READING, PA — Penske Truck Leasing honored 44 of its top maintenance professionals during the 2025 National Tech Showdown, held June 12 at the Team Penske race shop in Mooresville, North Carolina. The annual competition drew nearly 3,000 technicians and customer service representatives from across the U.S. and Canada, putting their skills to the test through rigorous timed exams and hands-on challenges.
The event featured two competition tracks: Tech Pro for Tech I and II associates, and PM Plus for Tech III technicians and Customer Service Representatives. Finalists in both tracks faced a 25-minute written test followed by a one-hour practical assessment focused on diagnostic expertise and technical decision-making across Penske’s multi-brand fleet.
This year’s event marked a number of firsts, including the debut of female finalists and the return of seven competitors from last year’s national round. It also featured the largest prize pool in Tech Showdown history.
Conner Fletcher claimed the top spot in the Tech Pro division, emerging from a field of 26 national finalists. Erick Mckenzie took first place in PM Plus, beating out 17 other top contenders. Other standout performers included Brian Reynolds of Parkersburg, WV (Tech Pro runner-up), Todd Wilcox of Mobile, AL (third place Tech Pro), Dhruv Rana of Kearny, NJ (PM Plus runner-up), and Cody Allen of Kansas City, MO (third place PM Plus).
Penske President Art Vallely praised the competitors’ performance, calling the event “a reflection of the discipline and expertise our maintenance teams bring to work every day.”
“The Tech Showdown recognizes the precision and focus that keep our customers moving and our operations strong,” he said. “They are the best in the business.”
The competition is the culmination of an eight-week series of district and area-level contests. Participants progressed through escalating rounds, earning monetary awards and the chance to represent their locations at the national level.
“This competition is built to reflect the grit, pressure, and real-world challenges our teams face,” said Holly Gerke, vice president of maintenance development and technical training. “These finalists have trained, adapted and executed with accuracy. It shows the strength of their preparation and the value of continued learning across our organization.”
The 2025 Tech Showdown highlights Penske’s ongoing investment in workforce development and its focus on technical excellence in fleet operations.
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