December 2021 - 65

pending issues. Shop visit frequency is
one of the division's key performance
indicators, so identifying issues before
they require another shop visit is a very
important boost to the division's measured
efficiency, Biller says.
" The other guys would have something
come in, say, for brakes and they would
take those wheels off and slap some pads
and a rotor on there and get it back on the
road as fast as possible, missing the brake
line, leaky shock and different things that
are going on under there. Chris seems to be
very adept at catching that stuff and taking
care of it when it's in the shop, " he says.
Technicians are always aware of what
the other technicians in the shop are
doing, and his co-workers have noticed
Taylor is spending a bit more time going
beyond the initial problem verification
and have started to follow suit, adds Biller.
" Now the other guys have decided
maybe there's not as much honor in getting
in and out as fast as possible as is
doing an accurate job, he has two younger
techs working right beside him and they
started to adopt his ways, which is really
nice because usually they adopt bad habRUNNER-UP
EDUARDO
ROBLES
Master automotive
technician at the
City of Ventura
Age: 31
Eduardo Robles works on
police patrol vehicles for the
City of Ventura in California. He completes
modifications, repairs, computer programming,
and demobilizing. Robles works at a
pace that is methodical and smart, and the
work he completes is " simply outstanding
with impeccable results, " according to Frank
Palmer, fleet services supervisor at the City
of Ventura. He has a can-do attitude and
he comes to work with a smile on his face,
elevating those around him. He meets challenges
head on and is laser focused when
solving problems.
" His continuous learning attitude and
positive demeanor is highly contagious and
appreciated, " Palmer says. " I have 30 years
of experience in fleets and this kind of talent
only comes by once in a career. "
GRAND
PRIZE
As the winner of the Best Young Tech Award, Chris Taylor received the following
prize pack: Roundtrip flight and lodging for two nights for the AAPEX/SEMA shows
in November in Las Vegas; a trip for two to the STX Supplier and Training Expo in
March 2022; $5,000 in Milwaukee tools; and an Autel MaxiSYS MS906TS scan tool.
its! " he laughs.
But Taylor notes he did face some
resistance at the start from other coworkers
when he was taking his time
and not just flying through the repair.
They would often ask him why he was
doing this or that, but Taylor stuck to his
committed to quality.
" In the end, you start seeing the
respect. You will see a customer who
wants only you to work on their car. In
the end it pays off, " Taylor says, adding
that he was taught by an instructor in
the Ford program to always think of the
vehicle you are repairing as one that will
be carrying your own family members.
" So I always take that extra step because
it's ingrained in me to do the best I can, "
he says. " And I've always been particular.
I've always been that type of person that
takes pride in what I do. "
In addition to his Ford FACT training,
Taylor has a Class B commercial
driver's license and an impressive list of
certifications under his belt, including
the following:
Automotive Service Excellence (ASE):
* A1 Certificate for Automotive
Engine Repair
* A5 Certificate for Brakes
Emergency Vehicle Technician
Certification Commission:
* E0 Ambulance Maintenance,
Inspection and Testing
* E1 Ambulance Design &
Performance
* E3 Ambulance HVAC Systems,
E4 Ambulance Cab Chassis and
Powertrain
* F1 Maintenance, Inspection &
Testing of Fire Apparatus
* L1 Law Enforcement Vehicle
Installation.
Pressendo notes that Taylor's pursuit
of continued education and credentials
really stood out among the other Best
Young Tech Award nominees.
" If you have a certification, you demonstrate
that you have the knowledge and
understanding. You can say, 'I have read
the manual and I did this online training,'
but did you get it? Can you apply it?
To me that's what certifications layer on, "
Pressendo explains. " Knowledge is valuable,
shops look to the person who has
the knowledge to fix the challenges, the
problems... I would also say it translates
to better income too. "
When asked how he finds the time to
keep adding certifications, he says it can
be hard, but he makes the time because
he knows it's beneficial to him.
" I like to learn new things every day, "
he says. " If you're not learning, you're not
growing, and I want to grow. I try to soak
up everything like a sponge. "
Additionally, Taylor loves to learn new
things so he can share that knowledge
with his co-workers.
" I know what it's like to work in a dogeat-dog
environment where no one helps
you and you feel alone, so I try to help
everyone. I try to be there for them. I feel
like we're all a team. I don't think about
myself; I think about everyone, " he says.
Biller says Taylor can often be found
showing the newest technicians how to
use the electronic diagnostic equipment
to identify customer complaints. He is
helpful, friendly, and is setting a great
example for the younger technicians at
the shop.
Looking down the line, Taylor hopes
to be in a management position one day
and he is eager to learn more about the
" business side of things. " Biller has no
doubt he will continue to grow within the
organization and will have a very successful
career at Polk County.
" He is kind of guy you hope comes
out of tech school, " says Biller. " He does
what's told, he does it very well and then
he goes above and beyond... He's always
working to improve himself as well as
those around them. He's everything you
look for a technician and then some. "
www.VehicleServicePros.com DECEMBER 2021 PROFESSIONAL TOOL & EQUIPMENT NEWS 65
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December 2021

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