Eighteen-year-old Riley Schlick-Trask, who started her own carburetor repair business at age 13, has been named the grand prize winner of the TechForce Foundation’s 2023 Techs Rock Awards. The annual awards are part of the foundation’s work force development campaign to inspire and support future technicians.

Schlick-Trask, who is headed to college this fall, owns Riley’s Rebuilds in Bradenton, Fla. She was previously named winner of the Barrier Buster category by a panel of judges, which made her eligible for the grand prize. That was determined by a public vote.

Schlick-Trask will receive more than $10,000 in prizes from TechForce and its industry partners. She also gets an all-expenses-paid trip to the automotive training event STX 2024 in Nashville and additional prizes valued at $6,000. At the category level, she and the other four winners each received more than $1,900 in prizes.

“I am very excited, very honored and very grateful to be the grand prize winner,” she said in a statement. “I’m fortunate to be blessed with the industry’s support and to have a platform thanks to that support. I’m super happy to be the grand prize winner and I’m in awe of my fellow category winners.”

Schlick-Trask started restoring carburetors to make money to buy a car. Her business took off when she turned to social media to find parts. Since then, she has been featured in more than 50 publications, appeared on local and national TV and built an online following of like-minded young people.

“Riley is using this opportunity and her brand … to inspire a host of other young women to see this industry as one of growing opportunity and incredible support,” her Techs Rock Awards nominator wrote.

TechForce Executive Director Jennifer Maher said in a statement that the awards bring the mobility industry together to support the next generation of technicians, “change the public perception of these high-tech STEM careers and celebrate today’s leaders.”

“Each winner is full of passion and grit, exhibits true excellence and inspires the next generation of techs,” Maher said. “We are proud to celebrate their contributions.”

The Barrier Buster award recognizes technicians for showing heart and passion in overcoming obstacles to succeed. The other category winners were:

  • Bryan Kuehni, world-class technician, Advantage Chevrolet of Bolingbrook, Bolingbrook, Ill., won the Die Hard award, which recognizes industry super fans who live, breathe, sleep and thrive in their career.
  • James Jacobsen, master technician, Lake Chevrolet-GMC, Devils Lake, N.D., was named Outstanding Mentor. That award recognizes technicians for supporting and guiding the industry’s future techs.
  • Bradley Hindman, owner, Mission Auto Repair, Winchester, Va., won the Pay it Forward award. It recognizes technicians for being community advocates and inspiring the next generation of techs.
  • Jinelee Galindez, technician, Mercedes-Benz of South Orlando, Orlando, was named Rookie of the Year. The award recognizes up-and-coming tech professionals with less than two years of professional experience.