Seminole State College of Florida now has two General Motors (GM) World Class Technicians (WCT) as part of its faculty. Automotive professors Jim Cokos and Carlos Vasquez recently achieved this elite status, joining the ranks of only 1,256 other technicians in the nation and only 27 technicians in Florida.

To achieve GM World Class status, a technician must be Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Master certified and GM Master certified in eight technician areas. At a GM regional training center, each technician is required to perform a hands-on assessment in each of the eight areas. Each assessment takes one full day with a multitude of stations. In each area being assessed, the technician is given problematic vehicles, systems, sub-systems and components that they must diagnose or perform specific tasks on, in a timed environment.

This accomplishment shows the industry expertise that Seminole State faculty, including Cokos and Vasquez, contribute to their respective programs at the College.

“The automotive industry is in dire need of highly trained technicians,” says Cokos. “The technology is cutting edge and moving ahead quickly. To provide the best training possible, we, as instructors, must constantly train to keep up.”

Vasquez agrees, saying: “We must confront the rapidly developing technologies not only on vehicles, but also in the diagnostic equipment and training necessary to meet the growing demand in this profession. Today’s successful automotive technicians’ challenge is to stay ahead of the power curve in their respective manufacturers’ training path.”

In recognition of their elite status, Cokos and Vasquez will each receive a letter of recognition, a certificate signed by the presidents of ASE and the Auto Care Association, a statue and an embroidered shoulder insignia patch.