Hi, my name is Paul. I welcome you to this site. I will tell my story so you are informed and can make a decision whether to trust me to help you. I am 100% independent. I don’t pander to the auto manufacturers and don’t seek or accept any payments. I can only guess they will not be happy with me or my mission. They are betting on your ignorance and so far that bet is paying off. Let’s deal another hand and see who wins. I serve only you, the car owner and buyer.

I grew up a car nut in Detroit. I played around with cars, took apart motorcycles and sometimes put them back together. I avidly read Car & Driver, Motor Trend and other car mags since I was 10 years old.

I came of age just in time for the Muscle Car era in the 60’s and early 70’s. I watched and joined in street races on Woodward Avenue and Northline by the airport. My favorite car was a 1965 Pontiac GTO (yes, it had tri-power). My mother introduced me to Consumers Reports which ignited an interest in why some products are better than others, what determines quality for manufactured products, especially cars. It also instilled in me an appreciation for fairness and the importance of quality and customer satisfaction for a company’s reputation.

My first career at 19 was as a field service technician for various office machines. I repaired printing equipment and then copiers learning electric diagnostic procedures. I was hired by IBM and completed their rigorous 4 month training program for Selectric typewriters. These seemingly simple machines were amazingly complex with 3,000 moving parts. Every imaginable mechanism (levers, spring clutches, metal ribbons, cams…) were incorporated to achieve functions that later were replaced by electronics, reducing the skill level to parts swapping. I left to repair early computer equipment.

I earned an Associates in Automotive Technology and also an Associates in Electronics Technology (both Summa Cum Laude) at Henry Ford College in Dearborn, Michigan. I did this while working full time as a field service technician and going to classes at night.

I graduated and moved out West to Portland, OR. I worked as a technician doing final assembly and testing for industrial laser systems. I worked as an engineering technician for a pacemaker manufacturer. I was recruited by Freightliner in their Advanced Engineering Technology Center. I instrumented vehicles for tests. I was sent to truck drivers school so I could do EPA noise level tests – spent first two days backing up 40 foot double trailers between traffic cones…. and then terrorized myself negotiating the crazy bridges over the rivers there. I decided not to be pursue truck driving as a career. I then did field service for spectrophotometer based lab analyzers of medical labs and research.

I was offered a position as a biomedical engineer for an AMI Hospital on a 2 year contract in Al Baha, Saudi Arabia. I diagnosed and repaired over 100 different devices across all departments. When I returned I attended Colorado State University earning a B.S. in Physics (high distinction) with a minor in Computer Science focusing on digital electronics. I went on to earn a MS in Bioengineering at the University of Michigan where I also worked at the Kellogg Eye Center fabricating research instrumentation and devices.

I taught automotive electronics at a trade school. I sold engine analyzers for Allen Testproducts – taught the techs how to diagnose cars. I was number 9 out of 300 reps after just 6 months. I joined a start-up called Alldata in Elk Grove, CA. They revolutionized auto repair by providing independent shops with the same information only dealers used to get including diagnostics and technical service bulletins. I created a sales process that became the standard for the company, was their number 1 rep out of 350, and was promoted to national strategic alliance and sales training positions. They were wildly successful and were acquired by AutoZone.

I joined Depot Online in Simi Valley, CA to create a BBS system for wholesale parts ordering. This enabled body shops to view live inventories online at local new car dealers and place orders. I created an auto repair referral program for JD Powers Car Club in San Francisco back in the Internet free-for-all era. The idea was to get referrals from repair shop customers to buy new cars and from the refer repairs back to the repair shops.

I have a patent for an ultrasonic engine cleaning system. I launched CertiCard, an auto repair certification program. We checked complaint history with the Bureau of Auto Repair, did onsite inspections, evaluated technician training, equipment, and surveyed past customers. We had an affinity card deal with MBNA with rewards points. I signed up hundreds of shops and worked with the ASC trade association – gave preference to their members. I sold this business for 7 figures.

I have since consulted with CarHelp and RepairPal and was on the founding team at Certified Car Care.

I hope that you can trust me to guide you to the best vehicle to buy.