Kristian Zaniroli

• Name: Kristian Zaniroli

• Age: 26

• Family: Wife, Casey; daughter, Shaylee

• City of residence/years in area: Yuba City, 21 years

• Employer: Midas Auto Service Experts, 928 H St., Marysville

• How long have you worked in the automotive industry? My grandfather used to own Commercial Auto Electric in Yuba City and my dad was a mechanic. I’ve been around the industry my whole life.

• How did you get your start in automotive? Working at Commercial Auto Electric rebuilding starters, alternators and doing basic tune-ups when I was 15 years old.

• What are the most important skills automotive technicians need to be successful? The most important thing is being able to learn. Everybody needs work done on their vehicle and if you get the right certifications, you can make a lot of money. Having patience is also important.

• What is the biggest problem facing the automotive industry today? There’s not enough well-trained and qualified technicians.

• What is the hardest part of your job? Keeping customers satisfied and working with their schedule.

• What would you change about the way today’s cars are manufactured? There are too many cheap plastic pieces on the vehicles today. They’re not made the same as they used to be.

• In recent years, what has been the biggest change in the industry? The advancement in computer systems and the way you diagnose problems.

• What brand of tools do you use? Craftsman

• What advice would you give to aspiring mechanics? Keep your head focused and stick with it. It’s difficult to get back in the field once you leave it.

• Hobbies/interests: Working on cars, playing Frisbee golf and snow-boarding.

• What keeps you in the area? My family - with a baby, it makes it easier to have family around.

• Where is your favorite place to go in the Yuba-Sutter area? I like taking drives in the Sutter Buttes and fishing on local waterways - depending on what I’m fishing for.

• What was the first job you ever had? Working at Movies 8 in Yuba City as an usher and in concessions.

• What was the first car you owned and how did you afford it? A 1967 Pontiac Tempest that I unfortunately had to trade my drum set for

• If you could have any car of any year, what would it be? There’s three of them. A ‘67 Pontiac GTO, a ‘68 Chevelle and a 1968 Cadillac El Dorado - which I have and is a work in progress.

• Whom do you admire most and why? My father for teaching me that no matter what happens, you’ve got to keep going.

• What was your biggest life-changing experience? Having a child.

Having a baby will make you grow up quick and raises the level of responsibility quite a bit.

• Favorite sports teams: San Francisco 49ers and Giants

• Favorite television show: “The Simpsons”

• Favorite movies: I’m a fan of gangster movies, so movies like “Good Fellas,” “Scarface,” Reservoir Dogs” and “The Godfather” are my favorites.

• Favorite band: Alkaline Trio

• Favorite type of food: Italian

• Favorite subject in school: Math

• Least favorite: English - I was good at it, but I hated it.

• If you were in charge, what would you change about the community? I would make more programs for kids and young adults to do to keep them out of trouble and off drugs.