Matt Hardee A.A.S. in Automotive Service Management Technology Florida Community College

Driven to Succeed

Matt Hardee
Florida Community College, Class of 2008

Sometimes, students come to FCCJ to discover a career path. And sometimes they come with a definite path in mind. Matt Hardee certainly falls into the latter group. From a young age, he loved cars. He helped his father work on the family vehicles. And when it came time for high school, he attended Jacksonville’s Frank H. Peterson Academies of Technology, graduating with not just a diploma but also a technology certificate in automotive service management. His course was set.

From the age of fifteen, Matt had worked as a student apprentice for Coggin Toyota at the Avenues. And at eighteen, he came to FCCJ to pursue the automotive program. He’s been on a fast track ever since. “At age 21, I became a service-group leader and shop foreman,” Matt said. “And at age 25, I was accepted to become a Field Technical Specialist for Southeast Toyota.”

He found that FCCJ offered many advantages in his career growth. “What I liked most was the new technical training center at FCCJ and the classroom technical training equipment.” In fact, Matt went on to earn an A.A.S. degree from the College and even became a member of the subcommittee for developing the CATT automotive program.

Matt’s success in the automotive field has continued to fire on all cylinders. “I continued to work at Coggin Toyota at the Avenues for ten years,” he said. “Then I was accepted at Southeast Toyota as a Field Technical Specialist, and I am currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree.” Matt is one of ten field technical specialists who provide technical support for 178 Toyota dealerships in the Southeast region.

Matt’s next goal is to become a Toyota District Service Manager. In that role, he’d help Toyota dealer service managers and directors achieve top levels of customer satisfaction and dealer profitability.

Matt and his wife Chelsea now have a young son, and Matt appreciates the advantages FCCJ offered him. “FCCJ provided me with the stepping stones I needed for my career path. Without FCCJ, I would not be in the position I’m in today.”