Mr. Lee – An Instinctive Technician

Porsche Gold Technician

Porsche Centre Brighton

Freshly qualified Porsche Gold Technician

Mr Geunho Lee is ultra-passionate about the cars he’s dedicated his life to. He shares his story, passions, and obsessions … along with a taste of what he enjoys doing most when he’s not rejuvenating Porsches

Geunho Lee (usually known as Mr Lee) arrived in Melbourne from South Korea 15 years ago with his young family. Mindful of his initial struggles to learn English, Geunho was adamant that his children would be educated in an English-speaking country. (This has worked out perfectly, with his son now in his first year of university, and his daughter following many pursuits in secondary school.)

On arrival, Mr Lee brought his enduring passion for solving mechanical puzzles. ‘I believe that I can talk to vehicles,’ he reveals. ‘When they tell me what’s wrong with their noises and warning lights, I provide a diagnosis – just like a person going to hospital!’

Mr Lee continually challenges himself at Porsche Centre Brighton, with impressive results. He recently completed the Certified Porsche Technician program, a worldwide certification initiative managed by Porsche AG Service Training which ensures a high level of technical knowledge for Porsche dealers worldwide.

‘Last year, I had the opportunity to take the Gold exam and thankfully passed,’ he remembers, having been nominated by Aftersales Manager Michael Smith. He’s currently the sole Gold Technician at Porsche Centre Brighton, which also boasts two Silver Technicians.

Offering a steady progression of knowledge and competencies, the certification process is divided into three parts – Bronze Level, for ‘Service Technician’ duties; Silver Level, for ‘System Technician’ duties; and Gold Level, for ‘Electronics/Diagnostics Specialist’ duties.

The full-day exam is held annually at Porsche Cars Australia Training Centre, with three practical tasks for each level. Only after all Bronze Level and Silver Level training objectives have been successfully completed is the participant entitled to take the coveted Gold Level test.

With this impressive achievement under his belt, Mr Lee soon plans to visit the Porsche Track Experience course in Queensland. ‘Travelling there will help me understand the Porsche brand even more, as well as perform more complex repairs on customers’ vehicles,’ he points out. ‘I always aim to keep moving forward – I can fix Porsche vehicles, but I want to further explore the Porsche spirit.’

So, where does the golf come in?

‘I work inside on customers’ Porsches from Monday to Friday,’ Mr Lee says. ‘On Saturday and Sunday, I can walk in nature on a beautiful golf course. When I hit a good shot, it makes me feel free,’ he explains.

With such tireless ambition, we’re glad Mr Lee also appreciates the paramount importance of rest and relaxation. •