Canadian tech wins world of opportunities

The technician at Ultimate Auto in Quispamsis, N.B., (near Saint John) has won thousands of dollars worth of automotive equipment, including a lift, tire changer, compressor, air tools, AC service machine, and diagnostic scan tools.

“I keep pinching myself. I can’t believe I won!” he said when he was being fêted at the Automotive Aftermarket Parts Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas recently. “It’s opened a world of opportunities for me.”

Most notably, he said, the win gives him an opportunity to grow as a technician.

“I now have the right tools, equipment and training – everything I need, compliments of Delphi,” he said.

 Mullin was the grand prize after signing up for Delphi’s Victory Lane promotion – delphi.com/victorylane – aimed at building and maintaining a connection between Delphi and working technicians throughout North America.

“These days, technicians buy 70 per cent of their own tools to work in a shop,” explains Malcolm Sissmore, Delphi Product & Service Solutions’s North American sales director for training, telematics and tools, as well as the company’s country director for Canada. “We wanted to help catapult a technician to the next level, and maybe help change their future that way.”

He said there are now more than 14,000 technicians in the Victory Lane database.

“They sign up to interact with Delphi on a number of surveys, and give us feedback on things,” he said. “We’re not just flooding them with stuff. It’s not just one-way communication. It’s interactive.”

Victory Lane members can win monthly prizes like tablet computers, tools, and promotional materials. And, of course, there’s the grand prize which includes all the equipment needed to start an auto repair business: a high-performance laptop with shop management software, AC recovery machine, Delphi diagnostic scan tool, diagnostics software, OBDII/CAN hand-held reader and fuel system tester, 11,000 pound capacity lift, transmission jack, compressor and air tools, two-ton service jack, engine lift, tire changer and balancer, battery charger and tester, and brake lathe. Delphi will also provide comprehensive training, as well as its Auto IQ Service Solution for further online diagnostic support and parts from its fuel, engine management, heating and cooling, and diesel product portfolio.

Sissmore said the winner of the first Dream Shop ended up selling most of the equipment to his employer.

“We don’t know what will happen in this case,” he said. “We’re not giving four walls or business financing, so Ryan will still have to make it happen if he’s going to open his dream shop, but this is a big step in the right direction for him.”

For his part, Mullin says he’d love to open his own shop, but he’s not making any immediate plans.

“I never expected anything like this,” he said. “I never thought about it. It never even dawned on me.”

He’s been involved in the trade for the last decade and has been fully licensed since 2006.

In making the Dream Shop announcement at AAPEX, the president of Delphi Product & Service Solutions, Lúcia Moretti, said it is wonderful to see young, talented technicians receive the award.

“I hope winning the Delphi Dream Shop helps makes your dreams come true!” she told Mullin. “And we’re not going to stop here. We want to give more dreams away. Delphi will run the Win a Delphi Dream Shop promotion again in 2013.”