MECP Congratulates Aaron Daniels on Giving MECP 200 Master Installers

I was lucky enough to sit down recently with Aaron Daniels of Autosounds of Lincoln (Lincoln, NE) – who represented MECP’s 200th currently certified Master – to discuss his new status as a Master. Here’s what he had to say.

• What first prompted you to become MECP certified back in 2003?

  The main reason that I felt a need to get certified was to be able to prove myself. I worked a normal full-time job at a grocery store and installed on the side for mostly friends. I realized that the way to make the jump from ‘I have a buddy’ to ‘I know an installer’ was to get a certification that would prove my knowledge in the field. Just because you have a friend who can vouch for your work doesn’t mean you should be trusted with a car, right?

• What has kept you motivated to progress all the way to Master level now?

  I have always been someone who has wanted to learn more if I was interested in a subject. I have been pretty much consumed by ‘the bug,’ as they call it, since I was 15. I have been reading [12 volt] magazines and dreaming of knowing how to do some of the things I have seen in them. Most of what I have learned has been self-taught with minimal coaching. The book stuff is the easy thing; doing it is something else though. There is always something new or more complex than you have access to. If you have seen some of the manufacturers’ demo vehicles (Alpine’s for example) over the years, you know what I’m talking about.

• Tell us about some of the technological challenges you’re facing as an installer now that weren’t prevalent years ago.

  The main thing that I get to fight on a regular basis is just how integrated everything is in cars nowadays. A radio install isn’t just a simple customer request anymore. Some of them are incredibly integrated into the car, not only electronically, but aesthetically as well. The same goes for push-to-start cars. When a business has as much invested in remote starters as mine does, it is a challenge that has to be faced.

• If the install bay was on fire and you could only grab one tool, what would it be and why?

  I would probably have to get two: my crimpers and my Fluke DMM. From most of what I see in real-world backyard installs, they are what set real installers apart.

• How does Autosounds of Lincoln promote its MECP certified installers?

  We are highly encouraged to keep our certifications current. We have one Master on staff and one Advanced. I am on him to have his Master by the end of the year. It makes for an easy sales tool when you can point to the certifications on the wall behind you and set the customer’s mind at ease about trusting you with their car.

• What is the next big seller in 12 Volt?

  I think the biggest thing is going to be the factory integration pieces. Products like the Cleansweep and the 3Sixty make it so you can keep your factory headunit that you can’t afford to replace anyway. I think there is going to be a larger portion of that kind of product in the industry as car manufacturers come out with new cars.

• What advice would you give a young installer who’s considering becoming MECP certified?

  I would highly recommend it. There is no such thing as too much information. You need to know all you think you do and a lot more. It is hard enough to get a break in this industry. You need to make yourself stand out from the crowd a bit. The main reason I was hired at Autosounds was because I was already certified when I applied.

If you would like to contribute your expertise to the MECP community, please contact mecp@mecp.com to submit your ideas for future “how-to” articles!