SKF Vehicle Aftermarket recently highlighted its commitment to fostering the next generation of automotive technicians by serving as a guest judge at the 2022 SuperTech Competition at the Center of Applied Technologies in Severn, Maryland. On Saturday, June 2, a panel of SKF representatives, including Mike Hartman, director, National Fleet Sales, SKF Vehicle Aftermarket; Mike Hoffman, National Fleet sales manager, SKF Vehicle Aftermarket; Jeremy Yingling, Product Engineering manager, SKF Vehicle Aftermarket; Ryan Wilson, key account manager, SKF Vehicle Aftermarket; and Maria Orlando, marketing manager, SKF Vehicle Aftermarket, were on-site to judge six semi-finalists on their ability to carry out wheel end installation properly and detect seal and bearing failure. Designed to test the skills of the country’s finest automotive technicians, this hands-on event pitted some of the industry’s greatest minds against one another in a contest of absolute skill. The competition was the culmination of a months-long process to discover the next wave of elite industry leaders and innovators.
As followed in previous years, the event was preceded by a preliminary written exam comprised of 60 questions. The six highest testing individuals then moved on to the competition in Maryland for the semi-final, action-oriented portion of the competition. From here, two finalists will head to Nationals in September for a chance to win $8,000 worth of prizes and bragging rights.
2022 SuperTech Maryland Competition Semi-Finalists include:
• Luke Noyes, Blaine Brothers, Clearwater, Minnesota
• Eric Curler, RT&T Repair, East Dubuque, Illinois
• Brian Judy, RT&T Repair, East Dubuque, Illinois
• Cody Brooks, Brooks Diesel Service, Ada, Oklahoma
• Danial Walton, Vander Haag’s, Kansas City, Missouri
• Michael Vine, E.L.M. Repair, Edgar, Wisconsin
“We’re honored to participate in SuperTech’s annual competition,” said Mike Hartman, Director of National Fleet Sales at SKF. “By participating in this event, we’re reinforcing our longstanding commitment to training future technicians. Quite simply, fostering education is critical to the continuance of a healthy automotive industry. SKF is proud to offer a wide array of educational tools and e-learning courses designed for industry professionals. The goal to educate and improve is never finished; there is always room to grow.”
HDA Truck Pride – SuperTech Maryland Competition Finalists
• 1st Place – Brian Judy
• 2nd Place – Luke Noyes
“On behalf of SKF, congratulations to these individuals on their well-deserved success. Observing these participants in action was an ample showcase of the incredible talent emerging across the automotive industry,” continued Hartman. “We’re immensely proud to be part of an industry that produces some of the finest technicians in the world. We look forward to the final round of the competition in September!”
