Currently, no non-profit organization in Yavapai County is focused on addressing our lowest-income residents' transportation repair needs.
Having a safe, reliable vehicle can be the difference between barely making ends meet and facing homelessness.
Andy aims to establish such an organization. His vision is to create a space that upholds people's dignity, offers affordable vehicle repairs, and provides training for disenfranchised women, helping them enter well-paying careers in high-demand and male-dominated fields, such as service technicians, parts professionals, or service advisors.
How to fund and structure a non-profit that can both:
Provide low-cost automotive repairs to help prevent and resolve homelessness in Yavapai County.
Provide registered apprenticeship programs helping to facilitate re-entry and re-careering for un/under-employed or unhoused females as well as female offenders involved in the criminal justice system post-incarceration.
Andy Hooton’s journey is a testament to his dedication and diverse talents. Born and raised in the South Bay area of Los Angeles, California, Andy embarked on a path of continuous learning and service. After graduating high school, he pursued his passion for automotive technology at a trade school in Glendale, Arizona. Displaying remarkable skill, he achieved his Master Automobile Technician Certification before turning twenty—a significant milestone that set the stage for his thriving career.
Simultaneously, Andy served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve while working for one of the Big Three automakers in a technical capacity. This unique combination of experiences provided him with a solid foundation and fostered his passion for both automotive innovation and community service. His career blossomed as he took on various roles in automotive dealership management, showcasing his leadership skills and commitment to excellence.
After a rewarding tenure in the automotive industry, Andy decided to make a meaningful impact in law enforcement, spending five fulfilling years as a Yavapai County Deputy Sheriff. He wore many hats during his service, including that of a D.A.R.E. officer, a G.R.E.A.T. officer, and a School Resource Officer. His efforts were recognized when he was honored as Officer of the Year in 2000. Though he later faced the challenges of a medical retirement, Andy embraced new opportunities, dedicating a year to the Department of Children, Youth, and Family Services before turning his focus to teaching—a passion that had long been in his heart.
As a technical trainer for another of the Big Three automakers, Andy continued to inspire others, teaching automotive technology as an adjunct faculty member at two community colleges in Arizona. His teaching journey also included instructing at the very trade school where he began, as well as teaching G.E.D. classes and a range of subjects including world history, U.S. history, government, and economics at a private high school. After a fulfilling six years of teaching Dual Enrollment Automotive Technology Courses at Mingus Union High School in Cottonwood, Arizona, he took time to retire, yet his passion for teaching called him back to the classroom in the 2023-2024 school year, where he shared his enthusiasm teaching Middle Grades Social Studies.
Outside the classroom, Andy is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of technicians, sharing his expertise at a friend’s auto repair business a few days each week.
He holds an impressive background of academic achievements, including an Associate of Arts degree from Yavapai College, a Bachelor of Science in Education specializing in Career and Technical Education, a Master of Education in Educational Technology from Northern Arizona University, and an MBA from Western Governors University.
Andy’s commitment to excellence is further demonstrated by his extensive list of certifications, including Master Certified Auto Technician and numerous specialized automotive and educational credentials from the Arizona Department of Education. Having spent nearly thirty years in Yavapai County, he now enjoys life in Dewey, Arizona,
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