The Continental Divide is an imaginary line that runs through the North American continent and separates the watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean from those that drain into the Atlantic Ocean. It extends from the northernmost part of Alaska, south through western Canada and the western United States, and into Mexico.
Why do I tell you this? It’s because the ATRA Rocky Mountain Chapter is so big. It spans from the Canadian to the Mexican border. The Chapter has five states: Montana, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico.
Zach Evans from Zach’s Transmission in Longmont, Colorado, is the President of the Rocky Mountain Chapter. Zach has been active with the Chapter for over 15 years, and he has big plans for its future.
Before we jump into the Chapter’s future, let’s look back at the beginning. Circa 1993, is when Jimmy Rodd from Jimmy’s Transmissions in Cortez, Colorado, became the first President of the Rocky Mountain Chapter. Dave Dunbar was the Vice President and Ian Hasting was the Secretary/Treasurer. The Chapter was established in Cortez, Colorado, and quickly became very successful by promoting training seminars and other events.
While Jimmy was heavily involved with sprint car racing at the time, running the Chapter became priority number one. Denver was the first city to host seminar training, but over the years, other states stepped up to host seminars. As the Chapter grew, Salt Lake City, Utah, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Billings, Montana, became seminar locations.
The Chapter grew into Idaho, specifically Coeur D’Alene. Rod Cayko from Rod’s Transmission in Coeur D’Alene was a great asset to the Rocky Mountain Chapter. The Coeur D’Alene and Billings seminars were among ATRA’s first seminars held in school facilities.
Today, Zach Evans is the Chapter President. Zach looks forward to growing the Chapter and achieving its goal of training and equipping technicians to be the best they can be.
Zach is originally from Durango, Colorado. He moved out to Longmont and opened Zach’s Transmissions in 2007. Growing up in the industry, Zach honed his skills, learning our trade throughout Colorado. ATRA seminars helped him grow and to eventually become a shop owner. Zach said the What’s Working Program and Seminars helped shape his success and allowed him to grow as an owner and technician.
Zach’s been with the Rocky Mountain Chapter since the mid-2000s and became President in 2012-2013. He’s become a pillar of the Rocky Mountain Chapter. As the Chapter President, Zach wants to bring the technicians together for industry recognition and credibility, personal relationships, and to not just be numbers in the crowd.
Being involved at the Chapter level has many perks. Networking alone has many advantages. As a Chapter President, Zach says you have an ethical obligation to do the right thing. Giving back to your industry isn’t easy, but the rewards are endless.
Zach has been bringing give-a-way shirts printed with the Rocky Mountain Chapter and ATRA logos to seminars for the attendees. Representation and visibility are crucial to victory. More eyes seeing what you’re doing can help grow the Chapter bigger and faster.
Networking with the industry is the one thing that he says is the most important. It takes time to travel and give back to the industry. While believing you’ll never get this time back has some relevance, it is the sole reason most people don’t want to be part of a Chapter. In Zach’s case, he prides himself on giving back to the industry that has given him so much.
However, Zach finds time to have fun too. Zach and his buddies will venture off on a 1200-mile motorcycle ride through Colorado this year for the Summer Solstice. He talks about the breathtaking scenery on Trail Ridge Road. Trail Ridge Road is the 48- mile stretch of U.S. Highway 34 that traverses Rocky Mountain National Park from Estes Park, Colorado, in the east to Grand Lake, Colorado, in the west.
Riding Harley Davidson baggers and sleeping on the side of the road, if necessary, is just living. Time to get the batteries recharged and then get back to work!
If you want to join or create an ATRA Chapter, contact me at lwiggins@atra.com.
