How did his parents react to turning down the scholarship?

“I fix their cars for them today,” he said with a smile. “I didn’t want to sit behind a desk.”

After a bit of a rocky start at his full-time job, the relationship between Davis and French got stronger and when Davis told his boss he wanted to open his own business, Davis suggested he go with him on the new venture.

In 2010, they two opened their current business. Last August, French decided to retire and sold his interest to Davis.

Davis has no regrets about following his dream.

“It’s important to do what you enjoy. If you’re good at something, the money will follow,” he said.

Because of the top-notch auto collision program at OTC, Davis looks to the college for potential employees.

His top painter, Jesse Webb, is an OTC graduate and Davis said all nine of his full-time employees have some connection with the OTC automotive program.

Davis, who just turned 30, credits the OTC program for sending him on his way to fulfilling his dream of owning his own shop.

“It played a big part in where I am today,” he said. “If I hadn’t taken the classes and gotten the internship, I wouldn’t have gotten my foot in the door. I wouldn’t be working on cars.”