LANSDALE, Pa. — Robert Jacobs of Van Wert, Ohio, is the winner of this year’s CARQUEST/MACS Worldwide Mobile A/C and Heat Transfer Technician competition. 
The new champion has been performing mobile air conditioning repairs since 1976. He is ASE Master Truck certified, MACS certified and has a Universal Certification for section 608 (commercial refrigeration). Currently, Jacobs is a curriculum developer for Navistar Defense.
The first runner-up is Chris Marker of Lima, Ohio. Marker spent the first 13 years of his automotive career working in Dodge dealerships in a variety of roles. Marker has a bachelor’s degree in specialized studies and has been teaching at the University of Northwestern Ohio for the past four years. Currently, he is developing curriculum for the Toyota T-Ten education at the university.
Second runner–up is Tony Harter of Indianapolis, Ind. Harter’s automotive career began in 1984 after graduating from ITT Tech with a degree in Auto Service Technology. For the past 18 years, he has worked for Bridgestone/Firestone. While there, he earned Master ASE with L1 and X1 status. Currently, Harter is the Indianapolis District Technical Trainer.
The winners were announced Thursday, Feb. 5 during the CARQUEST Keynote Luncheon at the MACS 2009 Convention and Trade Show, New Frontiers in Mobile A/C Service at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas.
“CARQUEST is pleased to have teamed with MACS for the third annual Mobile A/C and Heat Transfer Technician of the Year Competition. We look forward to continuing this beneficial partnership and the competition in the years to come,” said Dave Poplin, assistant merchandising manager for CARQUEST.
“The annual CARQUEST/MACS Mobile A/C and Heat Transfer Technician of the Year Competition is a wonderful way to showcase the special skills needed to diagnose service and repair mobile A/C and engine cooling systems,” said Elvis Hoffpauir, MACS president and chief operating officer. “MACS is grateful to CARQUEST for their continued support of our industry.”
The 2008 competition started with more than 300 technicians from across North America registering to take the challenging Level 1 online, multiple choice test. The top nine competitors were invited to an all expense paid weekend at Hendrick Motorsports in Charlotte, N.C., to compete in another round of demanding written and hands-on diagnostic tests.
