Josh Lahlum

"I learned a lot at M State. I started at an express lube changing tires and advanced to being a technician for a local dealership, while still in school. I did major engine reseals, transmission replacements, lots of electrical diagnoses, all sorts of stuff, and it all came back to what I learned at M State; it truly helped. Most of the cars I’ve seen in the shop at work are cars I saw or inspected in class, and I’ve seen the scenarios we played out in school happen in the shop at work. 

The instructors taught me that if you can sit back and look at the bigger picture, it’s going to help you a lot in the field. You can’t just put on blinders and replace a part. Every car is different. 

In the future, I wouldn’t mind being a field engineer or service manager for a dealership, but as long as I’m in the automotive field, it’s all okay, because this is what I was programmed to do. I’ve been into cars since I was a kid, tinkering with tractors and trucks on the farm with my grandpa. I can’t see myself doing anything else."