In late June, Cox Automotive hosted its annual Top Tech competition, a prestigious event bringing together the most elite technicians from the company’s Fleet Services and Manheim businesses.
Nearly 50 finalists, who represent the top one percent of technicians at the company, competed in Light/Medium Duty Truck, Heavy-Duty Truck, and Trailer categories. With every move scrutinized and the clock ticking, competitors faced written and hands-on exams designed to challenge their technical skills and problem-solving abilities.
Of this group of finalists, these were the Grand Champions and Runners-Up in each category:
| HEAVY-DUTY TRUCK
Grand Champion: Michael Kerfoot Fleet Services – Texas
Runner-up: José Feliciano Fleet Services – Florida
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LIGHT/MEDIUM DUTY TRUCK
Grand Champion: Zach Nikorak Fleet Services – Pennsylvania
Runner-up: Darin Branton Manheim – Georgia
|
TRAILER
Grand Champion: Dillon Grimes Fleet Services – Georgia
Runner-up: Jameson “Bud” Haney Fleet Services – Minnesota
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The winners will have the opportunity to compete against other industry competitors at the nationwide TMC SuperTech competition in Raleigh, N.C., this September.
“I am thrilled to congratulate our Top Tech Grand Champions, Runners-Up, Station Winners and all the elite technicians who competed in the finals this year. Their exceptional skills and dedication make them true leaders in our industry, and they represent the best-in-class team we have in Fleet Services by Cox Automotive, as well as Manheim,” said Patrick Brennan, SVP of Fleet Services.
Station Winners from the event were as follows:
| HEAVY-DUTY TRUCK
|
LIGHT/MEDIUM DUTY TRUCK
|
TRAILER
|
| Safety and Environmental:
Evan Bailey Fleet Services – Texas
Written Assessment: José Feliciano Fleet Services – Florida
TMC Recommended Practices: Shane Parsons Fleet Services – Colorado
Service Information: Evan Bailey Fleet Services – Texas
Wiring Diagrams: José Feliciano Fleet Services – Florida
Foundation Brakes: Shane Parsons Fleet Services – Colorado
Air Brake Systems: Ben Deisig Fleet Services – Michigan
Wheel Ends: Wayne Hochgesang Manheim – Indiana
Fasteners: José Feliciano Fleet Services – Florida
PMI Inspection: Kyle Adams Fleet Services – Pennsylvania
Coolant and Def: Kyle Adams Fleet Services – Pennsylvania
Starting and Charging: Wayne Hochgesang Manheim – Indiana
Electronic Diagnoses Tools: Wayne Hochgesang Manheim – Indiana
Electrical Circuits: José Feliciano Fleet Services – Florida
|
Safety and Environmental:
Juan Carlos Felix Rivera Fleet Services – Kansas
Written Assessment: Zach Nikorak Fleet Services – Pennsylvania
TMC Recommended Practices: Zach Nikorak Fleet Services – Pennsylvania
Service Information: Daniel Rodriguez Manheim – Texas
Wiring Diagrams: Juan Carlos Felix Rivera Fleet Services – Kansas
Hydraulic Brakes: AJ Snyder Manheim – North Carolina
Fasteners: Zach Nikorak Fleet Services – Pennsylvania
PMI Inspection: Zach Nikorak Fleet Services – Pennsylvania
ADOS: Zach Nikorak Fleet Services – Pennsylvania
Electrical Circuits: Zach Nikorak Fleet Services – Pennsylvania
EV Safety: Zach Nikorak Fleet Services – Pennsylvania
HVAC Systems: John Cahill Manheim – Illinois
Charging and Starting: Eric Normandie Fleet Services – Connecticut |
Safety And Environmental:
Kendall Bryant Fleet Services – Virginia
Written Assessment: Dillon Grimes Fleet Services – Georgia
TMC Recommended Practices: Dillon Grimes Fleet Services – Georgia
Service Information: Dillon Grimes Fleet Services – Georgia
Wiring Diagrams: Brad Elkins Fleet Services – Ohio
Foundation Brakes: Jake Igl Fleet Services – Wisconsin
Air Brake Systems: Jameson “Bud” Haney Fleet Services – Minnesota
Wheel Ends: Mikhail Streeter Fleet Services – Minnesota
Fasteners: Dillon Grimes Fleet Services – Georgia
PMI Inspection: Jake Igl Fleet Services – Wisconsin
Alignment: Dillon Grimes Fleet Services – Georgia
Doors: Jim Haltman Fleet Services – Ohio
Lighting: Dave Dunsmoor Fleet Services – New York
Trailer Electrical Circuits: Mikhail Streeter Fleet Services – Minnesota
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Additionally, the 2024 Top Tech competition welcomed its female technician finalist in the Trailer category, Kendall Bryant. She was the first to compete in the annual event and even was a station winner in Environmental and Safety, listed above.
Learn more about Fleet Services by Cox Automotive at www.coxautoinc.com/fleet-services/. For more about Cox Automotive’s Top Tech competition, visit www.coxautoinc.com/mobility/top-tech/.
