Battling to be the best - Mercury Technicians compete for the crown and a 150hp FourStroke
by Mercury Marine 14 Dec 2017 06:51 UTC
(l-r) Nicholas Webb, Snr Dir. of Engine Products, Aftersales & Marketing ANZP; Mercury Technicians Frazer Donehue (Donehue's Leisure) and Stephan Schmitter (Nautical Marine); Will Sangster, General Manager ANZP; and Scott Browne, Service Manager VIC/TAS © Mercury Marine
Mercury Technicians from around Australasia are locked in a battle for two huge prizes: the title of being "The Mercury Technician of the Year" and a brand new 150hp Mercury FourStroke outboard.
The competition – and the prize – are all part of Mercury's on-going commitment to offer the best possible service to the boat lovers who buy and operate Mercury engines.
"Our Technicians do great work - they deserve to be recognised, encouraged and rewarded and this competition is an important part of that," said Nicholas Webb, Snr. Director of Engine Products, Aftersales & Marketing Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific.
"We are very aware that servicing and maintaining engines is a crucial part of what we do, which is why we have developed such a comprehensive factory-based training program.
"Yes, we want to find the best Mercury Technicians, but more importantly we want to show how highly we value their work and we want to encourage them to get better and better."
The competition, which covers Australia and New Zealand, requires technicians to complete a Factory Certified training curriculum using Mercury's unique online training system and attend factory-based training courses which comprehensively cover all technical engine systems.
Based on that, the best technicians from each region are then shortlisted to sit a written exam, with the highest performers to go through to a head-to-head practical Grand Final test held at Mercury Marine HQ, in Dandenong, Victoria.
Things are now heating up, with the regional exams having just been completed.
Mercury would like to congratulate all the candidates who sat the exam, and is proud to announce the regional winners who will go head-to-head in the Grand Final in 2018.
- WA - Adam Holmes, Bluewater Marine
- VIC - Stephan Schmitter, Nautical Marine
- NSW - Lieuwe Mellae, Hitech Marine NSW
- NZ (South Island) - Cam Williams, Stihl Shop Marine
- NZ (North Island) - Ben Castle, Gulfland Marine
The Grand Finalists will each receive a $500 tool voucher and a Mercury merchandise pack.
"With Mercury University and our factory training, we have technicians who are right across the latest technology, who are fast and efficient and in high demand," Nicholas said.
"Well done to them. I'm really looking forward to the Grand Final and handing over that 150 FourStroke to the winner.
"And if you're a marine technician working in a non-Mercury dealership, drop into your local Mercury dealer for a chat about how you could join team Mercury, benefit from a Factory Training program that is second to none, and have your own chance to compete to win in future competitions."