Darnell Jackson became a student at OTC after his attempt to change the oil in his grandfather’s car caused him to drain out all of the coolant instead. Jackson is a February 2017 auto-diesel graduate and July 2017 graduate of BMW STEP and stopped back on campus today to give us an update, along with some advice and encouragement to our current STEP students. Jackson took a position out of the STEP program in Katy, TX at BMW of West Houston. He’s at a high volume service dealership that employs about 55 technicians and has 60 service bays. BMW of West Houston plans to expand another 30 bays within the next two years. Jackson started his OTC training with no automotive experience. He gave his training all he had and graduated the valedictorian of his class. “Everything I learned at OTC I’ve used with my current job. I still go back to my class notes if I get stumped.” Jackson arrived in Texas about a month before hurricane Harvey rolled over the Houston area. “I got a lot of experience changing out interiors and engines in flood cars.” After three months training under a Master Tech Jackson moved to flat rate. Just last year he earned his place as the 3rd highest producing technician, out of 55 techs – that’s saying a lot. “I was consistently turning 1,600 billable hours in a pay period.” Jackson admits Texas is nothing like Cleveland. “When they say everything is bigger in Texas, they aren’t exaggerating! The highways are 6 lanes across. The malls are bigger. There are toll roads all over the place and more high-end cars I have ever seen.” Jackson loves where he works. Enjoys his supervisors and co-workers, but misses his family. He’s back in Cleveland for a short time to enjoy some much needed bonding with his family before returning to Houston early next week.
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