Generationally SpeakingMay 2014
See what makes us different … and the same!
In this month’s Generationally Speaking department, meet Gary Keyes, owner of E&M Motors, Stuart, Fla., and Preston Pollen, technician. Keyes is a general director on ASA’s board of directors.
Gary Keyes, Baby Boomer
What is one piece of advice your parents gave you that still sticks with you today?
Do what you love, and love what you do.
What is the best decision you have ever made?
To marry my wife, Melissa.
Drink of choice?
Cuba Libre.
How did you get into the automotive service business?
Started by working at a service station while in high school.
Best vacation you’ve ever had?
San Francisco and the California coast.
What do you drive?
Toyota Tundra.
If you had a free weekend by yourself, what would you do?
Offshore fishing in the Gulf Stream.
What piece of advice would you give a young person who is graduating from high school today?
Choose a career that you will love and get the education and training to be great at it.
What do you like most about your work?
Ever-changing technology and a new challenge every day.
What is one thing you wish you knew how to do?
Dance.
Speaking on behalf of your generation, how do you see the future of the industry?
I think the future looks bright for those willing to invest in the tooling, training and information to service tomorrow’s vehicles.
Preston Pollen, Generation Y
What is one piece of advice your parents gave you that still sticks with you today?
Always do your best.
What is the best decision you have ever made?
Getting married.
Drink of choice?
Guinness.
How did you get into the automotive service business?
My father always had a few muscle-car-era vehicles around that he inevitably needed a hand with, so that got me interested. My professional start was made possible by my father’s cousin who owned a shop and let me come work for him the summer after graduating high school.
Best vacation you have ever been on?
It was a short one, but the weekend I proposed to my wife on the beach in Oregon.
What do you drive?
2002 Volvo S60, 1995 Nissan 240SX, 1966 Pontiac Tempest.
If you had a free weekend by yourself, what would you do?
Golf, 36 holes a day!
What piece of advice would you give a young person who is graduating from high school today?
Study hard in whatever your next venture will be, start saving your dollars now, and don’t forget to tune everything out once in a while and relax.
What do you like most about your work?
The challenges of working on so many different and complicated vehicles and systems. No two days at work are the same.
What is one thing you wish you knew how to do?
Surf. Contrary to popular belief, not all native Californians know how to.
Speaking on behalf of your generation, how do you see the future of the industry?
Exciting. I look forward to the drastic changes being made in all areas of automotive engineering, servicing and repair.
