Jerry Kleine was the
recipient of the 2019 Nebraska Community College Association’s Distinguished
Alumni Award from Southeast Community College. The NCCA awards banquet was held on Sunday, Nov. 3, at Embassy Suites in Lincoln. Each of the five Nebraska
community colleges who are NCCA members selects one graduate for the annual
award.
Jerry Kleine of Grand Island
has been an automotive service technician for thirty years. He initially chose
the General Motors Automotive Service Educational Program in Milford for the small
class size and easy access to the instructors.
“The program allowed for
hands-on labs and classroom study, which was the type of structure I was
looking for,” Kleine said. “The instructors were very knowledgeable and were
able to relate well with all the students.”
Upon graduation in 1989,
Kleine worked as a service technician. He’s been at Dinsdale Automotive in
Grand Island for 25 years.
“By my graduation, with the
structure of the program and mentors at my sponsoring dealership, I was
confident in my abilities to begin a career in my field,” he said. “I continued
to work with mentors and took advantage of every training that became available
through my dealership.”
Lynn Wilson is Kleine’s
supervisor at Dinsdale Automotive. He said he’s a natural leader, always
willing to help people and offer a solution at any given time. He’s not
surprised he was selected for this award.
“Jerry is very fitting for
this distinguished award,” Wilson said. “By the education he received, he is an
asset to Tom Dinsdale Chevrolet and the community we live in. I appreciate
Southeast Community College and everything they do to mentor, model, train and
education students so they’re able to go out and be successful.”
In 2007, Kleine achieved
General Motors World Class Technician status. Service technicians can earn this
status by completing the requirements for either the mechanical or body areas
of expertise, along with achieving the Master Technician Certification in the
required service areas. In 2016, 2017, and 2018 he was named GM Mark of
Excellence Top 50 Technician for participating dealerships in the country.
“I enjoy working on vehicles
with the latest technology like the Cadillac, Corvette and hybrids,” Kleine
said. “I also like the challenge of diagnosing complicated repairs.”
In 2017, he was named
Outstanding Alumnus at Southeast Community College’s Milford Campus. He is
married to his wife Sandi and has three adult daughters; Jordan, Jessica and
Jamie. He enjoys spending time at his family cabin and following the Huskers.