Getting to Know...Maury Calhoun

Getting To Know...

...Maury Calhoun, Automotive Instructor at Prince George's Community College

I am an adjunct professor at Prince George’s Community College, located in Largo, Maryland. I teach the basic automotive course all the way through to hybrid/electric vehicle class. My career has given me over 30 years of experience in the automotive industry. Things started for me at Sears automotive as a battery technician, which quickly launched my interest in learning more about cars. Years later I would attend Catonsville Community College’s automotive program, taking an interest in Toyota. After performing a new car service on the then new 1997 twin turbo Supra, I was hooked. My career took me from Sears to Toyota, Midas, Volvo, Land Rover, Goodyear, Hyundai, and back to Volvo, giving me the opportunity to learn every aspect of an automotive dealership and shop. I’d been a technician, service writer, shop foreman, and a parts manager, while dabbling in as a GM.

The technicians that I was lucky enough to work with taught me a tremendous amount of knowledge and it nurtured my love of the automotive industry. My instructor also taught me a skill that I share with all my students, “Practice What You Preach." "To be able to call yourself a good technician, you must always be one" is another saying of his. Teaching came naturally to me. Being able to teach and give someone a skill that would provide a career for them excited me. I enjoy the look on a student's face when they realize they can fix cars. There is a sense of self-worth knowing that I have shared my passion for cars with new technicians.

I grew up watching my dad and uncle being able to listen to a vehicle run, then tell you what’s wrong with it. I loved the fact they could just recite a firing order to you just by peeking at the model of the car. It all fascinated and challenged me to keep pushing in my career to be better. Upon reaching master ASE level, I found myself taking on all of the tough jobs and teaching new technicians at the Volvo dealership. Next thing I knew, my friend was offering me a teaching position at the college. I had refused it at first but a quick reflection of what I was already doing daily, while on my third assistant, reminded me that teaching was already ongoing. Our program at the college is growing and opening doors for so many that really need it. When I decided to leave the shop and go teach, my daughter asked me, “So this means you won’t fix cars, but you love fixing cars?” I smiled and told her, "Nope. I won’t stop, just helping others to find a love for fixing cars."

My professional teaching career is only about 5 years old, but as I look back at the technicians that I have mentored, it has actually been going on for 15 years. I have a true love for what I do and am amazed at how fast things change in this industry. We have gone from simple machines to having to learn computer programming, like Linux, to be able to understand the latest vehicles on the road now. Teachers are needed in this field, as things change every year with new challenges, and I plan on being right there in the midst of it all.