Daniel Topping:  

Workplace I resigned my teaching position at Tift County High School(Tifton, GA) of 18 years as the Automotive Service Technology instructor in October 2005. In December 2005 I accepted a program coordinator position with VC Tech(Pelham, Al) of the Industry Management program. This program is brand new with four instructors, and teaches students the fundamentals of management responsibilities in any automotive related business, as well as the skills needed to start, operate, and maintain a business of their own. VC Tech has two primary programs, Auto/Light Diesel, and Collision Repair Technology, and offers 5 specialty programs offered after successful completion of one of the primary programs. The 5 specialty programs are;Hot Rod/ Chassis motorcycle, Hot Rod Chassis Street Rod, Custom Paint/Graphics, Custom Upholstery, and Industry Management. IM is the only program that an Associates Degree in Business Mnagement may be earned. The school classes and activities look like what you see on TV like "Overhauling", "Pimp My Ride", "West Coast Choppers", "Orange County Choppers", "Hot Rods by Boyd Coddington", or the vehicle rebuild/fabrication show with Chip Foose. I also get to enjoy working on my vehicles and motorcycles as well. This place is too cool. I also enjoy the Birmingham area a lot more than the plain South Georgia surroundings. I hope to be here for a while! But wait, there's more! September 2007,VC Tech closed!! Bummer. Decided to move back to GA so my wife could complete her 30 year teachers retirement. November 2007, I accepted a position with Griffin Technical College to create a new Diesel Equipment Technology program to be housed at a brand new satellite campus near Jackson, GA. It is a ton of work starting from scratch, but it has its advantages having everything new. Carol, my wife got a job immediately teaching 1st grade. She has 2 years to retire! I go back to visit Birmingham a couple weekends amonth with a business partner working on British sports cars. Lots of fun. My wife decided to buy a Chrysler Sebring convertible after riding in my 197...Expand for more