Misael Rodriguez, a current ACE student, is committed and excited about becoming a Ford technician! He won the Aspiring Technician Grand Prize Award at this year’s Techs Rock Awards and plans to enroll in the Ford ASSET program to continue his education.

“I love how there’s a deeper concept behind everything that revolves around gears, shifting and maintaining,” Rodriguez said about why he wants to become a technician.

Rodriguez knew where his career aspirations lay at a young age.

“What made me choose to pursue a career as a technician was my love for repairing things as a young kid,” he explained. “I started on household items, trying to understand how they work, and constructed my first project, which was inserting new drivetrain, shifters, and components to my mountain bike.”

The self-taught bike mechanic reminisced about how exciting it was to learn how to service a bike perfectly on his own. Rodriguez still tests his skills today.

“Maintaining my bikes in my garage has helped me engage more with my hands and use my brain to solve the issue and understand why it happened,” he said.

Rodriguez was first introduced to the automotive industry by his uncle at the age of 13. He learned the skills by flipping cars with his uncle, and the first car he fixed was his dad’s truck.

“My dad’s truck had a bad starter solenoid, and with the guidance of my uncle, we had it up and running again,” he recalled. “It will always be a memorable experience for me, the enjoyment and satisfaction of fixing my father’s vehicle.”

Rodriguez continued learning from his uncle during high school and added critical skills to his belt, including oil changes, tire rotations, and service brakes.

In 2023, he stepped foot into his first automotive class, and thanks to his uncle and working at his dad’s independent auto shop, he had an experience edge over his peers.

“I’ve enjoyed helping my peers since day one,” he said. “I’d jump in and help when a classmate is lost in a lesson or is unsure of the next step during hands-on activities.”

In the ACE program, Rodriguez can envision himself entering a Ford dealership one day as a Ford technician.

“Ford ACE has a large variety of lessons and each one is unique to important information,” he explained. “I love that I can work at my own pace to enhance my skills and knowledge and gain confidence on each topic to help me in the workforce.”

In addition to his uncle, who first introduced him to the automotive industry, Rodriguez credits his teachers as mentors for introducing him to new opportunities.

“I really appreciate how they encourage me to challenge myself, to learn, and to improve my critical thinking and hands-on skills,” he said. “The Ford ACE program has taught me a deeper understanding of the importance of maintaining or repairing vehicles.”

Rodriguez has advice and words of encouragement for aspiring technicians and the future of the technician field.

“Become a leader in your career and your community; help your community and peers grow and prosper,” Rodriguez exclaimed. “I really want to see more young males and females become technicians where they can all create a positive impact for this community and their passions.”

For more information on New Ford Tech’s ACE Program, click HERE!

For more information on the Ford ASSET program and to find a school near you, click HERE!