Meet Dave & the Team
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No Abbreviations
No Assumptions
No Absolutes
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Education
Dave received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Colorado State University in Pueblo. He was handpicked directly from the university to work for Toyota Corporate in 2004.
Why Toyota
Dave was at ground zero of Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc’s headquarters in Los Angeles, California for the debut of the 2004 2nd Generation Prius. He went through extensive corporate & operations training with Toyota for four years. For ten years following his training, Dave worked at car dealerships as a service advisor and has maintained relationships with his customers and friends throughout. During this time, when the first hybrid battery failures were identified, Dave worked with the technicians to identify common issues to provide cost-effective solutions for customers.
Experience
After years of working in the service industry, and seeing the increase of Prius’ in our community, Dave realized that there was an important gap in services. When a hybrid battery failed, the costs were so great, at the dealer, that many customers traded in their vehicle or sold it to a junk yard. Seeing so many beautiful looking Prius’ going to waste, Dave thought that there must be a better way to address the battery issue. Dave researched hybrid battery reconditioning technology and when he discovered NuVant, he decided that it was the tool that would keep Prius’ on the road longer, keep them out of wrecking yards, and protect our environment from unnecessary waste.
Dave shared his vision and ideas at the dealer level, and when they weren’t received, Dave decided it was time to put his best ideas and experience into action and Dave’s Performance Hybrids was born. He also realized during his time in the industry, that dealers were doing very little to retain experts and transferring the costs of doing business to their people. For that reason, Dave decided that he would pay people what they’re worth, provide better benefits, create a working environment that they would want to be in, and not transfer any cost of doing business to them. Dave’s philosophy is that happy employees make happy customers…and it Works.
Driven by quality, professionalism and tempered by time and experience, Dave enjoys sharing his love of Toyotas with his customers.
Dave’s Family
Dave has two amazing Sons, Jack & Riley. They love to travel and enjoy experiencing new places, foods, and immersing themselves in different cultures. They especially love the Oregon coast, sushi, and Killer Burger.
Dave enjoys plants, pets, and people. He spends his extra time riding motorcycles and hanging out with old friends.
You’ll often find Zuul trailing behind Dave around the office. He was born in 2011 and is a Basenji. Zuul is the beloved dog of Dave’s parents.
Meet Hiro
Hiro was just 8 weeks old when Dave’s family adopted her in October 2006. While her exact birthday isn’t known, it’s celebrated each year on August 25th. Hiro is a red-footed tortoise who was originally small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, a memorable birthday gift for Dave. She was adopted from East Bay Vivarium, the nation’s oldest reptile store, which first opened its doors in 1970.
Hiro came to the shop at the end of 2021. During home renovations, Dave’s family became concerned that the air quality wouldn’t be safe for her. After bringing her to the shop, they quickly realized Hiro was thriving in her new environment, so much so that she became the shop’s beloved mascot.
You’ll find an information poster about Hiro in the customer waiting area, along with tortoise crossing signs in the lobby area. She typically spends time in her habitat, or roaming freely around the customer waiting area and service desks, greeting visitors along the way.
When Hiro was first adopted, they believed she was male. Her name was inspired by a character from the TV show Heroes. Even after discovering she was actually female, they decided the name Hiro suited her and decided to keep it.
Hiro’s favorite foods include brisket, strawberries, and bananas. While she doesn’t have a favorite toy, she absolutely loves having her shell scratched. Most of all, Hiro enjoys spending time with customers and employees alike.
Feel free to stop by and say hello to her anytime, she’ll be happy to meet you!
Team Members
Chandler
Intern
Chandler joined the team in March 2026.
Cody
Certified Technician
Cody joined the team in August 2025.
Hunter
Journeyman Technician
Hunter joined the team in July 2025.
Jack
Apprentice Trainee
Jack joined the team in June 2023.
Jeff
Dave’s mentor, Customer Service Expert & Jack of all Trades
Jeff was officially hired in May 2018, but he had already been part of the team that transformed the Dale Street building into an auto repair shop. He and Dave became acquainted while working at John & Phil’s Toyota in Corvallis back in 2006. Alongside his wife, Jeff owns Cronies Vintage & Antique Emporium located in downtown Albany. When not at the shop or tending to their home, he frequently helps his wife. His leisure activities include fishing and boating.
Joe
Sales Manager
Joe joined the team in May 2025.
Josh
Hybrid Technician
Joshua joined the team in September 2024. He graduated in 2022 with an Associates in Automotive & Technology. He’s also completed his ASE training for Refrigerant and AC in 2021. Joshua has been married for six years to his beautiful wife, Vanessa. They have two children, Ava and Ivy. They also have three dogs and a guinea pig. His favorite hobbies include gaming, hunting/fishing, and camping.
Rhett
Senior Level Master Technician
Rhett became a team member in February 2021. He earned an Associate of Science in Auto Tech from Linn-Benton Community College in 1982. His career achievements include becoming a Nissan Master Technician in 1994, an ASE Master Technician in 1999, a Toyota Master Technician in 2001, and a Toyota Diagnostic Master Technician in 2008. Rhett is joyfully married to his wife, Gucci, and they both enjoy taking long walks with their dog, Ozzy. Among his various hobbies, Rhett’s favorites are boating on the Columbia River, engaging in R/C powered hobbies, and maintaining his tools.
Riley
Custodial Engineer
Riley joined the team in August 2024.
Sam
Operations Manager
Sam became a part of the team in January 2024. He is a Master Certified Service & Parts Manager, boasting over 25 years of experience. Along with his wife and three sons, Sam relocated to Oregon from Fairbanks, Alaska. His hobbies include hockey, riding motorcycles, fishing, and boating.