Toyota T-TEN Graduate Highlighted in Trade Publication
An automotive trade publication recently featured one of Cypress College’s 2022 Toyota T-TEN graduates. Gage Boisseranc was the subject of an interview in the Fall/Winter 2023 issue of ASE Tech News, published by independent third-party organization the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.
Boisseranc was an all-star student and the only 2022 graduate to have all 8 ASEs and the two Advanced ASEs, L1 Advanced Engine Performance and L3 Hybrid Vehicle Service certificates, according to T-TEN program director Michael Klyde. Boisseranc’s accomplishments included winning: an $1800 Matco Tools gift certificate, an OBD II Techstream Cable, which turns laptops into scan tools (value $500), and an advanced Fluke Meter with EV and Hybrid vehicle high voltage capable testing with a value of $1,200.
“He was one of our top techs,” Klyde said “We thank ASE for highlighting his accomplishments. Students like Gage are the future automotive leaders, whether at the dealer, in a corporate setting like Toyota or coming back to where it all started and teaching the future automotive students.”
Below is the excerpted interview from ASE Tech News.
Q & A with Top Technician Gage Boisseranc
Tell us about yourself. What made you decide to become a service professional?
I am currently an automotive technician at Newport Lexus, starting here in 2021. In 2019, I took a job at a lube shop, intending for it to be temporary, but I ended up falling in love with the work. Within a month, I had dropped everything else and signed up for school to pursue a career in the automotive service industry.
Where/How did you get your training to get the knowledge you have today?
Most of my training has come from my education as a T-TEN student at Cypress College and from the experiences I have had while working professionally at a dealership.
How long have you worked as a service professional?
I have been working as an automotive service professional for about four years total. I spent a little over a year at the lube shop and the remainder of my professional experience comes from my time at the dealer.
What role has being ASE Certified played in your journey?
My ASE certifications have had a major role in my journey. It can be competitive to find a job at a good shop in this industry. My certifications have given me a great advantage in this regard and they have helped me advance quickly at the dealer.
What ASE Certifications do you currently hold?
I have ASE A1 through A8, plus L1, plus L3. I achieved them during my T-TEN program at Cypress College. What are some of the top challenges you do/did face as a service professional and how do/did you overcome them?
Soon after graduating from T-TEN, I was given my first heavy line jobs at work. I had done some engine teardowns while in school, but these were the first ones I had done on my own. I felt a bit overwhelmed as these were engines I was not experienced with. I overcame this by thinking back on my time in T-TEN. We were taught that we would never know everything when working on cars, but what is important is to know how to use the resources available to you to research and learn how to move forward. I take that lesson and apply it to every challenge I face when working on a vehicle.
Do you have any advice for today’s students who might be thinking about entering the automotive industry or becoming a service professional?
There are a lot of opportunities and potential for growth in this industry. The industry is fast-paced and ever changing. It can be hard to learn how vehicles work and the engineering behind them on the job. If you are interested in becoming a service professional I recommend taking your education seriously and really applying yourself in your training.
What do you like most about being an automotive service professional?
There is always more to learn and there are ways to better yourself in this industry. There will always be new technology to keep up with and I find that exciting.