TRAINING CLASSES

TRAINING DAY  2026

February 21, 2026 / 8:00AM – 5:00PM

Located at: Lincoln Tech of Columbia, 9325 Snowden River Parkway, Columbia, MD

POWERED BY

Cutting the red tape at MAFCAS Expo

ABOUT TRAINING DAY

ELEVATE YOUR SKILLS: WMDA/CAR’S PREMIER TRAINING EVENT

The event offers a full day of seminars and hands-on classes for shop owners, managers, service advisors, and technicians to stay updated on the latest automotive technology, industry best practices, and management techniques.

Q

Training Day Form 2026

Demonstration Purposes only

Contact Person(Required)
Name Class Attending All Day Class Attending Morning Class Attending Afternoon Actions
       
Price: $0.00
Billing Address(Required)
Q

Training Day Sponsor Registration Form 2026

Demonstration Purposes only

Contact Person(Required)
Company Logo(Required)
Accepted file types: jpg, jpeg, png, gif.
Please Check Desired Sponsorship(Required)
Need a Tabletop Display? (Includes 6' table & 2 chairs)(Required)
ALL TRAINING DAY SPONSORSHIPS INCLUDE: - Company name on all marketing materials. - Company name and logo on Training Day signage.
Price: $0.00
Billing Address(Required)

EVENT OVERVIEW

TRAINING DAY SESSIONS

All-Day Sessions, Morning Sessions, Afternoon Sessions

All-Day: 8:00AM – 5:00PM

Morning: 8:00AM – Noon

Afternoon: 1:00PM – 5:00PM

LUNCH (PAID ATTENDEES ONLY)

11:30AM – 1:00PM

TRAINING DAY SCHEDULE

ALL-DAY SESSIONS: 8:00AM - 5:00PM
  1.  Combustion, Carbon and Carnage… Diagnosing Difficult Fuel and Oil Deposit Related Driveability Concerns Presenter: Gary Smith
  2.  Pressure Waveform Acquisition and Analysis, From the Inside Out Presenter: Brandon Steckler
MORNING SESSIONS: 8:00AM - NOON
  1. Core Electrical Theory Presenter: TBA
  2. Taking the Blind Spot Out of Calibration (8am-11am) Presenter: Steve Dawson
  3.  Skill Development Process Presenter: Michelle Wood, ATI
AFTERNOON SESSIONS: 1:00PM - 5:00PM
  1.  Electrical Class – Intermediate Presenter: TBA
  2.  Advanced Sales Presenter: Michelle Wood, ATI
  3.  Motor Oil 101 Presenter: Reit Lubricants

CLASS OVERVIEW

1: Combustion, Carbon and Carnage…Diagnosing Difficult Fuel and Oil Deposit Related Driveability Concerns

Presenter: Gary Smith (8hours)

• This class looks at how fuel and oil depositing play a MAJOR role in getting the diagnosis RIGHT THE FIRST TIME on these modern close tolerance, fast-fuel controlled GDI vehicles.

• Learn the HOW and WHY behind deposit fouling and translate this with your scan and scope data via the BASELINE diagnostic approach.

• This is an eye-opening class for techs, advisors and shop owners alike, and talks about critical knowledge that the OEMs are NOT teaching today…

• Learn how adding this diagnostic strategy to your mix can save time, prevent unnecessary parts replacement, and have LESS DRIVEABILITY COMEBACKS.

• A Must-See class for all shops that work on driveability concerns. PM session will be fully Hands-on.

 

For: Technicians, Advisors & Shop Owners

2: Pressure Waveform Acquisition and Analysis, From the Inside Out

Presenter: Brandon Steckler (8hours)

The course objective is to take the pressure-transducer novice to a whole new level. The goal is for someone with lab scope/engine mechanical-operation knowledge, to gain the ability to capture pressure waveforms (from the intake manifold/tailpipe and in-cylinder) and be able to use the information to make diagnostic-decisions. The course will cover transducer functionality with both absolute transducers as well as delta transducers. It will touch on the benefits and characteristics of both types of transducers and how they can be used to gain an edge. Diagnostic-approach will be carried out using a real world example case study from my own library.

The afternoon portion of this 8 hr. class will contain hands-on demonstration leveraging both the absolute and delta transducers. I will demonstrate on a live-vehicle, how to perform the following acquisitions.

• Cranking in-cylinder, intake, and tailpipe capture (Known-good and faulted)

• Misfire identification through tailpipe pulse analysis

• Proper scope set-up and waveform acquisition/storage

• Waveform analysis and annotation

• Misc. Requests from attendees (Q+A)

Attendees leave with confidence to invest in the tooling and to perform pressure testing and analysis to improve accuracy and efficiency.

PM session will be fully Hands-on.

For: Technicians

4: Core Electrical Theory

Presenter: Aris Currie

Core Electrical Theory

• Fundamental Terms: Defining Voltage (pressure), Amps (volume/flow), and Resistance (restriction).

• Ohm’s Law & Watt’s Law: Understanding the mathematical relationship between voltage, current, and resistance to predict circuit behavior.

• Circuit Types: Identification and properties of series and parallel circuits, which are the building blocks of vehicle wiring.

• Magnetism & Electromagnetism: Basic principles that allow motors, solenoids, and alternators to function.

Essential Diagnostic Tools

• Digital Multimeter (DMM/DVOM): Hands-on training for measuring voltage,
resistance, and continuity safely.

• Test Lights: Proper use of basic test lights for quick power and ground verification.

• Wiring Diagrams: Introduction to reading automotive schematics, identifying symbols, and understanding color codes. Major Vehicle Systems

• Batteries: Basics of battery chemistry, maintenance, and testing for state of charge and health.

• Starting Systems: Overview of starter motor operation, relays, and solenoids.

• Charging Systems: Basic alternator function and checking for proper charging voltage.

• Circuit Protection: Identifying and testing fuses, fusible links, and circuit
breakers.

Shop Safety

• Safety Procedures: Safe handling of electrical components, avoiding short circuits, and proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

 

For: Technicians, Entry Level & up

5: Taking the Blind Spot Out of Calibration

Presenter: Steve Dawson, Hunter Engineering

Whether you are subletting or calibrate in-house, Learn what you need, how to communicate, the real story on space requirements, the risks and liabilities, and how to be profitable. All while ensuring your customers are safe and happy!

For: Techs, Service Advisors and Shop Owners

6: Skill Development Process

Presenter: Michelle Wood, ATI

This training focuses on communication mastery and core shop processes. Advisors learn how to adapt their communication styles, collaborate effectively with technicians, and manage workflow to improve efficiency and customer experience.

For: Service Advisors & Shop Owners

7: Electrical Class – Intermediate

Presenter: Aris Currie

Advanced Diagnostic Testing

• Voltage Drop Mastery: Beyond the definition, students learn how to perform “live” circuit testing on both power and ground sides to find high resistance.

•  Intermittent Fault Detection: Strategies for capturing “ghost” electrical issues that only happen occasionally, often using Min/Max peak detect modes on a digital multimeter (DVOM).

• Introduction to Lab Scopes: A rapid overview of setting up an oscilloscope, making connections, and interpreting voltage/current waveforms.

System-Specific Troubleshooting

• Schematic-Based Diagnostics: Intensive practice in using wiring diagrams and color-coding to trace circuits through modules and connectors.

• Relay and Solenoid Testing: Advanced methods to determine the “bias state” of relays and test coil efficiency.

• Network & CAN Bus Basics: A fast-paced update on serial data communication and diagnosing modern vehicle networks.

Component Analysis

•  Advanced Sensor Diagnostics: Specific testing procedures for speed sensors, cam/crank correlation, and oxygen sensors.

• Electric Motor Testing: Evaluating the health of window motors, wipers, and other actuators.

• Parasitic Draw: Efficient methods for identifying which module is draining a battery when the vehicle is off.

For: Technicians, B-level & up

8: Advanced Sales

Presenter: Michelle Wood, ATI

Designed to refine sales and customer engagement skills, this class teaches advisors how to overcome objections, maximize repair approvals, and build long-term customer loyalty that extends beyond a single visit.

For: Service Advisors & Shop owners

9: Motor Oils 101

Presenter: Jamie Atkinson

Automotive Lubricants update. Discuss new Specifications, fluids & viscosity

For: Techs, Advisors & Shopowners

TRAINING DAY PRESENTERS

Brandon Steckler

Instructor

Q

More Details Soon…

Michelle Wood

ATI

Q

Michelle Wood is a results-driven operations and sales executive with more than 25 years of experience across the automotive, transportation, and service-based industries. She is recognized for ethical leadership, a customer-first mindset, and a proven ability to drive growth while maintaining rigorous compliance and operational excellence. Michelle thrives in fast-paced environments that demand precision, accountability, and strategic execution.

An accomplished sales and service operations leader, Michelle brings deep expertise in service advisor development, warranty administration, customer experience, and profitability management. Her career spans senior leadership roles including General Manager, Service Director, and Sales Manager II, where she successfully led multi-location operations, improved P&L performance, and developed advisors and technicians to consistently exceed OEM standards and revenue objectives. Her hands-on background includes instruction in service writing, ethical sales practices, aftermarket warranty processes, labor optimization, and customer communication—bridging the gap between sales strategy and service execution.

As General Manager at Protime Automotive, Michelle oversaw day-to-day operations, financial performance, team development, and long-term growth strategy. She focused on optimizing budgets, strengthening operational processes, and building high-performing teams through targeted recruitment, training, and professional development. She is highly skilled in resolving complex operational challenges, managing employee relations, and strengthening competitive market position.

In her role as a Sales and Service Advisor Instructor with ATI, Michelle delivers practical, results-driven training centered on accountability, process discipline, and customer trust. She is known for translating complex operational concepts into clear, actionable systems that elevate advisor confidence, increase effective labor rates, and build long-term customer relationships. Michelle’s leadership is grounded in integrity, excellence, and a commitment to developing people who deliver measurable business results.

Gary Smith

DiagNation

Q

More Details Soon…

image004

Aris Currie

Instructor

Q

A 34-year-old West Virginia native, I grew up building and racing dirt-track cars on my family’s homestead. This early immersion in mechanics led me to earn a B.S. in Engineering from the Northeastern Technical Institute of Ohio and a specialization in Automotive Engineering from Prince George’s Community College.

 

After rising to Assistant Manager at Valvoline, I founded ARIS Automotive in 2022, which now provides mobile preventive maintenance to over 650 customers across the tri-state area. I later served as a Shop Lead and Foreman for Group 1, training express technicians. Following a career-altering injury, I transitioned into automotive technology instruction, where I now dedicate myself to equipping the next generation of technicians with the tools and purpose needed for success.

image004

Jamie Atkinson

Reit Lubricants

Q

James (Jamie) Atkinson is a 40-year petroleum industry specialist with REIT Lubricants Company. Dedicated to recommending proper lubricating oils, greases & coolants to meet & improve equipment performance & extend service life. Provides lubrication insights & consolidation of products to lower TCO for fleet managers & reduce inventory for Installer accounts to minimize carrying costs & prevent misapplication. Mentoring and training personnel at REIT to meet customer needs.

Experienced in serving the Automotive, Commercial, Industrial & Coastal Marine Markets in the Mid-Atlantic Region. 30-year member of STLE (Society of Tribologist & Lubrication Engineers) STLE CLS (Certified Lubrication Specialist) & OMA (Oil Monitoring Analyst). Advanced Training with Mobil Oil & Chevron. Past member of Phillips 66 MVP Sales Council & Chevron Elite Club, WMDA/CAR Endorsed Supplier, VP of Classic Motor Museum of St. Michaels.

Currently representing Chevron, Phillips 66, Kendall & Fuchs products. History with Mobil, ExxonMobil & Shell. Grew up around the Automotive Industry influenced by my brother, father & Grandfather, Atkinson Autoworks, Humble Oil & Esso, Esso Standard Oil, Atas. Join us to hear about the latest trends in lubrication, Viscosity, Oils 101, history and answers to your questions.

EVENT GALLERY

QUESTIONS ABOUT TRAINING DAY? EMAIL US OR CALL 301.390.0900, EXT. 115