Race fan’s BASTL helps rev up career

Jaime Juan Guerrero is a race fan and relished his time spent at various driving schools, but he knew that to shift his career into high gear he needed a different kind of education.

After working various automotive jobs, the 39-year-old Mechanicsburg resident earned his associates degree in general studies from Harrisburg Area Community College in 2015. He’s now on track to graduate from Bloomsburg’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Technical Leadership in May.

“I see a lot of job postings and the requirements always start with the need for a degree,’’ said Guerrero, who is in the process of interviewing with a number of automotive manufacturing facilities. “Before when they learned I didn’t have a bachelors I didn’t make it past the first stage, but now that I almost have my degree companies are looking at me.’’

Guerrero said he learned about the BASTL program while at HACC and thought the mix of classes aimed at growing his management and leadership skills fit with his long-term goals. Eventually, he said, he would like to work in the marketing or advertising end of the automotive world and maybe even manage a racing team.

More than a mere race fan, Guerrero attended the Bertil Roos Racing School in Blakeslee, Pennsylvania, Bridgestone Racing Academy in Clarington, Canada, and the Dirtfish Rally School in Snoqualmie, Washington.

In deciding to pursue his BASTL degree, Guerrero said having the classes taught either at HACC or the nearby Dixon University in Harrisburg was important and the mix of classes also sold him on the program. Guerrero said he especially liked the courses on website development and leading virtual teams, where he and other students used different communication platforms to complete a group project.

“It’s a great program that works well with the classes offered at HACC or Dixon and online,’’ said Guerrero, who is exploring master programs in either marketing or advertising. “The classes are set up so even if you have a full-time job or a family, you have enough time for everything.’’