TSTC Communications
HARLINGEN—As collision-repair technology continues to advance, Hacienda Ford Collision is seeking technicians like San Benito’s own Lucifer Melchor, who are willing to evolve with the industry.
Hacienda representatives delivered the message directly to Texas State Technical College’s Auto Collision and Management students at the Harlingen campus earlier this month.
“What we look for is technicians with a mindset of continuous learning,” said Rudy Quiroga, body shop manager at Hacienda Ford Collision. “We want technicians who are not only prepared to do the job but also to keep up with the trends that emerge every year.”
Hacienda Ford Collision, with locations in Brownsville, Edinburg, Harlingen, McAllen, and Weslaco, spoke directly with students about career opportunities and the skills they seek.
“Having a pipeline of trained professionals is important because we serve customers throughout the Rio Grande Valley,” Quiroga noted.
Jose Vasquez, TSTC’s Auto Collision and Management program team lead, said that employer engagement gives students a clearer understanding of industry expectations.
“One of the biggest things we learn is that industry partners share what they are looking for and how they started at the company, and that has a significant impact on our students,” he said.
For students, those conversations also offer an opportunity to connect their hands-on training to potential career paths.
Melchor is pursuing an associate degree. He said the presentation prompted him to reflect on his future.
“What I took away from the presentation was, if you at least try, you will succeed on many platforms,” he said.
Viviana Espinosa, senior manager of TSTC’s Employer Relations department, said connecting students with industry partners is key to helping them transition into the workforce.
“We help connect industry partners who wish to hire our students in different ways,” she said.
According to onetonline.org, automotive body and related repairers in Texas earn an average of $51,700 per year. The site projected a 10% increase in these jobs in the state from 2024 to 2034.
TSTC offers Associate of Applied Science degrees in Auto Collision and Management, with specializations in refinishing and repair, at the Fort Bend County, Harlingen, and Waco campuses. Several certificate options are also available.
For more information about TSTC, visit TSTC.edu.
With campuses across the state, TSTC helps strengthen the Texas workforce by producing highly skilled, technically competent graduates. Operating under a unique funding model based on student employment outcomes, the college celebrated 60 years of service to the state of Texas in 2025. For more information, visit tstc.edu.