Retired master technician Ray Garver, right, explains a repair underway in the service area at Krapohl Ford & Lincoln to Carter Filhart, left, and Kyle Stephenson.
Automotive students enjoy close-up look at career opportunities
Ray Garver was back on the service floor Tuesday in an old Krapohl Ford & Lincoln work uniform. The master technician retired in April after working more than 40 years for Krapohl. He returned for an opportunity to pass on his passion for the automotive world to two teenagers.
Ray Garver explains how every area of a vehicle is complex, even the seats, which include motors and heating elements.
Accompanying him on a tour of the facilities was Carter Filhart, 17, and Kyle Stephenson, 15, from Mount Pleasant High School. Both are students in the “Introduction to Auto Repair” course through the Gratiot-Isabella Technical Education Center.
The three started in the service area where Casey Gott worked on a large diesel engine that needed extensive work. Filhart and Stephenson saw various projects underway with cars and other trucks, including an F-550 that needed its entire diesel exhaust system installed after a thief was caught trying to steal it to sell the metal.
The three-hour tour included introductions to the Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center, the reconditioning department, body shop, parts department and sales area.
“I liked it all, especially the body shop,” Filhart said. “I didn’t realize how big this place is. I thought it was just working on engines, but it’s all sorts of things.”
Service Manager Jeff Slocum has a long relationship with the GI Tech Center, and he set up the tours. Garver soon will lead more small groups of students through the Krapohl shops. He told Filhart and Stephenson how Krapohl works with new hires to train them and set them up for classes to earn certifications. “It’s not really work if you love what you do,” Garver said.
“I learned that if you want to get into this, there are a lot of options in this type of work,” Stephenson said. “I got a good idea of what you can do.”
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