2024 Conference Instructors

Details coming soon

Karl Schneider brings to the table over 3 decades of experience as a technician and shop owner in the automotive sector. He holds multiple certifications, including ASE Automotive Master L1, L2 truck specialist, and others, reflecting his in-depth understanding of the industry. Karl is also a graduate of the Automotive Accredited Manager (AAM) program and holds certifications as a Mobile Air Conditioning (MAC’s) and Tire Industry Association (TIA) instructor. In 2012, Karl joined Robert Bosch LLC as a Senior Training Instructor, with a primary focus on diesel systems. He has meticulously studied Bosch diesel rebuilding procedures, equipping him to offer training on various diesel components.

Jerry Stewart is the curriculum administrator for AVI. He is an ASE Master certified automotive technician with L1, L3, G1, C1, and A9 certifications. Jerry is also an ATRA-certified transmission builder and an AERA-certified engine machinist. Jerry has worked in the automotive field for 40 years. He has been a shop owner for 17 years, a national trainer for 20 years, and a curriculum developer since 2003. Jerry has served as an automotive college instructor for the University of Montana since 2011. Jerry has developed a curriculum for the automotive industry that includes advanced drivability, Diesel technology, Powertrain technology, and Hybrid and EV programs. He has developed over 100 classes for the automotive industry. Jerry’s classes have won the ATMC award four times. The ATMC annually recognizes outstanding or innovative training programs. When Jerry isn’t training or developing curriculum he enjoys riding horses in the Montana mountains.

Technician, shop owner, author, photographer, lover of classic cars…these are some of the words used to describe Vic Tarasik. His career began in Western NY pumping gas, wrenching on, and racing muscle cars. In 1987 Vic opened a shop in his home garage and grew it to a fourteen-bay automotive maintenance and repair facility located in The Woodlands, Texas. After nearly 30 years of successful operation, Vic sold his shop to pursue the next stage of his career. Training and coaching other shop owners to achieve their dreams has been a passion of Vic’s even when he was running his own shop. Every shop owner will have a different dream, it could be spending time with family, traveling, or giving back to others; you never know what an individual’s dream might be. Tarasik’s desire is to help shop owners achieve what he has…success today that translates to life after the shop. What Shop Owner Coach focuses on is the core of the shop, which is the owner. Developing and implementing a repair shop’s best practices, leadership development of the owner, and life after the shop. Vic says that everyone deserves to achieve their dreams and that is what Shop Owner Coach is here for, to help each shop owner to identify and achieve their dreams.

Dave’s auto career began over 45 years ago in his family’s auto electric business in Kokomo Indiana.  15 years later he moved into the OEM world (General Motors) with roles as a technical hotline advisor, field engineer and electronics systems instructor for engineers at GM Delco Electronics. Dave’s ASE master certified with L1 (Advanced Engine Performance) and L3 (Hybrid/Electric Vehicles) specialist certifications and has worked on several ASE test writing committees for hybrids and EVs. Dave is also a contributor to several trade magazines, an instructor in numerous training videos and has been an adjunct instructor at several Ivy Tech Community College campuses (Indiana).  After 4 ½ decades of keeping up with changes in technologies, Dave knows the only ‘constant’ in the world of automotive service is ‘change’!

As a Master Trainer for DRiV, Mark’s automotive career started with a position as a college-certified mechanic working for a GM dealership. Since then, he has held positions of increasing responsibility and skill within the independent repair industry and currently delivers training across all vehicle systems. Mark enjoys the challenges that come with the job and continues to pursue excellence and professionalism, with an emphasis on the needs of the customer, as his driving source for gaining more knowledge and information. His goal is to teach the next generation of technicians to understand the complexities of advancing automotive technology, training technicians to effectively diagnose and repair vehicles of today, and prepare them for vehicles of the future.

25 years of Automotive Industry experience, starting as an ASE-certified OE Dealership Technician to OE Dealership Assistant Service Manager. Thereafter Philip Austin has held various leadership roles along with training & development roles within the industry. A lifelong pursuit of learning and teaching has taken him to every corner of the automotive industry. As a previous OE Tech, successful Shop co-owner, Technical Trade School Instructor, Technical Content Developer, Business Consultant, Guest Instructor on the Velocity Channel Automotive Cable Series-Tech Garage, and lastly he was one of the industry selected instructors for the 2023 AAPEX Industry Week. He is dedicated to supporting the growth of all automotive professionals via training & development. Philip is currently the Manager of Technical Training for USA & Canada at Niterra North America.

Details coming soon