Joe Levan, the owner of Obsessive Car Detailing, speaks with students at LCTI on Nov. 13, 2024.

SCHNECKSVILLE, Pa. | Lehigh Career & Technical Institute celebrated Auto Body Careers Week by inviting industry rock stars to share their stories with our Auto Collision Repair Technology students.

First up on Monday (Nov. 11, 2024) was, Karolynn Callahan, a Tesla technician who attended a Philadelphia-area career and technical school before going to work in the industry. Early in her career, Callahan was working in small auto body shops when she fell in love with the conciseness of restoration work. She focused on restoring traditional vehicles for 15 years before joining Tesla to staff their new location in King of Prussia.

On Wednesday (Nov. 13, 2024), students heard from Joe Levan, the owner of Obsessive Car Detailing. Levan got his start as a detailer by working at local car dealerships. As his knowledge and experience grew, he upgraded to high-end dealerships and focused on high-dollar vehicles. Today, he runs one of the Lehigh Valley’s best detailing shops, which also offers paint protection and correction services.

James Flakker Jr., owner of 551 Custom Gallery, got his start in LCTI’s Auto Collision Repair Technology program. On Wednesday, Flakker talked with students about his cooperative education experience, as well as how he fell in love with restoration work and building hot rods. His shop has a great reputation — there’s a two-year waiting list to get a car in the door — and also performs recreational vehicle repair.

PaintZoo owner Franny Drummond, a custom painter who attended art school and subsequently fell in love with car culture, spoke to students on Thursday (Nov. 14, 2024). Drummond built a name for himself by painting custom bikes and cars throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, including on reality TV shows like “American Chopper.” Today, he also paints helmets for the Philadelphia Flyers, the Navy Midshipmen, the Army Black Knights, and other sports teams.

It was an inspirational week for our students, who learned how the work they’re doing now at LCTI can help them seize the opportunity ahead and find career success. Kudos to their teacher, Ms. Mahl, for lining up such an amazing group of speakers!