Family: Wife, Kelly; sons, Grant and Hunter; daughter, Zoey
Employer/years employed: Prestigious Paint and Auto Body, 1451 Garden Highway, Yuba City
City of residence/years in area: Marysville, lifelong resident
What keeps you in the area? My family
Training/certifications: ICAR certified for collision repair, steering/suspension and insurance work; certified for plastic and bonding by Kent Industries and certified welder
How long have you been in the automotive industry? Since 1990
How did you get your start in automotive? My grandpa owned his own shop, and my father did it his whole life. My brother didn't want to do it, and my sister wanted no part of it, so I decided to join the automotive industry.
In recent years, what has been the biggest change in the auto body industry? Everything is changing to aluminum, and there are a lot more plastics in today's vehicles. Today you spend less time straightening parts and spend more time replacing damaged parts.
What advice would you give to aspiring mechanics? Go to a trade school and earn as many certifications and gain as much knowledge as you can. What's important this year might not be next year. You need to be on top because the industry changes so often. Once you get used to doing something a certain way, it seems to change.
Hobbies/interests: Spending time with my family, doing custom work on cars and motorcycles and taking my sons hunting and fishing
What was the first car you owned and how did you afford it? A 1972 Datsun B-110 that my father gave me
If you could have any car of any year, what would it be? A 1970 Plymouth Barracuda with a Hemi
Where do you get your news? CNN
What was the first job you ever had? Working at Shakey's Pizza in Yuba City - first as a bus boy and later as a chef
Whom do you admire most and why? My father, for his values and for being family oriented
What was your biggest life-changing experience? The births of my children
Favorite television show: “Orange County Choppers” - I like to customize stuff.
Favorite movie: “Cobra”
Favorite magazine: “Field and Stream”
Favorite band: Rascal Flatts
Favorite food: I'm not picky, but my favorite would probably be pizza.
Favorite subject in school: History
Least favorite: Drama
If you were in charge, what would you change about the community? I would build another bridge to get rid of the traffic problems. I would also offer more programs for the kids to keep them off the street and out of trouble.
