Joe Fortunato has known for a while now that his interest in cars runs deeper than admiration for a shiny coat of paint.

After a SkillsUSA competition in Johnstown, the Steel Center Area Vocational Technical School (AVTS) student and Baldwin High School junior has proven that he is honing all aspects of the mechanics field.

SkillsUSA, a national organization of career and technical education students, instructors and business partners, has regular exhibits, training and competitions.

Joe manned a customer service desk as part of the District 8 competition, and he received a gold medal for his skills. There were eight other schools in the district.

"I had to deal with problems people had at a customer service desk," he says.

"I had to multi-task between people coming in and calling on the phone at the same time."

Joe will advance to the state tournament in Hershey. He is brushing up on his social rapport for the three-day challenge set for April 1.

"I've always had good people skills. I didn't know they were that good," Joe says.

"I definitely want to win. I'm going to work on my people skills a little bit more and practice customer service -- I hopefully do as well there as I did here."

He says that he will need good customer service skills because he wants to be a mechanic someday.

"Joe does do very well -- he's very personable," says Jackie Fibbi, Steel Center AVTS advisor.

"Most of our winners here were in their course of study. We did really well here in the local event. Customer service is not Joe's course of study here, but they do touch on customer service in each program that we have here dealing with the public."

Fibbi says Steel Center AVTS had 17 first place, nine second-place and eight third-place winners.

"All first-place winners go on to compete at the state level (at the competition in April)," Fibbi says.

"Any state competitor who comes in first goes to Kansas City, Mo., in June."

Joe's fascination with engines and mechanics began when he started working on a 1974 Ford LTD that his dad was going to give his sister for her birthday.

"I was working on it every day and I fixed it up real nice," Joe says.

For all of Joe's hard work, his dad ended up giving the car to Joe and opted for a different car to give his daughter.

"From then on, I've always been into cars. I love working on cars," Joe says.

"I like that it's hands-on. Not just sitting at a desk. I learn hands-on."

Upon graduation next year, Joe plans to go to Rosedale Technical Institute in Pittsburgh for mechanics.

For more details about the SkillsUSA competition, visit www.skillsusa.org.