Vancouver, WA technician recognized for service excellence to represent the U.S. at the Subaru World Technician Competition in Japan

CAMDEN, N.J. , Oct. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) today announced Zach Gibbons, Senior Master Service Technician at Dick Hannah Subaru in Vancouver, WA, as the winner of the 2025 Subaru Technician Competition. The biennial event takes place at SOA's U.S. headquarters in Camden, New Jersey, honoring Subaru technicians from retailers nationwide by showcasing their product knowledge, technical expertise, troubleshooting abilities, and hands-on skills.

During the competition, fourteen Zone Champions competed in an 80-minute technical challenge of engine performance/drivability, as well as body electrical diagnosis. Each technician was presented with four faults and evaluated on both accuracy and service quality. The top Subaru technicians from around the country were selected to compete and represent their respective geographic sales zones, based on their technical knowledge, Fixed Right First Time (FRFT) scores, quality monitoring reports, ASE certification scoring, and feedback from field operations team members.

Jeff Walters, President and COO, Subaru of America, Inc.: "It's always impressive to see our Subaru retailer technicians push themselves in a competitive setting, constantly working to improve their knowledge and skills. Hosting this group of the top performers from across the country at headquarters gives us a firsthand look at how the dedication to their craft translates into providing the highest level of ongoing support for our customers. We'll be rooting for Zach Gibbons next year at the Subaru International Technician Competition in Tokyo, Japan, as he represents the United States to take on fellow technicians from around the world."

As the National Champion, Gibbons brings over 15 years of experience to his role as a Senior Master Service Technician at Dick Hannah Subaru. From a young age, Gibbons was fueled by a deep curiosity about how things work, often spending hours building and dismantling objects to understand their inner workings. This early passion led him to a career in automotive technology, and Gibbons remains committed to staying at the forefront of the automaker's evolving technology, including hybrid drivetrains and advanced driver-assistance systems. He is a graduate of Mt. Hood Community College, holding an Applied Science degree, and previously competed in Subaru's 2016 Technician Competition.

Second-place honors were awarded to Brenden Maurer of Boardman Subaru in Youngstown, OH, who earned a $1,000 prize. Alan Garza of Gillman Subaru Southwest in Houston, TX, secured third place, receiving a $500 prize. The full list of Zone Champions and runners-up is included (in alphabetical order):

• Patrick Bonner – Lancaster County Motors Subaru, Lancaster, PA
• Joseph Botkin – CMA's Valley Subaru, Staunton, VA
• Michael Flud – Lithia Subaru Fresno, Fresno, CA
• Alan Garza – Gillman Subaru Southwest, Houston, TX
• Zach Gibbons – Dick Hannah Subaru, Vancouver, WA
• Benjamin Imhof – McGovern Subaru of Acton, Acton, MA
• John Knapp – Lee's Summit Subaru, Summit, MO
• Ryan Koeppen – Berman Subaru of Chicago, Chicago, IL
• Brendan Maurer – Boardman Subaru, Youngstown, OH
• Rolando Ramirez – Albany Subaru, Albany, CA
• Christopher Raymond – White's Mountain Subaru, Casper, WY
• Giuseppe Russo – Brewster Subaru, Brewster, NY
• Guilherme Tasca – Schumacher Subaru, West Palm Beach, FL
• Timothy Thomas – Stivers Decatur Subaru, Decatur, GA

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, on average, about 70,000 new automotive service technicians and mechanics are needed each year to keep up with demand and help offset the loss of retirees and those leaving the industry. In 2016, to address the ever-increasing need for qualified technicians at retailer service centers, Subaru of America, Inc. established Subaru University, also called Subaru-U.

Subaru-U is a partnership program dedicated to working with select National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) and Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES) secondary and post-secondary schools, along with Subaru retailers, to develop future Subaru technician employees. Students can take basic training or advance their previous training through web-based and instructor-led courses to gain the required knowledge to properly service Subaru vehicles. To learn more, visit: subaru-u.com.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc.  (SOA) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts, and accessories through a network of about 640 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants, including Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc., the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company's vision to show love and respect to everyone and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $340 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged over 115,000 volunteer hours. Subaru is dedicated to being More Than a Car Company® and to making the world a better place. For additional information, visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube.

Diane Anton
Corporate Communications Manager
(856) 488-5093
danton@subaru.com 

Adam Leiter
Corporate Communications Specialist
(856) 488-8668
aleiter@subaru.com

 

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SOURCE Subaru of America, Inc.