October 28, 2003

Technician from Saskatoon wins ACDelco 2003 Technician of the Millennium contest

Las Vegas, Nevada - David Wiebe, of Crestview Auto Service in Saskatoon, has won the biennial AC Delco Technician of the Millenium competition. Wiebe received a new Chevrolet Silverado SS truck as his prize.

Wiebe beat out five United States and two other Canadian finalists in what each contestant referred to as an incredibly challenging final competition. All eight finalists had advanced in the competition against 2,500 other technicians. An audience of nearly 5,000 attended the competition, which was held October 24 at the Venetian Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"The Technician of the Millennium III finals were a much bigger deal than I envisioned they would be when I entered the competition last fall, and the title is also a big deal, " Wiebe said. "I had a feeling of satisfaction I never dreamed because I have wanted to be a technician since I was a kid, and feel I have become so much more."

Scott Mackie, ACDelco general director, said the purpose of the Technician of the Millennium competition is to recognize and support the professionalism and expertise of ACDelco technicians. "The competition is a testimonial to the high caliber of technicians employed by independent service centers that are enrolled in our Total Service Support program," Mackie said. "David Wiebe did a great job on Friday, and all eight contestants should be congratulated for making it this far. Each technician demonstrated an amazing ability to stay focused on the tasks at hand."

All technicians were provided with identical tools, parts, computers and diagnostic equipment, which they used to diagnose and repair actual vehicles in a timed, hands-on skills demonstration.

The Technician of the Millennium III contest began in October 2002. Each participant answered a 100-question written test that covered all aspects of vehicle repair. The top-10 scoring technicians in each region advanced to the eight regional hand-on competitions, where they were judged on their ability to diagnose and repair vehicles.

Runner-up Charles (Lee) Murphy, Russel's Automotive, Hampton, Georgia, received the equivalent of a $5,000 gift certificate with the Exclusively YOURS Rewards Card and a Dell notebook computer with Vetronix Techview Pro Software. Second runner-up Curt Field, B and T Auto Repair, Butler, Pennsylvania, received the equivalent of a $2,500 gift certificate with the Exclusively YOURS Rewards Card and a Midtronics Micro 500 XL tester. Other finalists include: Ricky Kelley, Buck's Automotive Inc., Tucson, Arizona, Scott Hager, Scott's Auto Service, Troy, Missouri, Edward Robertson, Davis Auto Care, Northville, Michigan, Bruno Bellavance, Auto Diagno Centre Inc., Quebec, Quebec, and Jeffrey Taylor, Eccles Service Center, Dundas, Ontario

All eight finalists received an ACDelco-sponsored vacation for two, a Snap-on Special Edition Technician of the Millennium III toolbox, a Vetronix MTS 5100 engine analyzer, a subscription to GM Service Information, an SPS Pro Reprogramming System, a Fluke 87 DVOM, SPX tool package and various other prizes and gifts.

"This competition was awesome and a huge boost to the image the public has of technicians. Now they can see the other side of the profession and that makes me happy," Wiebe said. "In addition, it reinforces our image with our customers as having the ability to repair their vehicles right the first time using high-quality parts and up-to-date know-how to fix their cars and trucks quickly and accurately."

"My advice to any technician who is considering entering the Technician of the Millennium competition in the future is to go for it," Wiebe continued. "It is well worth it."

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