ALUMNI AVENUE - Meet Mat, Full Service Tech!

Meet Mat, former Bendix Academy student, now a Full Service Technician!

Today, Mat, a former Bendix Academy student, is a “Full Service Technician” at Brighton Ford, proudly holding certifications in HVAC and Electrical Systems and working toward his state “Master Technician” certification. His path to the dealership is a perfect example of how curiosity, hard work, and toolmanship can open unexpected doors.

It all began one late evening when Mat was putting the finishing touches on a home project. Dressed in his work clothes, he made a quick stop at the Meijer automotive section to pick up a few supplies. Another shopper noticed that he was dressed for working on machines and struck up a conversation, asking if he knew how to work on cars. As it turned out, that shopper was a service advisor at Brighton Ford, and before long, Mat was invited to apply for a job. Two weeks later, and after a formal interview, he was hired!

Mat sampled many of the course tracks at Bendix Academy, including electrical, plumbing, woodwork, and engines.

Mat started out with simple tasks but quickly earned opportunities to take on more complex work, including heavily involved powertrain repairs and meticulous electrical projects. He laughs that while both home and professional work require being meticulous, the big difference at the dealership is “a lot more paperwork!”

When asked what made him a strong candidate for automotive work, Mat immediately credits his father. Growing up, Mat was a regular fixture in their garage, helping or watching whatever project was underway. One of his earliest experiences was bleeding the brakes on his fathers car, a 1967 Chevy Camaro Convertible. That early exposure sparked a lifelong interest in how things work.

His passion deepened when he began volunteering at the Warbirds of Glory Museum, where the atmosphere of craftsmanship and mechanical skill felt like home. From there, he joined Bendix Academy, where broader toolmanship lessons expanded his confidence and ability. By the time he was fifteen, he could perform most basic maintenance on a vehicle with little hesitation.

One night after leaving the Academy, Mat put his skills into action. Finding the chance to own a dream vehicle of his, he bought an old Willys CJ-2A for $700, spending evenings with his father, rebuilding the locked up, water logged engine.

When the project was complete, he sold the Jeep for more than double what he’d paid—a satisfying success that proved his growing expertise, and that no vehicle or machine was beyond saving.

Not long after, another vehicle caught his eye. Passing a field one day while riding through the countryside, again with his father, Mat spotted what he thought was a 1974 Dodge Monaco, or to movie nerds, “The Blues Mobile”. On closer inspection, it turned out to be a 1972 AMC Matador. A quick conversation with the property owner led to another project only 2 days later, giving that vehicle a second chance at life. The Matador was no easy restoration.

“Sometimes I felt like I knew basically nothing,” Mat admits. “I knew this has to come off, and then this, but not much more.” – Mat

“All knowledge is good knowledge. You won’t know unless you try.” – Mat’s Dad

Still, he had learned how to think critically and work through problems step by step. He relied on technical manuals, patience, and the perseverance that toolmanship training had taught him.

During high school, Mat originally wasn’t sure what direction to take— But with his chance encounter at the local Meijer, he had an opportunity under one of the Big 3 automakers. With the experience of restoring the Willys and the Matador cementing his love for repairing and maintaining vehicles or machines and with his dad’s encouragement—“All knowledge is good knowledge. You won’t know unless you try.”—Mat found his calling as an automotive technician.

At Brighton Ford, Mat began as a “Lube Tech”, one of the entry-level roles in the shop. It was fast-paced, repetitive and demanding work, but he stuck with it and excelled. At his one year anniversary with the dealership, he was given the promotion into becoming a “Full Service Technician”, with initial repairs that included small tasks like software re-programming and light maintenance, and growing into full engine replacements in the current day. Though his schedule today leaves little room for side projects, Mat still enjoys applying his skills beyond the shop. He’s currently helping an elderly neighbor restore a 1926 half-ton truck, and restoring another Willys MB for himself, keeping alive the same spirit of craftsmanship he learned from his father.

Mat’s father, who passed away suddenly in December of 2024, was himself a gifted toolman, a longtime engineer who worked with many companies over the years, such as Perceptron, Tecla, Berts Custom Tackle, and FARO technology, and who “could do a bit of everything.” Mat carries on his father’s legacy not only through his mechanical work but in his everyday kindness, always ready to lend a hand. Today, Mat says he’s not exactly sure where his career and toolmanship skills will lead, but he knows he’s on the right path. “I’m learning more every day,” he says. “And I really like what I’m doing.”