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Letter to the Editor

Mentor of the Year Honors Baccus of Caliber Collision Centers

Baccus has mentored at least 30 new technicians in his career and has five apprentices currently working on his team. One apprentice has recently been turned on his own and is currently turning up to a weekly total of 100 flagged hours a week of A-tech level work, and this after only 20 months on the job. This apprentice is also welding certified and several apprentices are on his heels.

“It is interesting to note that this apprentice knocked on over 20 doors looking for a shop to hire him and teach him how to become a technician since he had no background in this industry at all,” said Mark Claypool, President and CEO of Mentors at Work. “Every place he went to turned him away and told him to come back when he gets some training and experience. Under the guidance of his mentor JC Baccus, who is now Mentor of the Year, this apprentice is making good money in half the time it usually takes to train a new tech and he has no desire to go to work for another shop since they weren’t willing to invest in him initially like Caliber was. Like we always say, you reap what you sow in this industry.”

Baccus’ apprentices tell it best: They see that Baccus is respected and admired by his peers, he makes a very good living and they want to be like him. Baccus sets a good example, stresses “safety first”, wears protective gear whenever it is called for and takes the necessary steps to protect the environment. When asked to give us some words that best describe their mentor, Baccus’ apprentices used words like “respectful”, “experienced”, “patient”, “helpful”, “role model”, “clever” and “cool”.

“J.C. embodies the best characteristics of a mentor,” commented Dan Pettigrew, President & CEO for Caliber Collision Centers. “He has a passion for the subject matter, a tireless willingness to share his skills and knowledge and a strong commitment to the collision repair industry. He is clearly an exceptional technician and an extraordinary mentor, and we are very proud that he is on our team.”

Upon hearing the news that he had been selected Mentor of the Year, Baccus said, “I just want to thank each and every one of Caliber’s management staff for the opportunity to be a mentor for Caliber and to be involved with Mentors at Work. I really enjoy my work and truly look forward each day to passing on my knowledge to my apprentices. Without all of your support, I know this wouldn’t have happened. This award helps show Caliber is making the right decision by investing in its future and not just looking at today.”

“We think it is critically important to highlight the important work good mentors do for this industry,” added Claypool. “We need more focus on workforce development and that will require more mentors who are skilled not only in their field but in training others as well.”

Mentors At Work was founded in 2001 to help the automotive industry be successful in building successful apprenticeship and occupational mentoring programs.

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