JOHN HOOPES
Instructor / Department Chair

I have fourteen years of post secondary teaching experience. I am also a Student Advisor and an SGA Car Club Advisor. I have obtained Master Automotive ASE Certified including L1 Certification. I have sixteen years dealership experience in automotive diagnosis and repair, Team Leader, Diagnostician at Delaware Cadillac. I was also the GM-ASEP Dealer Co-ordinator.

I was awarded the Instructor of the Year Award in 1997 for the GM-ASEP Northeast Region and the Excellence in Teaching Award presented by Dr. Orlando George President Delaware Technical & Community College, May 2000.

I graduated from Delaware State University in Dover, Delaware with a BS Degree in Education. I also have a Associate Degree in Applied Science from Delaware Technical & Community College in Newark, Delaware.

LOU SPINELLI
Instructor, Automotive Technology
A.A.S. Delaware Tech

My father, introduced me to life-long afflictions called the automobiles and motor sports. My youth was spent tinkering with stuff in order to learn how they operate. My first job was maintaining golf-carts in 1980. As a graduate of McKean High School Power Mechanics classes, my passion for the automobile drove me to take on an additional job at the Sears Automotive center in Prices Corner while I also entered the University of Delaware for Mechanical Engineering in 1984.

The Faulkner dealerships in New Castle hired me and the University didn't offer the pathway to my goals. Mechanical engineering turned out to be not what I had imagined, so I decide to give Delaware Technical & Community College a try in 1989.

Union Park in Wilmington took me on board to practice all that I learned at the college. Everything was falling into place now and I was earning all of the certifications that are needed in this career. Even before graduating the program as the Goodwrench Award winner, I had already accomplished ASE Master Automotive certification. The Automotive Technology program had prepared me for my career. By staying focused, and putting all my efforts into the program, I got all I could out the program. Thanks to my degree, my grades, and my certifications, I was able to take a second job, part-time at Delaware Tech, teaching others about automobiles in 1991. This continued until I took a position at the NuCar organization in Newark in 1992.

In 1995, an opportunity of a lifetime presented itself, the chance to go back to Delaware Tech. as an Instructor in the Automotive Technology Department. Once again, the combination of training, certification, and education landed me the position. Since that time I earned the ASE Advanced Engine Performance Specialist (L-1) certification, and also the ASE Under-car Specialist (X-1). My thirst for knowledge drove me to the top of the training lists in the region. Having reached that goal, I set my sights on ASE Master Medium & Heavy Truck certification. At this time I have one more category to achieve this goal. I'm also working on finishing my Bachelor Degree in Education from Delaware State. What the future holds, time will tell, but I'm looking forward to it!

BOB QVIGSTAD
Instructor
I have been with Delaware Tech since 1988. I assisted with the implementation of the Automotive Technology Program known as GM ASEP. I have been an automotive instructor for 16 years. Prior to this, I worked in the automotive industry for 20 years. I am A.S.E. Master Certified in automotive repair through A.S.E. My hobby is restoring classic vehicles.