David Drosos
Automotive Instructor - Lincoln College of Technology

Tell us about yourself. What made you decide to become a service professional?
As a kid I was always interested in how things worked, I use to take apart my toys to see how they worked and put them back together. My Father was always the person everyone went to when something broke and he was always able to help family and friends, I wanted to be that person that everyone goes to when something breaks the auto industry is part of that.

Where/How did you get your training to get the knowledge you have today?
I learned a lot from watching my father while growing up, and later I attended the Ford ASSET Program at Triton College.

How long have you worked as a service professional?
I have been a service professional for over a decade.

What role has being ASE Certified played in your journey?
I was very proud to earn the ASE Master Certification, I believe it is a symbol of quality which I share with my students. I tell them to always take pride in what you are working on.

What ASE Certifications do you currently hold?
I am a Master Automotive technician, and G1 certified.

What are some of the top challenges you do/did face as a service professional and how do/did you overcome them?
I was in a bad car accident years ago when I was a technician at a dealership, it was on the way to work. I couldn't walk for a year, I thought that the career that I loved so much was over. I had a in home physical therapist that was terrible and told me I was going to have limitations, that put my mind in a negative place. Later on I started out patient therapy at a hospital, the physical therapist there was awesome! He was so positive and energizing, he had me running on my first day with him, something the other therapist said I would never do. I use this story on the first day of my new classes to show students that anything is possible and to surround yourself with positive people and spread positive energy because they can be a positive influence on someone else.

Do you have any advice for today’s students who might be thinking about entering the automotive industry or becoming a service professional?
It won't be easy, but I think it's worth it, this career can be very rewarding. The training never stops and neither does the tool purchases, lol. This field has so many opportunities, technicians, warranty administration, parts specialists, teaching etc. There are a lot of options, I tell them to learn as much as possible because the more you learn and the more experience you get the more valuable and irreplaceable you are.

What do you like most about being an automotive service professional?
I really enjoy sharing my knowledge of how and why things work with our students.

Do you have any other comments you would like to share?
I am very proud to be part of the ASE Family and very proud to work for Lincoln College of Technology.