Marc Molinari

• Name: Marc Molinari

• Age: 43

• Family: My wife, Kit

• City of residence/years in area: We have lived in Plumas Lake for more than four years, and I lived in the Yuba City area for more than 30 years.

• Occupation: Professional auto detailer and painter

• Employer/years employed: I own Aloha Auto Detail and have been in the auto detail and auto painting business for more than 17 years.

• Training/certifications: I recieved as much training as I could in high school, including classes from YCHS ag adviser Jim Benefield.

I am a certified professional auto detailer and auto painter. I received my certification from Yuba College and also take Auto Magic training seminars every year to keep my detailing skills current. I have also taken auto body repair classes, and I keep current on those techniques.

I believe I took every class offered by now-retired automotive instructor Frank Katanic at Yuba College. He not only taught me the technical skills I have today, but he taught me the value of doing the best job possible, each and every time. He also taught me the value of listening to my customers so that I can do the best job I can for them, and as a result, most of my customers have been with me since I began.

• Years in automotive industry: Professionally, I began working in a auto body shop painting cars in 1983.

• How did you get your start in automotive? When I was 7 years old, I would go door-to-door in San Francisco asking if people would like to have their car washed and waxed. I would charge $1.50 to $5 to wash a car and $15 for a wax job.

As I grew up, it paid for my college tuition and living expenses.

• What is the biggest problem facing the industry today? With the high price of gas and everything else, people don't have a lot of extra money. But if people will take care of their vehicles on a regular basis, their vehicles will last longer and give them better and more reliable service.

• Where do you see the auto industry going in the future? New chemicals and techniques make my job easier, yet if you don't know how to use the new products or how to do the new techniques, it won't help you a bit. Staying up to date on your knowledge and your skills is vital to stay in business for a long time.

• What is the most common problem with the vehicles that need to be serviced? Repairing problems caused by someone who didn't know what they were doing. Swirls in the paint are the result of using wax and pads improperly. While swirls and paint oxidation can be repaired, if customers don't maintain their vehicles regularly and use high-quality products, they will return again and again.

• In recent years, what has been the biggest breakthrough in the auto detail industry? High-quality products and new techniques and tools

• What is the hardest part of your job? Educating my customers concerning the importance of regular maintenance. Also, that high-quality materials will last longer, and as a result, will cost less in the life of their vehicle.

• What advice would you give to aspiring mechanics or service techs? Get all the training you can get and be willing to go the extra mile and always keep your customers happy. Let them know that their business is important to you, and that you will do everything you can to meet their automotive needs.

• What was the first car you owned, and how did you afford it? I bought a new 626LX Mazda, and I helped my dad by doing odd jobs to help pay for it, as well as detailing cars.

• If you could have any car of any year, what would it be? Without a doubt, a 2003 Z06 Chevy Corvette.