About Dan's Toy Shop
Our Affiliates and Associates
 Dan is a Tucsonan and a career import technician. He has been working on cars as long as anyone in his family can remember, but began working professionally in the car business at age 19 for a local Toyota dealer. He joined Royal Group in 1995 and began an apprenticeship, becoming certified as an A.S.E. Master Automobile Technician before he was even allowed to work on a car by himself!
The next several years were spent at Isuzu, during which time Dan became Isuzu "Expert" certified and enjoyed a great reputation for quality service. In 1999, he and his wife Angela moved out of state for a year, where he began working on Toyotas exclusively. Upon returning to Tucson, Dan began working as a Lexus technician.
Three years followed at Lexus with Dan earning certification as both a "Senior Technician" as well as "Master Diagnostic Specialist," the highest level of Lexus certification. In 2003, while only 29 years old, Dan was chosen to be the Shop Foreman of the new Lexus facility at the Tucson Auto Mall. Despite a group of very young and inexperienced technicians, the new dealership thrived, earning the prestigious "Elite of Lexus" honor both years that Dan was managing the shop. In addition, he became trained and certified in over two dozen specialty areas – including the all–important hybrid system.
In 2005, Dan left Lexus for ethical reasons and came to work at the Toy Shop, which was owned at the time by Rey Cordova. When Rey and his family chose to leave Tucson in February 2006, Dan and Angela took over operation of the shop permanently.
Dan spends whatever time he has away from the shop with Angela and their two daughters Aaliyah and Christina. He and Angela are also a licensed foster home and have adopted both of their children from foster care. In his free time, Dan is usually spending time with something motorized and dangerous, or recovering from the injuries they cause.
 The person that makes the Toy Shop work, Angela does everything but fix cars. She first came to work here for Rey Cordova in early 2005, before taking over ownership in February, 2006. With over ten years in various administrative and management positions, there is almost nothing that Angela hasn’t been involved in. Originally trained in the environmental and hazardous materials fields, she has made a career of being the go–to person, as well as the face of many companies and projects – from prosecutor’s offices to ballistic missile defense systems.
Angela’s prime motivation is the satisfaction of our clients, and is evident to everyone that meets her. In addition to the 40+ hours she spends here every week, she manages to handle raising her two young daughters, Aaliyah and Christina. She is also responsible for raising Dan, who refuses to act his age.
When not working (which is almost never), Angela likes to camp and travel with the family and their dogs. She enjoys children’s charity work and has been trained as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for Pima County Juvenile Court. She is also training to serve on the Pima County Foster Care Review Board.
Brian is the newest member of the Toy Shop family. Another former repair shop manager, Brian has over ten years of multi-line repair experience, including more than six years of Lexus and Toyota dealership experience. Brian was recruited because of an absolute commitment to quality and integrity, demonstrated by receiving the "Elite of Lexus" certification every year that he was eligible. He is detail oriented and very committed to providing our clients with the best possible experience.
Our newest family member is Gaston Celaya. Gaston is a graduate
of Universal Technical Institute and has a wealth of experience, including
Toyota dealership experience. He is ASE Certified and has outstanding
quality. He doesn't say much about his personal life, so he may be an axe
murderer. We'll just overlook that because he's so damn good!
|
