Mr.
Robertson has an automotive sales and service background that spans over
twenty-five years. Thirteen of those years he owned and operated several automotive related
businesses. A collision repair
facility, limousine conversion company, used car sales lot, as well as a
partnership in a General Motors Dealership. He has management and technical training experience as an
instructor in the Advanced Transportation Center at Cerritos College.
Charlie has instigated skills-development programs focusing on specific
automotive industry training needs for automotive sales consultants and service
advisors (GM, Ford
and Daimler/Chrysler), service operation management, and
computerized damage estimating and management.
Mr. Robertson coordinated the development of the Fast-Track technician training/ apprenticeship program. Fast-Track Apprenticeship Training provides intensive, highly-focused technician training in 8 to 9-week segments for local body shop employees in tandem with on-the-job internships. Each 8 to 9-week segment focuses on specific NATEF competencies as related to three specialty areas of training: 1) body technician; 2) refinishing technician; 3) estimating and management specialist.
The Chief Automotive Systems, Inc. training program got it's start at Cerritos College Auto Collision Repair Program through the efforts of Mr. Robertson. Cerritos College is the first of over 72 vocational-technical and community colleges nation-wide to begin delivering Chief-Certified courses on campus. These courses are both Chief and I-CAR credit courses as well as AA Degree-applicable. Three of the courses are transferable to the California State University system toward a baccalaureate degree.
Under Charlie's design and direction, the first electric vehicle program at a California Community College was started at Cerritos College in 1995. That program has grown to include other alternate fuels training as well as electric vehicle training on several campuses.
Mr. Robertson has worked for over ten years as a technician prior to moving into management and his own enterprise. Robertson’s automotive management experience covers more than 18 years. He has served as the facilitator in the restructuring efforts of several automotive repair and conversion companies during that time. He carries an ASE Master Collision Repair/ Refinishing Certificate, the ASE Damage Analysis and Estimating Certificate, and the ASE Master Automotive Technician Certificate. Mr. Robertson carries additional certifications from General Motors STG, Chief Automotive Systems, Inc., and I-CAR.
Charlie has been “into cars” in a big way since he purchased his first car at age fifteen. After rebuilding the engine, repairing and repainting the “totaled-out” body and restoring the interior, he drove this car throughout his high school years. He has personally restored and/ or rebuilt more than 25 cars in his career aside from his day-to-day work as a technician.