Who Am I?
I’m an ASE-certified technician with 19 years of experience in the automotive services industry. My expertise has roots in Willingboro, NJ and has since taken me to Atlanta, GA where I founded Ms. Independent Auto in 2013.
The Backstory
When I was younger, I loved taking things apart to see how they work. It made my mother mad, but since I was good at putting them back together, she would always find a way to forgive me. Coming from a single-parent home, one thing I started to notice was the stress that vehicle breakdowns had on her. My grandfather was pretty good with cars but he lived far away. At times, my Uncle Houston or my Uncle Charles would take care of the vehicle maintenance. I would try to learn all I could because of how much I could assist my mother and ease her stress.
My freshman year of high school (1996) changed everything when I signed up for Willingboro High School’s automotive repair class. The way my teacher, Doc, sparked my interest in becoming an automotive technician insured me a very bright future – but I was never satisfied. My skill level was higher than my peers, I was making good money and all the women in my family had no stress…well, none coming from the second-biggest investment most Americans have: vehicle issues.
The problem was this: Every day I went to work for a repair shop that asked me to sell things that were not needed. I left a lot of good-paying jobs because of it. Sad to say, but the automotive industry is very low on integrity.
Years passed, jobs passed and this whole time I have still been thinking:
- How can I make it better?
- How can I make automotive knowledge easier for women?
- How can I assist women in not getting ripped off?
- How can I ensure that women have fewer breakdowns?
In 2012, the idea came to me.
Design a series of courses covering all the basics of automotive repair/maintenance! Each course could be taken independently to highlight different areas of expertise. When all three courses are completed, women are given a certificate. Assist them in becoming knowledgeable in the field of automotive repair and maintenance.
Create Ms. Independent Auto!