It鈥檚 the crack of dawn, and Jim is ready for another busy day teaching automotive topics at 好色先生TV.
But before working with anything four-wheel drive, he must attend to some four-legged friends.
鈥淚 enjoy raising livestock 鈥� my kids all have 4-H livestock projects,鈥� Jim says. 鈥淚 still live on the same Chesaning farm where I grew up.鈥�
Jim farms part-time, and his agricultural background was a major reason he became interested in automobiles. He remembers taking apart tractors with his father, an activity that gave him mechanical interest and know-how and paved the way for an automotive career.
Jim valued the work from the get-go, because it gave him a chance to make a difference in people鈥檚 lives.
鈥淚f you brought your vehicle to me in the morning, I was the reason that vehicle got fixed, so you could get back on your way to work,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 something I enjoyed the most.鈥�
Teaching the next generation
Jim now helps the next generation of auto technicians get the skills they need. He coordinates Delta鈥檚 automotive service program and two closely related programs: the General Motors Automotive Service Educational Program (GM ASEP), and the newly added heavy-duty diesel service technology program.
鈥淚 truly enjoy being part of the Delta difference,鈥� Jim says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about helping students get down the road toward something in life. In this program and these career fields, the sky鈥檚 the limit for people who want to work.鈥�
If you need living proof, you can start with Jim himself 鈥� he鈥檚 a Delta graduate. Though he says much has changed about the automotive field and training since he was a student.
鈥淭oday鈥檚 technicians aren鈥檛 the same as they were 20 or 30 years ago,鈥� he says. 鈥淭here was a perception that people went into this field who couldn鈥檛 make it in other fields. That鈥檚 not the case anymore. Literally everything to do with vehicles is electronic.鈥�
The technology and the work may be challenging for students, but Jim says the rewards are many. Not only because of the 鈥渉uge鈥� job outlook, but also the exciting nature of the work.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 get paid to punch a clock and show up,鈥� he says. 鈥淵ou get paid for what you do. I try to equip students with what will get them started and motivated.鈥�
鈥淚n a safe manner, I want to get students into the shop as quickly as possible. Because when we tear things apart, we raise questions in our mind about how they work.鈥�
Instructor of Automotive, GM ASEP and Heavy-Duty Diesel Programs
His approach emphasizes hands-on experience as a way to get students trained and up-to-speed
on today鈥檚 vehicles.
After all, it鈥檚 what first sparked his interest and understanding back on the farm.
鈥淚n a safe manner, I want to get students into the shop as quickly as possible,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ecause when we tear things apart, we raise questions in our mind about how they work.鈥�
Are you interested in pursuing an automotive-related career? 好色先生TV is the perfect place to start. .
