I grew up in a blue-collar home, watching my dad keep our family cars on the road. He was not a mechanic by trade but could fix anything that came his way. I loved helping him work on cars and discovered he had great problem-solving skills when repairing vehicles. He had a true gift.

I also had uncles that were professional mechanics covering various automobiles and agriculture applications. I loved being around people with so much knowledge and a passion for repairing things correctly, problems that seemed impossible to the average person. The seed was planted, and my career charter was firmly defined.

I graduated from Brainerd Vocational Institute in Brainerd, MN, and started my professional career at a Nissan / Mercedes dealership. I loved the Mercedes vehicles and jumped at the chance to become a dedicated Mercedes Technician. I have been a Mercedes Technician for almost 37 years, since 1986.

The Mercedes brand deserves its high reputation. I believe in the quality and fine art of German engineering from the old to the new; as proof of this belief, I own 6 Mercedes (none with fewer than 100k miles).

Along the way, I have fixed everything from early sixties Pagodas to the high-tech S classes of 2020, and everything in between. Due to my passion for more vintage models, I generally focus on everything older than the early 2000 model years.

I attended Mercedes Benz training courses annually and have well over 250 Mercedes Benz training courses and credits. I am a master-certified Mercedes Technician. Throughout my career, I have been a line technician, a mentor to the newer technicians, a team leader, a foreman, and a specialist for the older Mercedes models.

I retired from the dealership last year, but I still currently service customers' cars from my home shop. My customers and their families have become my friends; they trust me like family.

As you can tell, I am passionate about Mercedes vehicles, especially older models, and I love helping others keep their cars in good repair. Becoming a Raise a Hood Telemechanic was an opportunity that was both unexpected and welcomed. I like sharing my expertise with people worldwide and helping people directly without a service manager between the customer and the technician.