SDTECHS

Greg Quirin is a founding member of the San Diego Automotive Educators Group, established over a decade ago to bring together automotive instructors and industry professionals with a shared goal of strengthening the local transportation industry. A true automotive enthusiast, Greg has dedicated 28 years to career technical education within San Diego Unified, where he continues to champion trade-based career pathways. Under Greg’s leadership and vision, the annual San Diego Automotive Educators Conference has seen unprecedented growth, evolving into a major regional event. His long-term goal is to expand this initiative into a statewide platform that serves hundreds of automotive educators across California. Greg’s commitment to the automotive world extends well beyond education. He serves on the California New Car Dealers Association Foundation board and recently joined the Clean Transportation Technology Collaborative, partnering with KARMA Automotive to advance innovation in the field. A passionate contributor to the land speed racing community, Greg is an active team member of a high-profile racing crew, lending his mechanical and electronic expertise while documenting the team’s journey through social media. https://www.youtube.com/@GregQuirin Greg continues to inspire and lead efforts that bridge education, industry, and innovation in the ever-evolving world of transportation.

Omar Sevilla is a veteran automotive instructor at Madison High School in San Diego and a leading advocate for hands-on, future-focused technical education. With over a decade of experience, he co-founded the San Diego Automotive Educators Group, which organizes an annual conference. Sevilla’s commitment to innovation and student empowerment is evident in his leadership of a groundbreaking project where Madison High students collaborated with Team Vesco and ReVolt Systems to attempt a world land speed record for electric vehicles, aiming to surpass 375 mph. This initiative provided students with real-world experience in high-performance EV engineering. Beyond the classroom, Sevilla serves on the SD Techs Committee, supporting over 25 high school and college programs across San Diego County. He also contributes to community events like the San Diego Electric Vehicle Association’s technician forums, helping to bridge the gap between education and industry. Through his dedication, Omar Sevilla is shaping the next generation of automotive professionals and advancing the integration of EV technology into technical education.

Jon Kropp is the Director of Workforce at Southwestern College, where he leads strategic initiatives and grant-funded programs that strengthen career education across five campuses. With over 17 years of experience advancing transportation and sustainability projects for San Diego’s regional community colleges, Jon has played a key role in developing statewide strategies to support zero-emission vehicle adoption and workforce alignment. His efforts have helped secure more than $25 million in funding, including $6 million in CEC funding that accelerated ZEV program adoption at more than 20 colleges throughout California. In addition to his leadership in higher education, Jon is the founder of Rocket 1 Group LLC, a consultancy that helps organizations navigate workforce trends through data-driven insights, strategic planning, and digital solutions. He also co-founded the Mobilize Summit, a pivotal event that convenes hundreds of educators and industry leaders to explore the future of mobility and workforce training. Jon brings deep expertise in curriculum development, nonprofit strategy, web & graphic design, as well as community engagement. He holds a BBA from Gonzaga University and an MS in Management and Project Management from Northeastern University.

Talena Handley is the Founder & CEO of Girlie Garage, a brand on a mission to empower women through hands-on automotive education. With an Associate’s degree in Automotive Technology, a Bachelor’s in Business, and 17 years of industry experience, Talena helps women feel confident about car care and avoid being taken advantage of at repair shops. Through Girlie Garage, she blends technical knowledge with a personal, supportive approach—making auto education both useful and meaningful. Her content and consulting services reach people across the U.S., with the goal of demystifying maintenance, repairs, and automotive resources. Based in San Diego, Talena actively supports local small business organizations and mentors upper-division students through the Aztec Mentor Program at San Diego State University. She's also committed to seed-funding student entrepreneurs in the future. In recognition of her work, Talena received the Outstanding Minority, Woman, Veteran, DBE-Owned Business award from the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. Outside of work, Talena loves riding motorcycles (30+ years) and has traveled to over 20 countries. Connect with her on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook @GirlieGarage or on LinkedIn: