Tea Time in the Shop

August 19th, 2026 by

The world is full of stereotypes, and every industry has them. Auto dealerships are no exception. Just think of some of the stereotypes about Service Technicians: they only work on dirty, greasy vehicles, they don’t need much training or education, and career advancement is limited.

Where do these misconceptions come from?

The reality is that technicians clean their tools, their work areas, and even their laptops. They need extensive training and certifications, along with a great deal of collaboration, to stay well-tuned on mechanical, electrical, and safety changes.

Technicians here at Wareing Sturgis Ford earn credentials that can take years to achieve, beginning with Apprentice, then Ford Certified, on to Ford Master Certified, with few achieving the elite certification of Ford Senior Master Certified Technician. Not to mention the Ford training our Service Manager maintains to keep the department top-notch.

No grease monkeys around here.

Getting back to stereotypes, one of our technicians, Jaymeson Ontiveros, who has just earned his Ford Master Certified status, breaks a lot of molds for his position as a Service Technician.

For starters, unlike most technicians, Jaymeson is a lively visitor, and you know it when he walks into the room. He is also a Pokémon league and tournament tutor for ages 5 to adult. Jaymeson likes working on vehicles for family and friends and playing LEGOs with his six kids. They also spend time outdoors hiking the Black Hills trails.

But the thing that really breaks the mold is that Jaymeson is our in-house tea master.

Jaymeson has been a tea buddy to his mother-in-law for more than seven years. He enjoys tea in the afternoon and has kept a tea journal for years, recording his black, white, and green tea preferences along with steeping recipes for both hot and cold tea. He gets his tea from Staple and Spice in Rapid City.

Jaymeson’s Favorites

Blueberry Black

A black tea and blueberry combination that’s good served hot or iced.

Dark Chocolate

A rich chocolate tea with cocoa and deep, sweet flavors.

Monkey Fur

A black tea with a smooth, full-bodied flavor and both sweet and savory notes.

Berry White

A white tea blended with berries that can be enjoyed hot or iced.

Did you know?

Some tea drinkers avoid using soap on traditional unglazed clay teaware because the porous clay can absorb tea oils and aromas over time, gradually seasoning the vessel.

Jaymeson’s wife gave him his special teacup, and when asked about its care, he was quick to say, “Oh no, you don’t wash it with soap.”

“A cup of tea is a cup of peace.”

— Soshitsu Sen XV

Given some of the challenges all of our Service Technicians tackle every day, I’m not sure why more of them aren’t tea masters.

Thanks for reading, and stop by anytime and have a cup of tea with us at Wareing Sturgis Ford. We’re currently serving Earl Grey Double Bergamot, English Breakfast, and Cozy Chamomile.

If that’s not your cup of tea, we have great coffee too.

Posted in From the Front Desk