afraid to ask for help. “I love ASIST. It really shows you how to fix the problem the first time,” he stated.

Marcos was destined to become a mechanic. “I bought my first car for $400 at the age of fourteen. It was a 1968 Impala. After a short period of time, I blew the lifters and had to tell my dad, the mechanic. His advice for me was to figure out how to fix it. After figuring out how to fix it, I was hooked,” Calderon explained. He still loves his Impalas and is a part of an Impala racing team in California.

David Passaro

Nissan SCOPE Master Technician

Vero US 1 Nissan

Vero Beach, FL

Although David Passaro has been working on cars for almost 35 years, he only started working for Nissan about 11 years ago. He says the majority of his current expertise came from the schooling offered by his employers and on-the-job training. Now a Master Technician, Passaro works as the shop foreman. His favorite part of the job is helping fix a customer’s vehicle.

Although David prefers to work on engines and transmissions, he does not underestimate the growing importance of electrical vehicles. “I think electric vehicles are a good idea. I think it’s the direction we need to go in. We’re not going to have fossil fuels forever. I think HEVs are good until we can establish a battery and an electric car that can go the distances that they can’t now. It’s a good compromise for people who aren’t ready to go fully electrical.”

Passaro’s recommendation to new technicians: “If you haven’t already been an oil changer, start off there. Do all the Virtual Academy stuff that you’re capable of doing and start taking on more jobs besides oil changes to get accustomed to doing other things. When you reach a point where you’ve done enough Virtual Academy that you can actually attend a school, go to school.” Above all, David emphasizes that “anybody that’s at Nissan now, I think should stick with it. They should learn it the best they can instead of going off to some other brand. The longer they stick with it, the more they’ll enjoy it. The more they know, the easier it’s going to be to work on.”

David Suhr, Jr.

Infiniti KEI Master Technician

West Houston Infiniti, LTD.

Houston, TX

Although David Suhr, Jr. has been working on cars from an early age, he did not always see a career as an automotive technician in his future. When he enrolled in the University of Houston, David intended to graduate with a degree in electrical engineering. But, as fate would have it, Suhr began working in an auto shop instead and, as he puts it, “the rest is history.

Unsurprisingly, David still prefers electrical work and says new technicians should focus on electrical training as well. He has found the Virtual Academy to be an invaluable resource. “I love it. I enjoy going to school every once and a while, but everything’s right here, so you can train at home and really stay on top of it. You need both, but I think you can absorb a little more with the Virtual Academy.”

As a Master Technician, David Suhr believes he has “done pretty well.” He says: “I know it sounds corny, but I just like working in a shop environment. The camaraderie with the techs, it just makes it fun. I don’t know how other people sit in an office all day.”

George Milordis

Infiniti KEI Master Technician

Warren Henry Infiniti

Miami, FL

This Bronx native first started working on cars in 1985 after attending technical school in Pennsylvania and then settling in Florida. It seems George Milordis is not the only member of his family attracted to cars; his father and brother have worked in the automotive industry as well. Now a Master Technician, George has made a name for himself in the industry. In fact, Infiniti is the third manufacturer that Milordis has earned his master’s certification at, while working at different dealerships. Although each car line is very different, George makes the point that “theory never changes. So, my fault chasing procedures work the same no matter what I’m working on.”

Milordis advises that new technicians focus on on-the-job training and “keep your eyes and ears open. I think your eyes are your best tool.” Even though George enjoys diagnosing and repairing vehicles, in his off-hours he mostly stays away from car projects. He says: “My hobbies are my family. Anything my kids want to do. We do all kinds of stuff together." Specifically, some of Milordis’ favorite activities to do with his children include sailing, fishing, and riding ATVs. George’s favorite Infiniti vehicle is the new QX56. He hopes that in the future it may be released as an HEV.

Jeffery Hornung

Nissan SCOPE Master Technician

Collins Nissan

Louisville, KY

Jeffery Hornung first started “messing around” with cars when he was about 13 years old. Although his dad worked on his own car, Jeffery did not have any other family working in the automotive industry. Hornung became the first of his family to choose the career path and becoming a Master Technician has now been working as a mechanic for 20 years. After all that time, Jeffery says that his favorite part of working on a car is diagnosis. “I like the challenges,” he says. He also enjoys the people he is currently working with at Collins Nissan. “We’re a pretty close-knit shop here, so I enjoy that part of it.”

Hornung remembers vividly when the Consult-III plus was first introduced and has been using it constantly ever since. “I really liked it a lot. A lot of mechanics, especially the old-school guys, still want to pull out the old, yellow Consult-II, but I like Consult-III plus. Obviously, anything that makes this easier for us, we love.” Jeffrey also has a great affection for Nissan vehicles. “I like them a lot. I tell everybody they’re great vehicles. Nissan, I think, is top quality. It seems like a pretty good company. I’ve been happy, obviously.”

Jesse Dunker

Nissan SCOPE Master Technician

Trophy Nissan

Mesquite, TX

Jesse Dunker always had an interest in cars and began pursuing an automotive career as soon as he graduated high school. Even though Jesse took training from Lincoln Technical Institute, he advises that new technicians focus on on-the-job training. “On-the-job training is the only way to do it.” After he came to work for Nissan, Dunker continued his training through Virtual Academy and SIR videos. However, he admits that he still prefers classroom training. “The more personal hands-on approach works better for me.”

Jesse says his favorite kind of work is “heavy line stuff, like engine replacements.” Electrical issues can occasionally give him trouble. “I don’t mind doing electrical work, but there are so many ins and outs of all of our systems nowadays. I like engine lights (Malfunction Indicator Light), but I don’t like dealing with Bluetooth and stuff like that. Those information systems can be difficult.”

When Dunker is not working, he loves to spend his weekends competing recreationally in Grand Prix motorcycle racing.

Jesus Rico

Infiniti KEI Master Technician

Infiniti of Fairfield

Fairfield, CA

Jesus Rico worked his way from the ground up at Infiniti, starting out as a lube technician in May of 1998. Jesus has come a long way since then and he credits his family with his success. “My wife is the one who gave me my inspiration to be where I am and do what I’m doing. Having that solid home base makes it easier. My wife was a big part of helping me with school and supporting me. She’s a big part of it along with my kids and my whole family.”

At work, Rico enjoys the unpredictability that comes with being an auto technician. “It makes it exciting for me. That’s what I like about working on cars, not knowing what the problem is going to be and solving it. It’s like a puzzle.” In fact, Jesus advises that new technicians start training in diagnostics and electrical before moving on to services or brakes. “Start with the hardest part. Once you conquer the hardest part, everything else is just easy.” Above all, Rico recommends that new technicians make a life plan and stick to it. “If you like being a mechanic, it takes a lot of physical and mental effort. Stick to it, give 100 plus percent every day and, eventually, you’ll get there.”

Wayne Haygood

Nissan SCOPE Master Technician

Sheehy Nissan/Mechanics

Mechanicsville, VA

Wayne Haygood has been working on cars since before he could drive them. It all started with toy cars. Wayne loved every type of toy car, but playing with them was never enough. “I always had a bad habit of taking them apart and changing them or swapping out parts. Sometimes that did not always work out.” Years later, when his parents divorced, Haygood started helping his mom with real car repairs. “We would always buy super cheap cars, go to the auto parts store and buy a Haynes Manual to help guide us through repairs.”

To put it simply, Wayne just enjoys working on cars and his early beginnings as an amateur technician for toy cars led him to becoming the Master Technician he is today. Characterizing his life now, Haygood says: “God has blessed me in so many ways.” When he is not working, Wayne loves to spend time with his wife, son, and daughter. He also enjoys playing video games when he can find the time.

Wayne’s advice to new technicians is to “work hard and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Slow down to minimize mistakes. No one is perfect.” In fact, he says his biggest work challenges are usually when “someone else has worked on a car trying to repair an issue and has failed. Sometimes the issue gets hidden because of problems the previous person caused.”

Shea Dutcher

Infiniti KEI Master Technician

Infiniti of Palm Beaches

West Palm Beach, FL

In regard to his success, Shea Dutcher says he owes a great deal to his military training. “My time in the military really added to my work ethic. It kind of made my work ethic, really.” Shea spent a total of seven years working on aircraft in the armed forces before shifting his focus back to automotives. While growing up, Dutcher restored classic cars with his dad. Some of the cars they restored included a ’67 GTO and a ’68 Thunderbird. So, when he left the army, Shea decided to pursue his interest in cars by enrolling in WyoTech. He says: “I took pretty much every course I could get my hands on.” Today, Dutcher enjoys being “a problemsolver” at work and using tools like ASIST and C-III plus. “I love CONSULT-III plus. It is way faster than C-III . . . Gets the work done faster and that’s always a plus.”

When speaking about what he likes most about his job, Shea says he loves doing electrical work. So it is not surprising that he is intrigued by the challenges the recent trend toward HEVs and electric vehicles will bring. “People will have to relearn a different vehicle really. It’s not your regular internal combustion engine. It’ll be something new, something different, and I think that’s pretty exciting actually.”

Bill Doll

Nissan SCOPE Master Technician

Nissan of Gresham

Troutdale, OR

For Bill Doll, it seems that cars were always in the picture. At the age of 16, he was already working for his uncles at their automotive shops. When he was older and made a choice for school, he enrolled in North Idaho Community College and chose Automotive Technologies as his major. Now a Master Technician, Bill seems to have passed on his love of cars to the next generation. He and his son now enjoy working on cars together; their current project is Doll’s vintage 1965 Mustang.

Although Bill’s favorite area to work on is a car’s drivability, he recommends that new technicians “know and understand the electrical and computer parts of the automobile.” He says concentrating on the electrical diagnosis is particularly important. “It seems electric cars are where it is going.”

Doll said he loves working on cars; his favorite part of his job is simply “seeing the smile on a customer’s face after getting his/her car running well again.” Bill went on to add that he has been very grateful to be part of the Nissan family. “Nissan has provided me with a great opportunity to expand my knowledge and grow as a person. I enjoy coming to work and enjoy talking to customers about their cars, new or old.”

Allan Baird

Nissan SCOPE Master Technician

Palm Springs Nissan

Cathedral City, CA

Even from a very young age, Allan Baird was interested in vehicles of, seemingly, every form. “It’s always been Hot Wheels, Matchbox, all the way up to remote control cars, motorcycles and dirt bikes.” After studying two years at Texas State University, Allan enlisted in the Navy and served as a Navy technician for F14 and F18 aircrafts. This provided Baird with valuable electrical experience that later helped him land his first job at a dealership. “The rest of my training was mostly hands-on. I always found one of the foremen or older guys at the dealership, and once they see you really want to learn, they’ll teach you.”

Now a Master Technician, Allan also works as the foreman of Palm Springs Nissan. “We’re a smaller dealership. We only have about 14 guys. I just oversee. I know what everybody can and can’t do.” For new technicians, Baird believes: “It’s better if they start off at a lower position to get an understanding of a dealership. Then, sign up and attend local college classes instead of signing up for UTI or WyoTech right now. Those schools are getting expensive and it’s hard to keep a job when you’re doing those.

Austin Russell

Nissan SCOPE Master Technician

Clear Lake Nissan

League City, TX

Austin Russell started his technician training early, thanks to his high school’s vocational program. “I had a really good teacher and he’s the one who really started getting me to further myself.” However, Austin’s career path as a technician may be partly genetic. “I have a bunch of cousins who are mechanics, my grandpa is a professional mechanic, and my dad has always tinkered with cars. So, pretty much everybody in my family is interested in cars.” Now a Master Technician, Russell says that his favorite part about his job is that “it’s challenging. I get to encounter different things, as opposed to doing a repetitive job, like working in a factory pressing buttons or something like that. It keeps me on my toes and keeps me busy.”

Concerning Nissan’s growing interest in HEV and electric vehicles, Austin says: “It’s definitely a step in the right direction just to be a little bit more environmentally friendly and it’s technology we need to utilize. Young people need to start looking at electricity because that’s what’s going to make everything work. If you don’t understand electricity, you’re not going to be able to make it in this business. I welcome it. I’m all about technology and innovation.”

Travis Roberts

Nissan SCOPE Master Technician

Timbrook Nissan

Cumberland, MD

Travis Roberts spent most of his seven-year career working at Nissan. Before that, he attended WyoTech for training. He has found the on-the-job training he has experienced to be the most valuable. Roberts stated: “I learned certain stuff at WyoTech. But until I actually worked and got my hands on it; I really don’t have a good feel for it.” To prepare for a future career in auto mechanics, Travis suggests that new technicians focus on developing “good skills at using a computer and scan tools, because that’s where the future of all this is going. Everything is computerized and electronic. If you get a good knowledge of that, you’ll be set for working on the cars of the future.”

Some of the most time-consuming issues Roberts came across in his time as a technician were when there was “an electrical problem and there were no codes or anything like that. You have to go through the wiring and figure out where the issue is. It’s probably the most difficult to diagnose.” However, Travis’ favorite part of his job is “getting into the more technical stuff. Diagnosing issues rather than, putting parts on.” Concerning the quality of Nissan’s vehicles, in general, Roberts says, “They all seem pretty good. I’ve worked on a lot of other vehicles while I’ve been here too and it seems like Nissan is one of the better companies out there.”

Chuck Bowen

Infiniti KEI Master Technician

Infiniti of Orland Park

Orland Park, IL

Chuck Bowen is the first person in his family to pursue a career in the automotive field. A graduate of UTI, Chuck says that as a technician: “You, definitely, need school. I would not know anything without some sort of formal training.” When comparing Nissan’s Virtual Academy with the more traditional classroom training, Bowen says: “Virtual Academy is helpful, but I’d rather have the classroom training. You get to talk to other people and everybody has a different way of doing things. You kind of see what works and what doesn’t and what you could be doing better.”

During his free time, Chuck likes to spend his time working on his 1999 Pontiac Trans Am.

Chuck specifies that his favorite part about being an automotive technician is the variability. “Every day is a different problem. You don’t encounter the same thing twice.” Bowen believes the capabilities of the ASIST workstation to be a particularly invaluable tool in keeping up with that unpredictability. “We do a lot with the owner’s manuals and service manuals. Sometimes it will tell you what a car can and can’t do, so having both in a searchable format on the ASIST is nice.”

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

Shivanan Seenath

Nissan SCOPE Master

Pompano Nissan, L.L.C.

Pompano Beach, FL

James Ireland Jr

Infiniti KEI Master

Sheehy Infiniti/Annapolis

Annapolis, MD

Jeremy Robbins

Infiniti KEI Master

Infiniti Auto of Norwood

Norwood, MA

Bill Bishop

Nissan SCOPE Master

HUDSON NIS/NICHOLASVILLE

Nicholasville, KY

Kristopher Crow

Nissan SCOPE Master

Downtown Nashville Nissan

Nashville, TN

Enrique Alvarado

Nissan SCOPE Master

Metro Nissan of Redlands

Redlands, CA

Lawrence Tong

Nissan SCOPE Master

Han Lees Nissan

Davis, CA

Congratulations to our Nissan SCOPE & Infiniti KEI Senior Specialists

Zachary Engelke

Infiniti Kei Senior Specialist

Luther Infiniti Of Bloomington

Bloomington Mn

Francisco Panuco

Infiniti Kei Senior Specialist

Infiniti Marin

San Rafael Ca

Ryan Lamborn

Infiniti Kei Senior Specialist

Sewell Infiniti North Houston

Houston TX

Patrick Murray

Infiniti Kei Senior Specialist

Infiniti Auto Of Norwood

Norwood MA

Matthew Byers

Infiniti Kei Senior Specialist

Sewell Infiniti/Ft. Worth

Fort Worth TX

Gary Crouch

Infiniti Kei Senior Specialist

Infiniti Of Kansas City

Kansas City MO

Nelson Menjivar