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Nathaniel Dillard Becomes Youngest ASE World-Class Technician

BY KACEY FREDERICK

At 23-years-old, Nathaniel Dillard is a world-class certified technician with years of industry experience already under his belt. Though many were pushing Dillard toward going to college out of high school, one local shop owner he worked for saw potential in him.

Dillard, who grew up in Martinsburg,West Virginia, now works as a research and development contractor at the North American division of Akka Technologies, a European company that offers engineering consulting for the automotive industry.

His first experience with automotive repair was around 9 or 10 years old, when his father enlisted his help with repairing a fuel pump on his vehicle. He said he needed “tinier hands than his,” Dillard remembers.

His interest in working with cars only grew as he matured, and after leaving high school, he immediately pursued the automotive field.

He started as a lube technician at a dealership initially after finding a job posting, and then went to work at an independent shop. It was there that he met Wallace Parrish: his mentor and owner of ZZ Auto Service Center.

“I impressed him, because I was working in the field I was at 18,” Dillard says.

When he began working for Parrish, Dillard was still unsure how committed he was to further pursuing his career as a technician, with many around him pushing him toward going to college.

It was Parrish that encouraged Dillard to work toward obtaining the ASE certifications that helped get him the job he has now, even going so far as to help fund the test fees.

“He’d seen the potential in me and told me to keep pushing for greatness,” Dillard recounts.

When he made the decision to pursue worldclass certification, much of it was material he’d already worked with in real life, but much also required studying and preparation. He says that he introduced himself “slowly into those subjects” by “studying up and researching.”

“A lot of is hands-on knowledge that you would acquire, but a lot of it is also just understanding the concepts and applying them,” he says.

His advice for others that are pursuing ASE certifications is to seek resources online, especially official ASE practice tests. If someone fails a test, he advises to study more and try again–Dillard says he failed some tests up to four times before passing.

Dillard cites his time at the shop as the most impactful time of his career. Parrish offered him support and confidence, and in spite of all the doubters, Dillard saw a path to carve for himself toward what he always wanted to do.

Just a few months ago, he stumbled upon a paper from a mock career presentation that he performed at 15.

“I remember one of the questions it asked was,‘What would you like to do after graduating high school?’ I said that I wanted to be an R and D electrical contractor … I did end up getting that job, and I think that’s really cool,” he says.

As a research and development contractor, Dillard now encounters many college students interested in the industry through a tech student program at Akka Technologies, and often ends up becoming a mentor for many of them.

The most important piece of career advice he has received, and that he gives to any technician entering the field, is to keep up with emerging technologies. He remembers how his background in working on computers with his father gave him an advantage when he first started as a lube technician.

“I was able to apply that (background in computers), being the new guy in the shop (and) already having an understanding of electrical systems in cars that are already becoming more and more electrical, versus mechanical,”he says.“And that has allowed me to keep ahead in my field.”

For Dillard, that’s always what his driving motivation to work in the automotive field has been: the opportunity to work with emerging technologies and being on the cutting edge of new products.

“I really enjoy getting to see the product before the rest of the world,” he says. “I really enjoy problem solving situations that I know for a fact have never occurred in the world before.”

Though Dillard enjoys a fulfilling career today, he confesses that the doubt he faced was one of the hardest parts of getting there, with many around him pushing him to go to college and pursue other paths.

“There’s a lot of negative connotations, even today, when it comes to a skilled labor position,” he says. “We’re starting to understand that not everyone needs to go to college, but there’s still some sort of a negative light shined on you if you haven’t. I think that’s not necessary.”

He’s more than satisfied in the position he holds now, being able to provide for himself while doing what he loves. He says he hopes to continue work in the research and development field for the foreseeable future.

“I think you can have a really good career and a really good life outside of work in this field,” Dillard says.

ASE Designates June 2023 as Automotive Service Professionals Month

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) has announced that the month of June 2023 has been chosen as Automotive Service Professionals Month (ASPM), according to a press release.

ASE has created a special logo to be used by “companies, organizations and individuals” to identify vehicle service professionals during the month of June.

The logo and other “ASE digital assets” can be downloaded online at no cost.

The ASE intends for June to serve as a time for “recognition events, special programs and other celebrations.”

U.S. EV Charger Program Offering Equity-Centered Grants

The Biden administration has announced plans to prioritize in-need areas for the installation of electric vehicle chargers as part of its $2.5 billion electric vehicle program, Bloomberg Law reports.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is now accepting applications for “underserved and disadvantaged” areas that would benefit the most from charging stations. They will be due by May 30.

The first increment of funding, which comes from the 2021 infrastructure law, will make “up to $700 million available for chargers and alternative fuel.” The law also includes an additional “$5 billion formula pro- gram to install chargers for electric vehicles along highways.”

President Biden has planned on half a million electric-vehicle chargers being offered nationwide by 2030. Officials have said that the “equity-focused grants” are intended to help both urban and rural areas have access to these charging stations.

Part of convincing Americans to make the switch to EVs is making charging stations “visible and accessible in our communities,” said Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm in a statement.

“So many of the people who could theoretically gain the most from the gas and diesel savings of having an electric car are those who will be most impacted by the sticker price and by the lack of charging infrastructure,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated in an interview with Bloomberg.

Study: EV Owners Dissatisfied with Recalls, Repair

According to a J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Customer Service Index (CSI) Study, electric vehicle owner satisfaction is 42 points lower than that of internal combustion engine vehicle owners. It’s the first time in 28 years that the survey has seen a year-over-year decline in satisfaction, said Reuters.

Hampered by recalls—which are more than double for EVs—the study indicated that consumer dissatisfaction decreases by 23 points when the repair is based on a recall.

"As the electric vehicle segment grows, service is going to be a 'make or break' part of the ownership experience," said Chris Sutton, vice president of automotive retail at J.D. Power. "The industry has been hyperfocused on launches and now these customers are bringing their electric vehicles in for maintenance and repairs."

Along the lines of maintenance and repair, EV customers are faced with longer service waits due to labor and parts shortages, which adds to their growing frustration.

Auto Care Association Enters Global Right to Repair Movement

The Auto Care Association is going global with its efforts to support the Right to Repair. According to a statement released on its website, the ACA is aligning with advocates around the world through a new position statement outlining the movement’s core beliefs and reiterating the intended outcomes expected of Right to Repair legislation.

“Auto Care Association and associations around the globe are aligned in preserving the owner’s choice for vehicle repair,” said Bill Hanvey, president and CEO, Auto Care Association. “This statement represents a herculean effort to protect our industry and the rights of individuals around the world. Vehicle owners deserve the right to maintain and repair their vehicle using the repair location of their choice.”

The automotive aftermarket within the United States performs 70% of after-warranty