Dalton Trainer

CAR-TUNES, INC.

Greenville, Miss.

Having grown up in his family’s business, Dalton Trainer has been working in the industry for 11 years. Today, he is lead technician and fabricator at Car-Tunes, Inc. He prides himself on his ability to problem-solve. His greatest influence in the industry is his mother, Kimberly Trainer, the owner of Car-Tunes, Inc.

“She inspires me every day with her dedication and passion,” he said. Other industry professionals who inspire him include Carlos Parra, Milton Benavides, Joe Giallombardo and Adam Devine. “I look up to Marty Adamschek, as well,” he said, adding, “He’s always so positive and humble— always making time for anyone who reaches out to him.”

Trainer advised other industry professionals to attend events such as KnowledgeFest. “Sit in on as many presentations as possible. I’ve learned a ton there.”

Currently, Trainer’s goal is to one day become Installer of the Year. “I also see myself becoming more involved with the business side of Car-Tunes, Inc.,” he added.

Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family and going to the gym. “I always have a project at home to work on,” he said. “I recently added a screened-in porch to my home, and I plan to build an outdoor kitchen in it.”

Jason Ballard FREEMAN’S CAR STEREO Concord, NC

Jason Ballard has been in the industry for 32 years, and currently works at Freeman’s Car Stereo. “I feel my biggest strength at work is to be able to get along with anyone,” he said. “I have worked with lots of different salespeople, installers and managers, and I’ve gotten along with all of them.”

Recalling his biggest mistake, he said, “I tied into a low current trigger for an aftermarket horn in a Honda CRX to add a louder horn that drew lots of current. The problem is that I didn’t use a relay to carry that extra current load and it burned up the harness coming from the steering wheel and it had to be replaced. This cost over $600, but I learned to always use a relay in a high current situation.”

Ballard has no intention to alter his focus in his career, he said: “I’m 51 years old, and a lot of people would be looking to make a change at this point in their life, but I still love doing this, so I have no plans to change.”

When faced with a life-altering challenge, he said, always keep a positive attitude. “I was diagnosed at the beginning of 2022 with a Chondrosarcoma (tumor) in my left shoulder,” he explained. “This meant that my scapula had to be removed to cure me. This was a six hour surgery and a three-month recovery period.” The surgery, he noted, limited how much he could lift his left arm, and was especially difficult to deal with when it came to his work as a technician.

“With God, a supportive family and a positive attitude, I have overcome. The only advice I could give other retailers about my situation is that if you have a good employee [or employees] do what you can to help them during their time of adversity,” he said, adding, “I was always a company man, but now I cannot say enough good things about Freeman’s Car Stereo. They stood beside me during this challenging time in my life.”