Mr. Wise & class

The automotive program at Swiss Hills Career Center has a new face this year – Dave Wise has joined the Center as the new Automotive Technology instructor, bringing with him a wealth of experience and knowledge, especially about diesel technology.

“The main reason I was hired was to incorporate diesel mechanics into the program, since that is a huge need in our area” Mr. Wise says. He continues by explaining that in the short time he’s been at Swiss Hills, he’s already been asked by companies a number of times if he has students with diesel training: “There is such a huge demand for diesel knowledge, I could place every single student I had with any experience.”

These jobs are also typically higher paying than car mechanic positions, making them an attractive option. Part of the reason for this is the extensive oil and gas industry in the area. Mr. Wise says that “95% of equipment in the oil and gas field is diesel-powered, and even the generators for light plants are as well. It’s not just trucks – the oil pads, telehandlers, loaders – all these are diesel.”

Right now, Mr. Wise is focusing students on basic maintenance of gas-powered vehicles. They are learning about oil changes, brake maintenance and repair, basic vehicle maintenance, heating and air, and more. He is also preparing them for their ASE Certification: “Getting ASE Certified is a combination of passing an exam and having two years of experience,” he explains. “I’m getting them through the test; then when they get a job, as soon as they hit two years, they’ll be certified.” This is a very big deal as ASE Certification is highly prized in the automotive repair industry. 

Diesel training will be starting soon, meaning these students will graduate from Switzerland of Ohio Schools with exceptionally well-rounded skills in the automotive and equipment maintenance field. They will be well-positioned to secure good-paying jobs and well-prepared to succeed in their career. 

Mr. Wise is certainly the right person for this job, bringing not only an extensive background in a wide variety of mechanics, but a love of and significant experience in teaching. His expertise includes auto mechanics; diesel truck mechanics; truck fabrication; electrical diagnostics and repair; heavy equipment repair; and more. He has taught at Zane State, Belmont Technical College, and Belmont Career Center in the past, which he really enjoyed: “It gives me satisfaction to know I was able to show someone something,” he asserts.

He’s having a great time back in the “classroom” with the students, saying he especially likes to “teach them the little things – like how to measure a bolt, or how to tell the difference between a metric and a standard bolt just by looking at it – things they need to know in the real world.”

We are excited to have Mr. Wise with us, and our students especially look forward to learning from one of the best of the best!