Mercer County Technical Schools honored alumni Ashley and Angel Bodon (pictured center) for February’s CTE Month in recognition of their success building a thriving business as owners and operators of three Chris’ Auto Body shops.
The theme of this year’s Career and Technical Education month, “Celebrate Today. Own Tomorrow,” aims to highlight the impact of career-focused programs on students, communities and industries. The theme is more of a call to action among New Jersey’s county vocational-technical schools, which present business ownership as a viable career option to students by engaging them in programs focused on both technical and professional skills.
One couple has teamed up to channel many of the skills and habits they developed as students at Mercer County Technical Schools into a small business venture.
Angel and Ashley Bodon met at MCTS; they graduated in 2004, married and later entered business together. Although they studied different career areas — Angel was enrolled in autobody collision and repair technology, while Ashley was in cosmetology — they said they graduated with the same level of ambition to continue learning and expanding their career possibilities, eventually taking the leap into entrepreneurship.
“Angel and I started working in our own career areas during our senior year,” Ashley said. “I worked in the cosmetology industry, which surprisingly has a lot in common with the auto collision industry — from both customer service and business perspectives. The work ethic and people skills I learned at MCTS allowed me to transition into a successful leadership role in managing our business. I can’t thank MCTS enough for laying the groundwork regarding quality and effort; I use these key elements every day!”
While working in the field after graduation, Angel paid close attention to all aspects of the auto body business. With Ashley’s support, he bought an auto body shop in 2023. Today, they own and operate three Chris’ Auto Body shops, located in Lambertville, New Hope, Pa. and Fairless Hills, Pa.
Another dynamic duo — Ghaleb “John” Mechmech and his son, Wasef — also apply much of what they learned in their high school CTE programs as owners of Dynasty Auto Body Inc. in Paterson.
“My father learned the same set of skills that I did at Passaic County Technical Institute — work safety, responsibility, organization, time management, following proper procedures and an overall strong work ethic,” Wasef said. “I believe that PCTI was instrumental in both of us being successful in our careers at Dynasty Auto Body Inc.”
John studied engine mechanics at PCTI, part of the Passaic County Technical-Vocational Schools, and graduated in 1995. Wanting to follow his father’s path, Wasef graduated from the automotive collision repair program within PCTI’s School of Automotive Technology in 2024. 
As a child, Wasef was often found at his father’s auto shop observing the process of repairing vehicles and running a business. He remembers his father in the auto body shop regularly repeating what his own auto instructor later said: “If you do not respect your tools, they will not respect you.”
At Dynasty Auto Body Inc., Wasef is the I-CAR paint role representative and reviews the monthly paint bills for accuracy and to track costs. He also works closely with his father to understand the estimating process and the day-to-day operations of the business so he can carry on the family business.
Wasef is also learning from his father the importance of giving back to the community, especially to first responders and veterans. Wasef is proud to participate in the auto body shop’s NABC Recycled Rides Program. This program enables the Mechmechs to work with insurance companies and other vendors to repair and gift cars to veterans.
Natalie Borbone, a 2015 graduate of Monmouth County Vocational School District’s cosmetology program, also uses the freedom she has as a business owner to carve out time for using her skills to make a difference. Owner of Emerald Sky Hair Studio in Tinton Falls, Borbone also teaches at Innovate Salon Academy.
“MCVSD was such an amazing environment and experience that I decided to go back to school to become an educator eight years later,” she said.
Borbone graduated from MCVSD’s two-year program appreciative of the hands-on experiences she received to provide exceptional hair, skin and nail services. But, she also realized the confidence boost and interpersonal skills she left with that helped her reach her potential as a stylist and now business owner.
“My education at MCVSD provided me with all the knowledge I needed to pass my State Board licensing exams and helped me develop my communications skills to gain clientele and promote my work,” added Borbone.
Conversation Starters
Reach Mercer County Technical Schools at: mcts.edu or call 609-737-9784.
Reach Passaic County Technical Institute at: pctvs.org or call 973-790-6000.
Reach Monmouth County Vocational School District at: mcvsd.org or call 732-431-7942.
Throughout February’s Career and Technical Education Month, the NJ Council of County
Vocational-Technical Schools will continue to shine a spotlight on many more success stories linked to vocational-technical education. Follow along at careertechnj.org/news.
This column originally appeared Feb. 21, 2025 in ROI-NJ.
