The future of the automotive service industry depends on many things, including the quality and number of new technicians entering the industry every year. Dominic Surace, Dominic Surace Automotive, in Irwin, Pa., is doing his part to secure that future through various activities with vocational institutions and young people to promote careers in the automotive industry. He feels that to increase the number of technicians available, business owners need to get involved with local vocational schools and the community.

As a young child, Surace's grandfather told him to attend a vocational school and learn a trade. That was during a time when it was tough to get into a vocational school. The schools had minimum grade-point averages that had to be maintained, as well as attendance requirements. Unfortunately, that is not always the case today. Surace, however, is applying his knowledge and love of the industry to change the image of automotive technicians in the eyes of young people. "The automotive industry is a good industry. It does have direction into the future and a person can do very well if they are willing to work," said Surace.

Advocate And Educator
Surace is an education advocate and has been a member of the Craft Councils of theCentral Westmoreland Career and Technology Center for 15 years and the Rosedale Technical Institute for five years; both are located in Pennsylvania. As a graduate and success story of Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center, Surace assists the school in designing curriculum and equipment needs for the automotive program. By being in the industry, he is able to advise the school's administration on the proper training needed to prepare students to enter the workplace, as well as apprise them of the ever-changing demands of the automotive industry. With this expertise, the school is able to demonstrate the need for newer, more advanced equipment and apply for grant monies to purchase such equipment. "As I look around, the industry appears to be getting 'grayer.' I believe the automotive industry offers endless opportunities for young people, if they put all they can into it," said Surace. He recently presented a course on automotive knowledge to a group of Girl Scouts. The course targeted young ladies approaching driving age. Surace discussed preventive maintenance and general automotive education. This course earned the girls their Automotive Maintenance Badge.

Appealing To Students
Another way he promotes the professionalism of the industry is through his more than 20 years in the sport of drag racing. Surace races and exhibits his 1996 Chevrolet Baretta professional race car. He speaks to students about the industry and displays his Pro Stock race car at the regional technical school. Through his knowledge and ability of automotive mechanics, he is able to demonstrate the importance of vehicle maintenance, as well as the benefits of learning the skills of automotive repair. Surace has set world records for mile per hour in the International Hot Rod Association's (IHRA's) Modified Eliminator A-Gas Class and elapsed time in IHRA's Modified Eliminator A-Gas Class.

Surace has more than 20 years of experience in all facets of the automotive service industry, which began during vocational education in high school. He has been master-certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) for the same number of years. In fact, four months after graduating from Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center, he took and earned the ASE master-certification. In April 1996, Surace received his ASE certification as a Master Engine Machinist and in July 1996, he was certified by ASE as an Advanced Engine Performance Specialist. Only 25 people in Pennsylvania have earned this triple ASE certification.

Surace Automotive is an ASA-Pennsylvania Gold Star Shop and an ASE Blue Seal of Excellence facility with three employees. The shop has 2,948 square feet and its technicians perform general, high performance and classic mechanical auto repairs. Surace Automotive has been in business for three years and is a state-of-the-art, custom-built repair facility providing the latest technology in automotive repair. Surace said that what he likes best about doing his job is "the satisfaction of doing a quality automotive repair for a fair price." Before opening his own shop, Surace had worked as a service manager, a parts/service/body shop coordinator and as a quality control technician at local new car dealers in the area.

Along with running a successful shop and educating young people about the industry, Surace is an Automotive Service Association (ASA) volunteer and holds the positions of Chapter 10 vice president and ASA-Pennsylvania state delegate. He became an ASA member after a visit from an ASA representative. Surace began receiving all the technical and management education information ASA provides and realized he had made the right choice in joining. While attending an ASA function, Surace and his wife, Donna, took several seminars that were offered. At that point, Donna had not worked in the automotive industry. The classes she took at that event and since then have enabled her to become Surace Automotive's office manager. "I believe in what ASA does and stands for. No independent garage owner can afford not to be a member of ASA," said Surace.

Surace plans to continue enlightening the younger generation about the advantages and professionalism of the automotive service industry. It is and has been an uphill battle, but one that he has gladly engaged.

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