We're Looking to Grow Our Team!

Want to learn more? Please send an email to TUAUTOCARE@GMAIL.com

With our changing industry, we need help to continue to serve our clients and community in the best ways we know how.

We're currently in search of ASE Certified Mechanics and Service Advisors looking to having a family environment they can join and help grow!

Our Mission:

To change the way our industry looks at us. Many consumers fear getting taken advantage of by their dealership, or service center. Our goal is to provide as much information as possible to each and every client so they trust us completely with their vehicle, and what it takes to fix it!

What we offer for our employees -

We believe in team, so that's how we do things.

-We provide in house education on how to manage finances and plan for the future in terms of savings and investments.

-We teach sales, leadership, and communication skills so you can do your best for your community inside and outside the organization.

-We provide on the job training and have many tools we share so our techs can get the job done.

-Individual success planning - we provide planning sessions to each employee to help them reach their goals and plan for their next set of goals both on the job and in their personal lives.

-Personal development training

-Health care - all full time employees have 100% of their health insurance premiums paid for

-Profit sharing - We believe that if we do things as a team, we share as a team. One for all and all for one.

And all the normal stuff - paid vacations, sick leave, competitive pay, only hourly pay (not flat rate)

Team

The Total Upgrade Team

Cassondra Arms - Service Advisor

Cassy is a new addition to Total Upgrade, joining the team in June of 2022. She was born and raised in Hillsboro, Oregon and spent most her childhood watching her dad be the family backyard mechanic.

During high school she focused on Symphonic band as well as Automotive Technology, then went on to PCC to complete the Diesel Service Technology program. She has spent most of her career service

writing and parts advising for agricultural equipment ranging from New Holland to Kubota and even small engines such as Husqvarna and Honda. She has also spent time working at a European

independent shop as well as Kuni BMW, rounding out her knowledge and experience in the industry. In her downtime Cassy enjoys visiting car shows and dragstrips, as well as spending time outdoors with her

boyfriend Alonzo and her stepchildren, Luke and Raya.

Joe Garcia - Co-Founder/Master Technician

Joe and his wife Jennifer founded Total Upgrade in 2008 previously known as "Transmissions Unlimited" where he wanted to change the game in the automotive world specializing in transmission work. Back in 08 a lot of dealerships were running out of work and treated their mechanics pretty badly. If a dealer didn't have work for their guys, they would send them home, not allowing them to do side jobs, or perform any needed maintenance other than what service advisors couldn't sell at the time. In frustration, Joe wanted to be a do - it - all technician, from taking in clients himself, to being responsible for the work being performed. With the help of his wife Jennifer (background in the banking industry) he opened up T.U. and was off to the races. His goal is to fix cars, period. Which is why we ultimately changed our name to Total Upgrade. He understands in this world you only get paid to get the job done, so that's what he's taught his son Dillon, and that is the motto of Total Upgrade to this day.

Hunter House - ASE Certified Technician

Hunter started out at T.U. back in 2018 right out of high school. He has committed to the automotive field and the results show. Hunter has a passion for cars, and constantly researches to try to solve any problem that he runs into. He focuses on the solution and providing the best option for the client in terms of repairs and service. He got into the industry looking for a way he could contribute to his family, which is something we completely understand and agree with. Hunter brings a great attitude to work every day and is always willing to help others. We appreciate Hunter here at TU and his effort and care he puts into his craft day in and day out.

Gracie Belle Garcia - Customer Service

Gracie Belle Garcia is a Texan girl that was rescued by her paw parents Dillon and his wife Christine. She is three years old and loves anything related to building relationships, friendly communication, and food. She is a pit boxer mix working her way to giving Pitbulls a good name. She frequents the shop during her part time schedule of Monday's and Friday's (occasionally Wednesdays with her golden retriever brother Wilson) and if she's not at the shop she is either at home sleeping in, or headed to the dog park!

Jesse Ramirez - Certified Technician

Jesse Ramirez started at Total Upgrade in May of 2022 and has represented our core values everyday he comes into work. He is from El Monte California and graduated from Oak Hills High School. He moved on to become a Marine and is a proud veteran, he represents what it means to be a marine each and everyday he comes to the shop. He has worked at Les Schwab in the past and is extremely detail oriented, clean, and thorough in his diagnostics and repairs. He is one of the hardest and most consistent workers at TU and we're grateful to have him on the team. He enjoys wrenching in his free time, and spending time with his wife Justine and baby girl Jesse.

Jonah Walker - Service Technician

Jonah has now become an essential member of the team here at Total Upgrade Automotive. He has proven to be a smart young man who is thirsty for growth and knowledge. After moving back to Oregon from Utah, he quickly found a job at Home Depot but that proved to not be stimulating enough for him, so he has now moved on to be a part of our team. We think of him as a hedgehog here at TU who tackles problems and overcomes obstacles. He has proven to show great problem solving skills having experience as a 3 sport athlete in high school who made the honor roll. The TU team enjoys the energy he brings each and everyday! You may see him rolling around in his slammed Prelude.

Dillon Garcia - Owner/Master Technician

Dillon is the owner of Total Upgrade with his parents Joe and Jennifer. He manages the day to day operations and looks towards growth in the future. His goal is to emulate what his parents started - a family business. Working for them since he started, he's learned many things, one of them being that wherever you work, you must have purpose. The first concrete goal Dillon had was to retire his parents, and with dedication to his craft, he was able to do that in 2021. Being in the automotive field, he has realized that not everyone is as professional as they claim to be, so he strives to get all the knowledge he can possibley get in business and in the auto industry to provide the best possible solutions for the long term for each and every person that walks through the shop. "No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care".

Taylor Kleinfeldt - Operations Manager - Diesel/Euro Specialist

Taylor just joined the Total Upgrade team this year and has a wide range of experience and tools at his disposal. He was born in Kirkland Washington but has spent most of his time here in Hillsboro. He graduated with a 2 year degree in diesel service technology and got a lot of experience working as a heavy line tech and multiple years working in the lighter line automotive world. After some tough back injuries he decided to continue his passion working on Euro vehicles at BMW. His path took him to more of a client facing and manager type role to be able to deal with customers and continue spreading his knowledge in the automotive field. We're glad to have him be a new addition to our team and he's looking forward to meeting our great customers and helping them as much as possible! Taylor also enjoys watching boxing and hitting the bag whenever he's able. He's married to his wife Wendy of nearly 5 years, and they have a beautiful newborn daughter named Jordan.