The TechForce Foundation announced the grand champions of this year’s Techs Rock competition duringthe recent SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

The Future Tech grand champion was Dylan Bliss from Universal Technical Institute. The Working Tech winner was Nathalie Ortiz from Aviation Institute of Maintenance.

Ortiz believes strong technicians help others become stronger, too. At the Aviation Institute of Maintenance in Phoenix, she has supported fellow students with study strategies, finding course material and developing confidence in hands-on work. She is especially committed to encouraging women to recognize their abilities and pursue their place in aviation maintenance.

For Ortiz, that sense of community is connected to the responsibility of the profession. Working together, sharing knowledge and helping others learn all serve the larger goal of keeping passengers safe.

She also brings a people-first approach to technical learning, with the aim of creating a supportive environment where more people can succeed.

Bliss is a third-generation diesel mechanic building a legacy of his own

He is preparing to become a third-generation diesel mechanic while building a reputation of his own. His family’s connection to the trade has given him a strong respect for the work, along with a determination to earn his place through learning, discipline and the quality of his work.

At Universal Technical Institute in Orlando, Bliss is focused on building the foundations of a career in diesel technology. He wants to understand why systems fail, diagnose difficult problems and keep developing as electronics and advanced diagnostics change the industry. His long-term goal is to become a master technician.

As he gains experience, Bliss also hopes to mentor younger technicians and encourage people searching for direction to consider skilled careers. He sees this beginning as an opportunity to carry his family’s diesel story forward through knowledge, reliability and a commitment to continuous improvement.

As grand champions the two winners received a 580 piece Carlyle Master Tool Set and equipment package including a service jack, two die grinders, and an air compressor valued at $8,000.