Derek Amodio Was a Chef but Now He’s a Technician?
From The Jaded Mechanic Podcast by Jeff Compton
May 19, 2026 · 1h 38m · Episode 160
About this episode
Derek Amodio shares his journey from being a chef to becoming a technician in the automotive industry.
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors. Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERE Launch your tool game to the next level with Launch Tech USA! HERE In this episode, Jeff chats with Derek Amodio about his unique path back into the automotive industry after spending years working as a chef. Derek opens up about making the switch from the kitchen to the shop, the challenges of moving from hourly pay to flat rate at a Chrysler dealership, and why having the right culture and mentorship around you matters so much. They also talk about keeping up with changing automotive technology, the importance of ongoing training, and how a supportive team can make all the difference for techs getting started or finding their way back into the industry. Timestamps: 00:00 Weather and tire myth discussion 09:24 Getting hired at FedEx 12:32 Choosing a dealership career path 20:12 Using memory notebooks 26:33 Challenges of incentivized pay systems 28:41 Discussing job training and challenges 33:37 Tech training and helpful tips 42:17 Balancing work hours and breaks 45:59 Installing car seats on Saturdays 50:56 Thinking about future innovations 54:38 Tesla…
People in this episode
Host: Jeff Compton
Guest: Derek Amodio
Topics covered
- career transition
- automotive industry
- mentorship
- technician training
- pay systems
- automotive technology
Keywords
- automotive technician
- career change
- mentorship
- training
- pay systems
- Chrysler dealership
- automotive technology
- teamwork
- supportive environment
Sponsors
Tekmetric, Launch Tech USA
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Chrysler, FedEx
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