Education/training
Auto technician shifts into high gearHe developed a love of cars as a youngster, while working alongside his father. By high school, Gary Sousa's skills attracted the attention of his teachers. He continued to hone his skills, eventually fulfilling his dream of opening his own shop. |
|
 [ 2007-08-22 ] |
Gary Sousa is owner of G-Tech Auto Services in Mississauga.
"I owe a lot to my father. When he immigrated here from Portugal 30 years go, he refused to take his car to a repair shop," says Sousa, owner of G-Tech Auto Services in Mississauga.
"He had been in the military and to get a driver's licence, he had to know the fundamentals of repairing a car, from changing tires to an engine rebuild. I learned from him and excelled in my automotive courses in high school."
After leaving high school after Grade 11, Sousa landed a job at Meineke Car Care Centre, eventually beginning his apprenticeship in 1999. "It was hard to get signed on as a first year apprentice," the 29-year-old says.
"It took awhile to get recognized. Like anything else, you have to prove yourself. I left every place I worked at on good terms. There are people who let things happen and those who make things happen. I'm driven."
He registered for his apprenticeship through the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and enrolled at Centennial College in Toronto. He chose the college's day release program, attending school one day a week from September through June for three years.
"I worked on vehicles from all the manufacturers," Sousa says. Upon completion of his in-school training, he received a certificate of completion. "The faculty is amazing. They're up to date on everything," he says.
On his first day, instructor Brian Humphrey asked students to talk about where they saw themselves five years down the road. "I remember saying I wanted to have my own shop. He told me I would have it ... He knew I wasn't going to sit back and let things happen."
After graduating in 2001, Sousa landed a job at Mississauga Honda. "I wanted to see what a working at a dealership was like. It was a good learning experience, but I missed working one-on-one with customers."
He opened G-Tech Auto Services in 2004. Owning his own business has presented numerous challenges, but he's pleased with his choice. "I wouldn't change a thing," Sousa says. "It's all about electronics now. You have to consistently take courses. Diagnostics is where it's at."
Location and determination are keys to success, the entrepreneur believes. "You have to be accessible ... The biggest boost for my business was when I introduced myself to 7,000 people who live in the area on a Thanksgiving Day weekend. It was the best form of advertising. I got about 150 customers. My biggest objective is to never let anyone leave the shop unhappy."
QUICK FACTS
Centennial College's Automotive Services Technician apprenticeship program is designed to give graduates a good working knowledge of engines, electrical/electronics, fuels, transmissions and drivelines, steering, suspension and brakes. Graduates typically find employment with vehicle and parts manufacturers, dealers, garages and service stations, retailers, governments and corporations with their own fleets, or self-employment.
To learn more, visit www.centennialcollege.ca.
Does your employer subsidize your commute to work?