For Colten Ramsey, being part of the automotive industry is about more than repairing vehicles. It is about continually improving, staying connected to what is happening across the profession, and helping others along the way. As Chapter Vice President of MWACA’s Cedar Rapids Chapter and part of Ramsey Repair in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Colten brings that mindset to both his business and his involvement with the association.
When asked what originally motivated him to get involved in the automotive industry, Colten’s answer centered on a simple goal: staying up to date, becoming the best he can be, and helping others whenever he has the opportunity.
That same philosophy has shaped what he values about being involved with MWACA.
For Colten, one of the most rewarding parts of MWACA is the opportunity to stay involved with current automotive issues and topics while connecting with and helping other professionals throughout the industry. That willingness to keep learning is increasingly important in an industry that never seems to stand still. New technology, new repair challenges, and changes in the way shops operate mean there is always something else to understand.
Colten’s own interests reflect that hands-on curiosity. If he could instantly master another skill, he would choose to become a CNC operator and machinist. He also lists a PicoScope among the tools he wouldn’t want to be without in the shop. Even away from the day-to-day work of Ramsey Repair, projects aren’t far away. One of the automotive projects he’s especially proud of involved completely rebuilding and upgrading a truck.
As much as Colten enjoys the automotive world, one of the most important lessons he has learned is that success cannot be measured entirely by what happens at work.
His best career advice? Keep a good work-life balance. It’s advice reflected in how he likes to spend his own time away from the shop. A good Saturday might mean yard work, tackling projects around the house, or simply spending time with his wife. That balance between business, family, continued learning, and industry involvement helps define the perspective Colten brings to his leadership within MWACA.
Through Ramsey Repair and his involvement with the Cedar Rapids Chapter, Colten continues to stay connected to an industry he cares about while helping build those same connections for the professionals around him.
For Colten, continuing to learn matters. So does helping others do the same.