Career Move

Age 39
Reps Rockland County,
originally from BK
Job Detailer/Shop Owner
Avg Salary $17,000–$40,000

“Let’s clear up the misconception—detailing is a lot more than a bucket of water and a dry vac,” says Gus Tsekenis, detailer and owner of Technik 1 in Manhattan. The definition, according to Gus, is the cleaning, finessing and beautification of a car to a like-new condition or better. The boys at the local car wash who don’t clean the backside of the rim or inside the doorjamb ain’t following the rules—every last inch of the car should be combed. And after four hours of scrubbing and buffing, the car and the customer glow with satisfaction. For Gus, the eye-catching end product is “the most fun part!”

The not-so-fun days are when there’s baby vomit, pet hair and melted Gummi Bears on the seats. “You get wet, and the chemicals are annoying to breathe,” says the 39-year-old car M.D., who started in the business at 22. Back then, he was working out of his car as a mobile detailer, making house calls with a mini wet/dry vacuum and two buffering machines in the trunk. Now he has his own shop.

After completing a certificate program at Lincoln Tech, Gus eventually worked at Porsche and Mercedes dealerships as a service manager. “Larger car dealerships give the opportunity to get
a manufacturer’s certification, something that you won’t get at the small shops,” he remarks. With several awards for concourse detailing under his belt, this auto aide’s success is built on elbow grease. Now, throw them ’bows!

Annisha Mohammed

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