Ashley Waller put a Business Management degree on hold to pursue her lifelong passion as an automotive technician. After an education at WyoTech in Long Beach, California, she landed a job at Ferrari Beverly Hills in an industry that’s typically reserved for men.
WyoTech-Long Beach graduate Ashley Waller
Waller grew up around motorcycles and classic cars, so enrolling in the Automotive Technology Diploma program at WyoTech was a natural step for her. As one of the few women in her class, Waller wasn’t sure that she would be taken seriously as an auto technician. Her 4.0 GPA, perfect attendance and high praise from her instructors, left no doubt that she was destined for a successful future.
Soon after Waller graduated from WyoTech, she was hired as a technician apprentice at a prominent Ferrari dealership in Beverly Hills, California. She now has the career of her dreams working on high-end vehicles that most people dream of driving. When asked about her decision to become an automotive technician, Waller said, “I needed to make a career move, not just get a job. I love working hard and don’t mind competition. My WyoTech instructors were a major influence in my success.”
“Being a woman in a predominately male industry is challenging at times, but has also been very rewarding,” Waller said. “I feel that in this industry, a woman must work twice as hard as a man to receive the same respect. My new co-workers and the management team at Ferrari have treated me as an equal from the beginning.”
“Ashley is a great example of dedication and determination. She knew what she wanted and was willing to wait for the right position to make her dream come true,” said Helene DeAlleaume, Director of Career Services at WyoTech Long Beach. “We are so proud of Ashley and are confident that other graduates will have the opportunity to follow in her footsteps.”
Waller is employed by the Ferrari Maserati Beverly Hills dealership, a recipient of the Maserati Dealer of Excellence award, an achievement that reflects the level of commitment to their clients. They have also received recognition from Ferrari SpA for achieving 100 % customer satisfaction every year for the past 10 years.
About WyoTech
WyoTech – Long Beach campus, located at 2161 Technology Place, Long Beach Calif., 90810, is a division of Corinthian Colleges, Inc., one of the largest post-secondary education companies in North America. WyoTech offers degree and diploma programs in the fields of automotive, diesel, collision refinishing, motorcycle, marine technology, as well as construction trades. In addition, WyoTech offers advanced training programs in applied service management; advanced diesel; light duty diesel; advanced automotive diagnostics; street rod and custom fabrication; motorsports chassis fabrication; high performance power trains; and trim and upholstery technology. There are currently six WyoTech campuses located across the United States. WyoTech is the Official Technical School of the NHRA and a proud sponsor of NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle racer, Steve Johnson, and NHRA Competition Eliminator racer, Bruno Massel, Jr. For more information about WyoTech, go to http://www.wyotech.edu.
