Peter Nelson is a graduate of Spokane Community College’s Automotive Technology program. On any Sunday, Peter can be found wrenching on one of his several classic Toyotas, preparing for the next rallycross event—or else shredding the streets of Spokane on his rollerblades. From Monday to Friday though, he tucks in his uniform shirt and enters a world of German engineering, European luxury, and world-class customer service.
As both a Line Technician at Mercedes-Benz of Spokane and a part time rallycross and autocross racer, Peter is like an automotive mullet. Up front, he’s a methodical, organized, and process-oriented diagnostician investigating issues with some of the most advanced vehicle technology in the world. In the back, he knows just as much about gravel, grease, and carburetors.
Before college, Peter turned a childhood love of cars and racing games into a real-world racing hobby. But converting that hobby into a career took more than the practical mechanical skill he built as an amateur racer.
“Mechanical skill is a skill of necessity in racing—But Without the Automotive Technology program at Spokane Community College, I never would have ended up with Mercedes,” says Peter. “The program takes a very broad and hands-on approach on different kinds of cars. I had the technical skills I’d need to be a mechanic anywhere—but it was the soft skills and industry exposure in the program that really made the difference for me.”
Customer service and communication are just as important in Peter’s work as his technical skillset. “Understanding standard automotive terminology, then translating a customer’s report of a problem into our industry language, then being able to explain the problem and our plan for fixing it back to the customer in plain language—that all takes communication skills, and that’s part of what the SCC program emphasizes.”
The program also helps students understand the auto maintenance industry and find their niche. Students spend time in the second year of the program visiting shops and networking with potential employers. “Not to knock other shops at all,” says Peter, “but the first time I walked into the Mercedes shop I loved how clean everything was, and everybody seemed to have a positive attitude. I knew this is where I wanted to work.”
Peter’s career demonstrates that skillsets in auto maintenance can be stacked and accumulated in creative ways. At SCC, he built on a hobby, but after finding his niche as a Mercedes tech, he continued his education with Mercedes-specific training. “I’m now certified to service electric vehicles, which have become a big part of the Mercedes lineup,” says Peter. “And I’m always looking for skills to add through Mercedes’ training programs.”
Peter has worked for more than seven years at Mercedes-Benz of Spokane. While he’s happy in his current role, his eventual goal is to become a full-time teacher and mentor of up-and-coming mechanics. “One of my friends from the program is now an instructor at SCC,” says Peter. “That’s what I’m working towards now. My life’s path is leading me to teaching.”
Of course, not every graduate of SCC’s Automotive Technology program will return as an instructor. Nor will they become a Mercedes-Benz technician. And certainly not every student in the program grew up an amateur rally racer. Peter’s story demonstrates that career paths in the automotive world are diverse, and they can be built one step at a time by pursuing a passion and finding a niche.
Learn more about Spokane Community College’s Automotive Technology programs, and take your next step at SCC.