Ray Garver joined the Krapohl Ford & Lincoln service team more than 40 years ago. He’s a lifelong learner and leader among service technicians.
Award-winning Service Tech also gives back to community
Ray Garver always was interested in cars, engines and anything mechanical. He soaked up anything about the automotive industry as a high school student, and then he went to Ferris State University for a two-year automotive program.
Garver’s father did business with Krapohl Ford & Lincoln with his trucking company about 50 years ago, which served as another inspiration that pushed Garver toward the automotive industry. He began looking for dealerships that were hiring and came across Krapohl. He was aware of the dealership’s reputation and decided that’s where he wanted to work as a Service Technician.
Ray Garver’s area of the service bay is legendary among Krapohl Ford & Lincoln employees. One toolbox also serves as a family album.
Now, more than 40 years later, Garver will retire April 30 from Krapohl as top-tier automotive technician who excels in teaching and helping others learn the trade. As an Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association World Class Technician, Garver continued to learn by regularly taking any technician training available.
“Everything changes every year,” Garver said. “You have to keep up with that or you can easily get behind.”
He is Ford Senior Master Certified and Automotive Service Excellence Certified in 25 areas, which got his name into the Automotive Hall of Fame. He’s also a 2007 Top Gun Automotive Competition Champion and finished in fourth place in the 2008 Ford Ultimate Master Technician Challenge.
“He’s earned so many awards and is master certified in just about anything,” Krapohl General Manager/Co-owner Mark Smith said. “And he’s gone well beyond that. He’s been very important to us.”
Outside of Garver’s Krapohl career, he’s involved in the community. He’s done work for Mid-Michigan Community College, worked at the tech center at Mt. Pleasant High School and he was on a national Ford technician panel. He currently serves on four college advisory programs, including the MMCC automotive advisory committee.
He also has a love for motorcycles — working on them and taking them for rides. He has several motorcycles and a few dirt bikes, and he created a set up for drag racing. And he appreciates time with his wife, children and grandchildren.
Regarding Garver’s professional career, he loves to work with his hands and finds it rewarding to be able to take a vehicle apart, put it back together, and make customers happy. He’s going to miss his work, but what he’s going to miss most is “the people.”
“(Krapohl Co-owner Tom Krapohl for one, he’s the best boss ever,” Garver said. “I couldn’t say enough about that man.”
About six years ago, Garver had a minor finger accident in the shop and was taken to the hospital. He was only there for a short time, and not many people were aware of the accident. But Tom Krapohl was. He showed up at the hospital.
“He can’t believe how much that meant to me and my wife,” Garver said. “He really cares about his employees.”
Garver has had many exciting experiences and success while a part of the Krapohl family. From certifications to winning competitions to community work, Garver is proud of his accomplishments.
“I have to say it’s been a very rewarding career, and they [co-workers] supported me through it all,” he said.
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