And the Winner Is… Toyota Technicians Earn Their Moment in the Spotlight

With the writers’ strike finally settled, Hollywood was able to breathe a sigh of relief last night as the Academy Awards, which had been threatened by the strike, were produced with the annual celebration’s traditional glitz and the glamour fully intact.

That development got me thinking about another awards event of a very different ilk. I am referring to the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) annual meeting, where the auto-repair trade organization recognizes the top scorers in their annual certification tests.

Toyota is an active participant in the event, held most recently in Scottsdale, Ariz., last November. There, it honored two of its finest: Toyota/ASE Master Automobile Technician of the Year James Greshik, of Lloyds Toyota in Jamestown, N.D.; and Toyota/ASE Master Collision Repair and Refinish Technician of the Year David Harris, of Milton Martin Toyota in Gainesville, Ga. All the recipients of the awards this year are seen in this photo.

Aside from meeting the basic qualifications (such as a minimum of five years of on-the-job experience), both Greshik and Harris separated themselves from a very crowded field of thousands of Toyota technicians by posting the highest composite scores in their respective specialties.

Toyota’s underwriting of the awards makes a clear statement about the manufacturer’s commitment to the continuing education of its technicians. Greshik’s and Harris’ test scores make a statement about the professionalism of the people who keep Toyota vehicles running nearly like new. And, collectively, the endeavor makes a statement about the brand’s commitment to satisfying the needs of its customers.

But perhaps the most dramatic statement is found in the mindsets of Greshik and Harris. Unlike some of their Hollywood counterparts, neither set out to win these awards. And both were caught completely off guard when told they had won. As one of the Toyota officials put it, these folks just do their jobs and are very humble about the whole thing.

That, in my mind, defines a real winner - even if there’s not a red carpet or a spotlight in sight.

~ Dan Miller, TMS Corporate Communication

Comments

[richard badrick]

Why doesn't Toyota offer a manual transmission in its LE model?