September 6, 2012 - Olympic Hopeful Changes Gears

After 30 years in the automotive industry, Mike Vivona is now launching into a new phase of his career at Universal Technical Institute-Glendale Heights. After teaching students at UTI for seven years, Vivona has been promoted to the Local Marketing Manager.

While he is beginning a new stage at UTI, he will never forget the road he traveled that brought him this far.

“I started working when I was 14-years-old at my uncle’s gas station in Long Island, New York,” Vivona said. “I started racing at the age of 16. When I was young, I loved cars and school, but I was also a dedicated athlete.”

A member of the National Varsity Track Club as well as Olympic hopeful in 1979, Vivona strenuously trained for the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, before President Jimmy Carter decided to boycott the games.

“I have completed seven marathons, numerous Olympic distance triathlons, and have competed at the AA level for USA Volleyball,” Vivona said of his days as an athlete.  “When I trained for the Olympics and it ended up not even happening, I was motivated to put my energy into cars and teaching.”

When Vivona was not working up a sweat on the court or on a distance run, he was working under the hood. He spent 22 years as a journeyman technician for GM and Land Rover, and also taught for five years at Project T.E.A.M (Training and Employment of Automotive Technicians) as part of the Jane Adams Hull House.

“I am certified in Automotive Service Excellence, and I loved sharing my love for cars with my UTI students,” added Vivona. “Now, I’m looking forward to the opportunities that are ahead of me.”

In his new role, Vivona will focus on campus involvement in the community and building relationships between the UTI campus and local dealerships and employers.

“I’ve been very lucky in my life,” Vivona said. “As I take this next step, I’ll miss the classroom, but I’m excited to help students and continue to grow the UTI campus as the Local Marketing Manager.”

To learn more about Universal Technical Institute, visit http://www.uti.edu/.