Faces, Places & Voices Of Poudre Valley REA – LeRoy Mace

LeRoy Mace is one of only seven individuals in the entire United States to hold 45+ years ASE Master Certification in multiple areas. One of only seven.

As we celebrate with LeRoy, we want to highlight his accomplishment while illuminating how he has made such a positive impact in his industry as a whole and on the Poudre Valley REA membership.

“For those who are ASE Master Certified in multiple areas for 45 plus years, there are seven in the United States. I am one of those,” LeRoy says as we sit down to talk. “It’s not an award, just an accomplishment,” he’s quick to admit. But it’s something he is pretty proud of.

As Shop Foreman for going on nine years now, LeRoy works on a variety of different vehicles and their components. From fleet cars to half-ton pickups, to boom trucks and digger derricks, he is responsible for ensuring routine maintenance and timely repairs. “I never work on the same thing twice. I like that variety,” LeRoy says.

The different vehicles he maintains are put to the test out in the field, which across Northern Colorado can be very treacherous, rough conditions. “We get into areas you wouldn’t even imagine driving your own personal car into. And we get these large trucks close enough that they can service the lines and do the repairs.”

The variety of vehicles LeRoy maintains and the difficult conditions they face means he must stay up to date with not only new vehicles and parts, but also with how best to troubleshoot new problems as they arise out in the field across the fleet.

At your cooperative, our employees remain best-suited to take on their responsibilities in an ever-changing industry by participating in training, continuing their education, and acquiring specific certifications. “Safety being our cornerstone means we don’t cut corners. We stay up to date with all the training.”

Part of LeRoy’s responsibilities is ensuring the safe operating conditions of the buckets linecrews use while working around high-voltage power lines. “We don’t cut corners because of the lives that are involved in the work that we do, especially when it comes to the  booms and derricks.”

WHAT IS ASE CERTIFICATION

ASE, or the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, works to improve the quality of vehicle repair and service by testing and certifying automotive professionals.

They exist to ensure automotive customers and shop owners understand an automotive service professional’s level of expertise. It ensures you get the level of quality service and repairs you need to keep your vehicle safely on the road. And their tests aren’t easily passed. He calls it, “the bar exam for mechanics.”

The tests are difficult, comprehensive, and designed to test a mechanics complete knowledge and experience with automotive services and repairs. As someone who is ASE Master Certified in multiple areas, LeRoy has successfully and routinely passed eight categories of testing on:

• Engine Repair
• Engine Performance
• Automatic Transmission
• Manual Transmission & Clutch
• Suspension & Steering
• Electronics & Electrical Systems
• Heating & Air Conditioning
• Brakes

“ASE has been a big staple in my career and something I personally think very highly of,” said LeRoy. Early in his career, LeRoy was rewarded for holding ASE Certifications with a higher wage. Then he was required to hold an ASE Master Mechanics Certification when he began teaching automotive mechanics at Northwest Kansas Technical College in Goodland, Kan.

By the way, LeRoy was instrumental in getting his school’s program approved to accredit ASE Certifications to technicians. Without this program in place, LeRoy and others had to travel 150 miles to the next nearest location. The school retains the program to this day.

After eight years of teaching, LeRoy opened his own shop — LeRoy’s Automotive. For 12 years he ran that shop and required all his people to be ASE Certified in their areas of expertise. By doing so, American Automobile Association (AAA) and the National Automotive Parts Association (NAPA) directed customers in need to his shop.

During this time, he was chosen as the 1992 NAPA ASE Technician of the Year for his six-state area. He went on to become a finalist at the national competition. Parts and People Magazine even did an article featuring LeRoy and his shop.

In the early 2000s LeRoy decided to make a change. “Some of the things that I particularly enjoy doing are camping and fishing. There is nothing more beautiful than the Colorado rivers and lakes. This change is going to involve a place I really enjoy being.”

LeRoy and his wife have now been here 21 years. And going on his 21st year with Poudre Valley REA.

“Honestly, whenever you enjoy what you do the years really do fly by. I’ve had an awesome career. I’ve had an awesome career at Poudre Valley REA as well.”

LeRoy uses his knowledge, training, and experience to ensure the safe operating condition of the vehicles your cooperative’s employee team trusts their lives in daily.
He even hand-fabricates wiring harnesses for vehicles whose parts are no longer available — calling them “LeRoy’s additions.” He keeps our vehicles on the road instead of purchasing costly replacements, which in turn helps reduce our operating expenses and maintains our affordability.

Please join us in congratulating LeRoy Mace for this amazing accomplishment and in thanking him for his years of service to Poudre Valley REA and the members we serve.