The GM Field Service Engineer (FSE) Technician Recognition Awards (U.S.) celebrate the skill and dedication of dealership technicians who have recently worked with FSEs on challenging repairs.
Technicians at GM dealerships are selected for recognition based on a variety of factors, including their focus on safety, customer satisfaction, personal accountability, training achievements, diagnostic abilities and the level of repair documentation.
Each recognized technician receives a personalized Service Excellence magnetic plaque and an Excellence in Service Award certificate. (Fig. 5)
Fig. 5
1st Quarter 2026 Technician Recognition Award Winners
Technician: Justin Downs
Dealership: Commonwealth Chevrolet, Lawrence, Massachusetts
FSE: Chris Proteau
Service Excellence:
I have been working with Justin for around five years now. He recently received his World Class Technician status. Justin has a “never‑give‑up” attitude and is extremely customer‑focused. He doesn’t let difficult‑to‑diagnose cases get him down and will go out of his way to provide accurate and detailed diagnosis and data collection to make sure all bases are covered before we commit to a repair. He is detail‑oriented and very easy to work with on cases remotely, consistently attaching documentation — photos, videos, and data logs — to the case for review.
Recently, Justin and I worked on a high-mileage G-Van with a V6 engine that started out at a local repair facility. The vehicle stalled and would crank but not start. The repair shop performed some work on the vehicle, but, ultimately, it was towed to the dealership with the concern still unresolved. Sifting through the prior repairs to get an idea of what might lead to the root cause was time‑consuming. Justin removed the exhaust system, but it still wouldn’t start. Unfortunately, the exhaust system had been reinstalled when it was found the incorrect spark plugs had been installed. The spark plugs were replaced with the correct ones, but it still had a crank, no start condition. It turned out that one of the catalytic converters was plugged, so it really had two problems. The original problem of a restricted exhaust system and the aftermarket shop-induced problem of incorrect spark plugs.
Once we figured it out and got the vehicle operational again, we both had the classic “hindsight is 20/20” look on our faces. Sometimes the simplest things can be head‑scratching when you’re thrown in mid‑stream.Justin did a great job of never giving up and demonstrating why we all have jobs in this industry — the customer.
Technician: David Gomes
Dealership: Colonial Cadillac, Woburn, Massachusetts
FSE: Chris Proteau
Service Excellence:
David and I started working together 30 years ago. David was an ASEP student, and I was his mentor. He was a quick study and had strong mechanical abilities. He moved from the Chevrolet dealership where I worked to a local Cadillac dealership where he continued to hone his diagnostic skills. His product knowledge of the Cadillac brand is unmatched — to the point that when I have a question, I reach out to him. He is as customer‑focused as anyone could be, always concerned with product quality, parts availability, and getting vehicles fixed right the first time, on time. He consistently goes out of his way to work with customers to identify difficult‑to‑reproduce and difficult‑to‑diagnose concerns, ensuring complete satisfaction with both the product and the dealership. From ASEP student to Master Technician working with our complex EVs, David has embraced every change over the years. I wish David the best of luck on his journey to becoming a GM World Class Technician.
Recently, David had a 10L80 transmission concern that was addressed in a bulletin. After performing that repair and finding the concern still present, he went into full diagnostic mode. He sent me power‑flow and hydraulic‑fluid schematics and pored over what the issue could be. When we landed on a possible cause and disassembled the unit, his diagnosis of a seized Sprague in the pump cover was correct. This impressed me because when I disassemble a transmission, I always want a solid idea of what I’m looking for before going in, not just digging around to find the carnage. It wasn’t an obvious broken component; it was something that could have easily been overlooked if not thoroughly inspected. Great job as always, David!
Technician: Chris Johnson
Dealership: R K Chevrolet, Virginia Beach, Virginia
FSE: Jon Ewing
Service Excellence:
Chris is an exceptional technician whose dedication and work ethic truly set him apart. Always eager to learn, he approaches each task with a positive attitude and a willingness to expand his skills. Chris is consistently helpful, going above and beyond to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Chris recently brought up a concern regarding Bulletin #21‑NA‑135 and the procedure for disabling DRLs on law enforcement vehicles. After disabling the DRLs on a 2026 Tahoe, he discovered that the headlamp control did not function as intended. After significant diagnostic time, we found that the 2026 model year headlamp switch design had changed, and the vehicle requires a different switch to restore proper headlamp control. Chris demonstrated GM’s “Speak Fearlessly” behavior by bringing this issue to light. Identifying concerns early allows GM to update procedures, parts and bulletins before more vehicles are affected. Thank you, Chris, for everything you do!
Technician: Justin Reandeau
Dealership: Bob Moore Cadillac, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
FSE: Gregg Brinlee
Service Excellence:
Justin is a very hard‑working shop foreman who is extremely valuable to his dealership. He is always willing to help other technicians in the shop with any issues that arise, whether they are vehicle related or training related. Justin consistently supports up‑and‑coming technicians, showing them the proper way to diagnose a vehicle and explaining how he arrives at the final repair decision. He also never hesitates to submit an SI Feedback or FPR.
One case I worked on with Justin involved a 2024 Escalade from California with a “Service Rear Axle” message, which would appear randomly at startup, and no codes were ever stored. Justin went above and beyond and ultimately found that G409, located in the left rear quarter panel, had never been tightened from the factory. Justin never questioned any diagnostic steps suggested throughout the process and remained thorough and engaged from start to finish.
Technician: Gary Gill
Dealership: Delaware Cadillac, Wilmington, Delaware
FSE: James Cassell
Service Excellence:
Skill, integrity and drive are three words that best describe Gary’s professional attitude. In every case I have had the pleasure of working with Gary, these traits have consistently led to efficient and complete repairs of customer‑owned vehicles. Gary exemplifies the “It’s on Me” behavior with every vehicle, taking full ownership of the outcome.
Many of the technical issues Gary has resolved could have easily demoralized another technician, yet he always maintains a positive attitude and is driven to provide a world‑class customer experience in the service department. I would like to recognize Gary for all the “hoops” he jumps through daily to address programming and technical concerns on some of GM’s most advanced vehicles.
Technician: Samuel Douglas
Dealership: Watsonville Cadillac, Watsonville, California
FSE: Greg Ochoa
Service Excellence:
Samuel is outstanding in his repairs and diagnostics, always maintaining a positive attitude and a “can‑do” mentality when faced with difficulties during troubleshooting. He is thorough with his diagnostics and use of resources, making sure to review and stay current with all available Service Information documents and training information. Samuel is a young technician who is eager to take on the challenges of any vehicle without hesitation or lack of interest.
When working with Samuel, I have noticed — and been impressed by — his ability to complete online training at any available moment when the opportunity presents itself. He has demonstrated strong skills and the ability to multitask, maintain clear communication with the FSE and related departments, and perform diagnostic work in a thorough and time‑efficient manner. He consistently shows a willingness to work closely with the FSE team, providing all relevant information he gathers to help create a clear path for the FSE to approach and resolve the concern.
– Thanks to Hank Poelman
