DOWAGIAC — Southwestern Michigan College’s Dowagiac campus hosted 275 Michiana high school students Oct. 4 for the automotive technology department’s “Green Flag Day.”

Participants included 70 students from Van Buren Tech in Lawrence, 80 from the Elkhart Area Career Center, 50 from Lakeshore High School, 20 from Coloma High School and 55 from Brandywine High School.

The goal of the day was to show students the latest in automotive technology. Automotive company employees shared insights and professional tips with students interested in these careers.

Russ Paroff — of NAPA Filters and Heavy Duty, in Grand Rapids — talked about coolants, oil and filters.

“It was awesome to see so many students interested in the automotive career track,” he said. “The auto industry is constantly evolving. Continuing education and knowledge of trends is necessary to stay current. In my career, whether as a technician, NAPA store manager or in my current sales role, every day has different opportunities. The base role is the same, but the job changes each day, whether it be the task or the conversations needed.”

Paroff said he discovered his love of cars pumping gas at a full-service station in 1989. He also became a licensed emergency medical technician and was involved with his local fire department.

“As my knowledge of automotive increased, my interest changed,” he said. “I perceived there was a better opportunity in the automotive career and focused in that direction.”

Tony Milcherska, Zolman Tire sales and operations director for eight Michiana locations, said he served 11 years in the Army and rose from tire technician to business owner Nate Zolman’s “right-hand man.”

Zach Needham, the business’s retail sales and training manager, served four years in the Navy then started changing tires part-time in Texas.

“It was never an intentional career path,” he said. “I wanted to go into petroleum engineering, but stuck with this and worked my way up.”

Zolman created an employee career path, such as entry-level tire technicians, oil-changing lube technicians, alignment and fluid-flush technicians and National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence-certified mechanics who repair vehicles.

The commercial side — semi-trucks, trailers, RVs, generators and 24-hour road service — creates a different career path, Milcherska said.

Needham highlighted the business side, such as human resources, accounting and marketing.

“We look for motivated, driven, responsible people,” he said. “I sit in on interviews every day and see people at different stages in life with varying experiences and backgrounds. First impressions make all the difference. Show up on time, be early. Show pride in yourself even for tire tech — a nice shirt, pressed clothes. Dress to impress.”

Milcherska said resumes, firm handshakes and eye contact add up.

“We get that from probably one in 10 applicants,” he said. “Ninety percent look and speak like they’re unprepared. You’re selling yourself in a job interview.”