A rare honour was recently awarded to a Morden Chrysler Technician as Keith Bergen became the MasterTech Western Regional and MasterTech National Champion.
 
As long as he can remember Bergen has been interested in automotive and has worked on his own vehicles. 
 
"I've always liked working on cars, started when I was young. I got my first car and wanted to build it up the way I wanted. I loved working on it and put my passions into my occupation."
 
Bergen, a technician from Pembina Valley Chrysler Dodge Jeep, was one of 100 chosen from the 3,700 technicians across the country to compete Provincially.
 
Each technician must go through the Chrysler training, explains Field Chrysler Auto District Parts and Service Manager Rachel Mailloux. She explains technicians are chosen based on the quizzes they complete during training. 
 
Chris Willsey PVCDJ Dealer Principal and GM, Rachel Mailloux FCA District Parts and Service Manager, Keith Bergen PVCDJ Technician, Bernie Clement PCAG Owner, Rob Leah PCAG Director of Fix Operations
 
Technicians who did the best on the quizzes then participate in a hands-on challenge comprising of a bugged vehicle with the goal of diagnosing and repairing the vehicle in 12 minutes. The top four performances are then chosen to write a test to become the National Champion.
 
Mailloux says when she first time she came to the Morden branch they claimed to have some of the best technicians. 
 
"I kind of dismissed them thinking they obviously were going to talk up their own employees," she says. "A few weeks later we got the call and he won. He won out of the Western Business Centre and won for all of Canada as well, which is a pretty big deal."
 
Bergen was excited to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience, being able to compete against the top Chrysler technicians across Canada.
 
Pembcorp Auto Group(PCAG) Owner Bernie Clement, says they're very proud of Bergen, adding considering the difficulty of this competition, coming out on top is a real honour.