Success Story: EV training expands, next generation takes over D & W

June 11, 2025

Selling your small family business to the next generation may just be the apex of the American dream, but even though Wayne Moody (above right) has already achieved that, the road ahead still includes ambitions for the NMC Automotive Technology coordinator.

In his 20 years leading the program, Moody’s influence already extends to almost every car repair shop in the region, where his many graduates work. With his time and focus now exclusively on the program following the November 2023 sale of D & W Automotive, the shop he opened in 1986, to daughter Lynnett Vanderwal (right, with Wayne) and her husband Ben – both NMC grads – Moody’s influence is only poised to grow.

Automotive Technology is expecting its largest enrollment ever this fall. The program now leads NMC’s participation in the Baja endurance race series, competing alongside major four-year universities. And just this month Automotive Technology was awarded $120,000 in state workforce development funds to scale up its electrical vehicle (EV) training.

“That’s a big deal for us,” Moody said.

In fact, as EVs grow in popularity, it’s crucial to the whole northern Michigan economy, since NMC is the only provider of EV-specific training in the region, said Tami Wolverton, regional director of workforce programming at Northwest Michigan Works!, which collaborated with NMC to receive the funding.

“This partnership is a critical step toward preparing our region for the future of transportation,” Wolverton said. “This investment helps ensure that Northern Michigan remains at the forefront of automotive innovation.”

NMC also recently invested in a $40,000 tool for adjusting and aligning automatic driver assistance systems (ADAS), another newer vehicle technology, Moody said. 

Meanwhile, as D&W approaches its 40th anniversary, the Vanderwals also are thriving. Last year, their first full year of ownership of the shop in Blair Township, it was named a top 100 independent repair shop.

“I'm just really proud of the legacy my dad has created here,” said Lynnett, a 2010 NMC alumnus who manages the office in addition to co-ownership. D&W’s reputation, especially for transmission service, draws customers from as far as Petoskey and Grand Rapids, she said. 

Lynnett estimates the shop has hired between 7 and 10 NMC automotive students, one as recently as last month.

Moody also set an example for his students by earning his own degree at NMC. He was initially hired as an adjunct in 2002 directly from industry.

“I thought it was time to practice what I preached. I enrolled in NMC and in 2015 I got my degree from NMC. I actually walked with my own students,” he said.

Now 66, Moody says he has students ready for retirement, but he’s not. Besides his work at NMC, he handles the occasional vintage car repair back at D&W, and mentors the third generation. His 13-year-old granddaughter has helped him rebuild a transmission already, Lynnett said.  

“He’s really created a culture and a legacy that lives on,” she said.