Instructor Biography
Bryan Christensen
Bryan Christensen comes to New Market Skills Center from the independent automotive service industry. He has over 40 years of experience; starting part-time performing general service and shop maintenance to owner/operator and all points in between. Mr. Christensen (Mr. C for short) is the instructor of Automotive Service Technology (AST). Mr. C is a National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Master Automotive Technician. ASE is the organization which oversees the certification of independent automotive technicians. ASE is also the accrediting authority of automotive technology courses. Mr. C facilitated AST’s reaccreditation in the late winter of 2020. This accreditation went up a level from Maintenance and Light Repair (MLR) to Automotive Service Technology.
Mr. C is an active member of Rotary International, The Rotary Club of Gateway Thurston County (The world’s largest service organization). He mirrors his ethics and professionalism to those of Rotary. Mr. C is an avid tennis player. He plays primarily doubles in competitive leagues. Just to prepare future students, Mr. C is a big fan of cinema and sports and makes a lot of film quotes and sports references every day. He will also torture his students with dad jokes, since all his children are now adults.
Mr. C earned his Master of Education degree (M Ed) from Western Governors University (WGU) June 30, 2021. Mr. C has enrolled for online studies at Weber State University starting fall 2025. He will be taking the Advanced Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Certificate of Proficiency course. Mr. C will be updating the course framework to include hybrid/electric vehicles.
Mr. C is excited about changes that ASE has made to their ASE Entry-level Certification program. It now can provide a pathway for New Market students to a industry recognized certification, ASE Maintenance and Light Repair (MLR) Technician. Students that pass all eight areas (Engine Repair, Automatic Transmission/Transaxle, Manual Drivetrain and Axles, Brakes, Suspension and Steering, Electrical/Electronic Systems, Heating and Air Conditioning, Engine Performance) will be automatically entered as a candidate for MLR. Then once they have six months (1040 hours) of documentable employment in the industry they will be issued their certificate and right to wear the patch.
Mr. C is reestablishing a SkillsUSA chapter for Auto Service Technology here at New Market. SkillsUSA is a career/technical student organization. SkillsUSA chapters are student-lead. Members are mentored by the chapter adviser, Mr. C, on leadership, team work, 21st Century Skills, community service, and many other activities the students decide to add to the year’s calendar. There are also competitions for vocation related tasks and 21st Century skills. State and national leadership conferences are also available for members.
Mr. C has teamed with Ford Motor Company and Mullinax Ford of Olympia to provide NMSC AST students access to Ford’s Automotive Career Exploration (ACE) courses. When completed, the students will have the required courses needed to work in the Maintenance and Light Repair service bays for Ford and Lincoln dealerships. These courses are free and will provide students with marketable assets for their resumes.