Diego Ruelas

Diego Ruelas lives by the quote, “I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I ended up where I needed to be.”

That sentiment perfectly reflects his career journey. Although Ruelas initially planned to study engineering, he ultimately chose automotive studies—a decision he now considers one of the best he’s ever made.

Today, Ruelas works at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Northbrook and credits Triton College with helping him build the foundation for his stellar career.

“My automotive instructor Ken Davis gave me the best advice, which helped me land this job,” he explained. “I wouldn’t be in this position without him.”

Ruelas grew up in Melrose Park and attended Proviso Math and Science Academy. Inspired by his high school teacher John Wardisiani, he enrolled at Triton to study Automotive Technology, even though engineering had been his original goal.  

“I knew I didn’t want to go into debt,” he said, noting that Triton was far more cost-effective than technical schools. “I was told Triton offered great financial aid opportunities.”

As a Triton student, Ruelas enjoyed working with automotive instructors Louis Longhi and Ken Davis, who answered questions with patience and never made students feel foolish.

“They had a great work ethic and passion for automotive,” he said. “They actually wanted us to learn and excel in the field.”

After graduating in May 2026, Ken Davis encouraged him to “just show up” to different dealerships to land the job of his dreams.

“Ken encouraged me to introduce myself in person so I could stand out and show that I wasn’t just another applicant,” said Ruelas. “I applied to Toyota, Lexus, BMW and Audi dealerships.”

Determined to keep going, Ruelas “stopped by” Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Northbrook, with his portfolio and enthusiasm in hand and was hired in June 2026.

“It is extremely rare for someone to become a Rolls-Royce technician, especially a Rolls-Royce master tech,” he explained. “There are fewer than 100 Rolls-Royce master technicians in the country.”

Ruelas now works directly with master technicians each day, gaining experience and training while applying the certificates and degree he earned at Triton.

“Triton’s staff and instructors helped me get here,” he said. “It’s a big deal to work for Rolls-Royce, and my previous instructors are very happy for me.”

Looking ahead, Ruelas hopes to become a master technician within the next five years. He’s committed to learning from the experts at Rolls-Royce and mastering his craft.  

“Triton puts the community in community college,” he said. “I always felt supported.”