How the VISION Hi-Tech Expo Is Building Techs through Its GSTA Program

Travis Troy has been around the block. Entering the industry nearly 20 years ago at age 15, he has seen the automotive repair industry transform faster than most. As co-owner of Honest Wrenches and vice president of the Midwest Auto Care Alliance, he understands what it takes to build a skilled, confident workforce from the ground up. That's why his role at the VISION Hi-Tech Training Expo—which includes the General Service Technician Academy—means so much to him. For Troy, VISION isn't just a conference. It's where the next generation of technicians finds their place in the industry.

Troy spoke to Motor Age's Chris Jones about VISION's place in the industry, the impact of GSTA on young technicians, and why he believes the industry holds VISION in such high esteem.

For Shop Owners and Technicians Attending VISION for the First Time, How Would You Describe What Makes This Event Different From Other Training Conferences?

Travis Troy: There are so many good training conferences in our industry. What truly makes us different is we have training for owners, technicians of all skill levels, managers, leadership, service advisors—you name it. You can bring your entire team. And not only that, VISION Hi-Tech Training Expo has a prestige to it. It's something very special. A lot of people keep coming back, and it's been around a lot longer than I have. I'm extremely humbled to be able to play the role that I play.

What Is It Specifically That Draws Technicians to VISION? What Do They Get Here That They May Not Find at Other Shows?

Troy: It's the atmosphere, the people, and how well the show is run. We have an entire committee that reviews all the training, and we read every single class survey—good, bad, or otherwise. We take all of that to heart and make sure we're bringing the best possible training. Shop owners and technicians are investing their time and money to be here, and my goal is that they leave feeling fulfilled and inspired. Life is short. We don't have a lot of time. When you spend your hard-earned money and time to be here, I want to make sure you leave with something special.

How Has VISION's Technical Programming Grown or Evolved?

Troy: It's just the continuation of the evolution of our industry. We're always adding and looking at what is coming down the pipeline. What is next? Our team is always saying, "We need to add this. Let's go out and find this." And we've got such an amazing group of trainers who love teaching. When they bring something new to VISION, that's special.

AI Is a Great Example of Programming Evolution. Last Year, There Were No AI Classes. This Year, There Are at Least Three.

Troy: And those classes will have to keep evolving just like the technology does. Same with vehicle technology—self-driving vehicles, all of that. We've brought (AI) training here. Our team is constantly asking: What do we need to add?

How Do You Break Down the Programming From Foundational to Advanced?

Troy: Our General Service Technician Academy is what I call our foundational class—if you're new to the industry or looking to build on your basics, that's where you start. We also have educators who attend GSTA, some of whom teach those foundational courses themselves.

After the GSTA is over, we have specific classes that continue to grow those technicians. So, you go from the very basic all the way up to extremely advanced content. Some of it just blows me away. These aren't even technicians anymore—they're engineers. Some of these guys are wizards. It's incredible to see how our industry has evolved in the short time that I've been in it. Just so many amazing people that are just sharpening their skills, and they're able to go back and have that impact on whoever it is that they're impacting.

What Gaps Does GSTA Address?

Troy: When you're new, you just don't feel like you're (fully part of the industry). You don't have the education, the experience. You feel like the lowest person on the totem pole. What I try to instill in the students is that they still have a strong voice. Their owner or manager brought them here to bring something back—what did you learn? What are we doing wrong? How can we improve? They go in there, they learn the strong foundations, and the thing that I think is so important is safety. If we cannot be safe in the workplace, we are going to get injured, period. So, we start with safety—create a strong foundation of safety—and then we lead into properly lifting the vehicle.

I share this story with them: I own a couple of shops, and I had an employee who was in that class. They leave the class and go, "Well, why do we lift cars with wooden blocks when they said we shouldn't?" I said, "Well, I think you should go find the correct blocks, and let's get those ordered today." That empowerment alone—they're in that class, and now they go, "Wow, I get to walk this expo floor and find that place that has those blocks, get those ordered, and now I'm making my shop safer." I really encourage the students to do that and to allow them to bring value back to their shop. And when you do that, for me personally, as an owner, it makes me want to bring my team back more.

Why Does a Program Like This Matter Right Now?

Troy: I wouldn't say we have a massive shortage of technicians. I would say we've got a huge gap in our industry. There's a group of highly skilled technicians, and that group is retiring at a very high rate. And thankfully, we've got a large group coming in now—but that was not the case a few years ago. Our local community college couldn't fill classes, and now they've got a waiting list. That warms my heart. That's why we started the GSTA. Yes, this is VISION Hi-Tech Training Expo, but we have to have something entry-level to let those new technicians get here, experience this, and feel that they are a part of it. When they leave, they take those foundational things they've learned, apply them over the next year, and when they come back, they can start getting into other classes and continuing to grow.

How Do You Ensure the Curriculum Stays Relevant as Young Technicians Continue to Grow and Return Year After Year?

Troy: We have to constantly keep evolving. Jeff Bly and I—we put our heads together on this every year and ask: What is getting stale? What needs to evolve? I used to teach the digital inspections class myself, and eventually I felt there was somebody who could do it better. I think it's important that we're constantly bringing in people who not only can do it really well, but can inspire the people sitting in that class and make them feel empowered when they leave. When you show up to an event like this, and you're new, it's a little daunting. You want them to feel inspired and empowered, and leave saying, "I'm coming back next year."

What's Been the Best Compliment You've Gotten From One of the Young Technicians from the Service Academy, or from Anyone About VISION?

Troy: Someone came up and just said, "Wow. Life changing." And it was an emotional "Wow. Life changing." I didn't lean into it much more, but I just knew the impact that it had was extreme. Something got into their heart. Whether that was knowing that this is the industry for them, knowing that this is the passion for them—there was something within that GSTA that just touched them deeply. For me, if that happens with one person, that's a win. Obviously, my goal is to have it happen to everybody, but it's just super, super awesome. My passion is people, and to grow as many people as I can—and GSTA helps with that.