Meet the Alzoubi Brothers: UTI Grads Who Run Their Own Auto Shop in New York

There was a lot going on for Basel Alzoubi in 2020, and it wasn’t just the COVID-19 pandemic.

He had just moved to be with his family in New York. He was still learning English, and he was struggling to find work. He didn’t know exactly where he’d end up in life, but he did know one thing: He loved cars.

“I just said, 'OK, I'm going to go to school.' I submitted my documents to UTI and they let me know I was approved, and that was it from there. I packed my bags and went to live in Pennsylvania.”

Not one to shy away from a challenge, Basel went full-force into automotive training at the Exton campus.

Four years later, he and his brother are running their own business in New York.¹ Check out the story of the Alzoubi brothers and how they’re chasing their dreams below!

Overcoming Barriers: A True Grit Story

The first of the brothers to attend UTI, Basel found to his surprise that UTI was a lot more than online schooling. It was a lot of hands-on training in his eyes.¹⁸

"When I went to UTI, I thought it's all going to be in a book, but I figured out UTI is a lot of using your hands," Basel shared.

Not only that but the teachers were ready to help them learn hands-on as well.

“I liked that they taught you like you were a professional,” explained Basel. “It wasn’t just teacher talking to student. It was as if I were in the field.”

Starting the program came with its challenges. Basel had to first tackle English.

"It was hard for me at the beginning because I didn’t know English well," he said. Yet, with determination and a little help from UTI, Basel turned this challenge into triumph. "Only the first courses were hard for me, and the other 15 courses were beautiful," he added.

On top of that, he was learning in the middle of a pandemic. But this is where his adaptability shone through.

"If you took a course online, they allowed you to come and retake it in person for free," Basel explained.³⁹ “I took advantage so I could really learn.”

Building His Dream

After graduating in 2021, Basel gained experience working at a few places like Mavis Tire then Subaru. But his entrepreneurial spirit called for something bigger. He rented a small garage, and soon enough, it turned into a budding business.⁶

"It was customer today, customer tomorrow until it became time to find a bigger shop," Basel reminisced.

Brotherly Bonds: Making the Business Happen

Being the older brother that he is, Basel tried out automotive technician training then inspired his brother to follow suit, who at the time was in college studying criminal justice.

"My brother Adam followed me to that school also," Basel said proudly.

Adam is a lot like his brother. He has a working spirit and loves cars. So, it was no surprise that Adam ended up loving automotive technology as well. He credits UTI’s top-notch instructors for his personal kick-start.

"They can teach you even if you've been to college or just starting," Adam shared.

Together, the brothers expanded their business by renting and eventually purchasing their garage.

"We both went to rent another garage, and the owner of the other garage says, 'Hey, you want to buy it? Think about it.' We ended up buying it and have our own company now," Basel revealed.

See the Shop

When asked about their proudest accomplishment, both brothers instantly said, “Being business owners.” Going from a two-bay to an eight-bay garage, they gave us the details on their journey to becoming shop owners. Check it out in this video!

When they’re not fixing customers’ cars, the brothers are busy restoring vehicles and selling them. If you ever went into their shop, BA Auto Repair, you might notice certificates donning their walls—all UTI diplomas, which they are proudly repping.

Driven by Passion—Fueled by Education

The Alzoubi brothers’ favorite UTI course topics? Powertrain transmission and electrical foundation. They prefer the real challenges that they believe prepped them for the diverse demands of owning a shop.

"I like that I work on everything. If you go with Ford, you got to stick with Ford. But for me, I work on all vehicles," Basel explained, flaunting his versatility.

Adam is ready to make this a family business, recommending UTI to anyone he hears is interested in learning automotive technology.

“My cousin is still at the high school. He's almost graduated and he called me, he asked, ‘Should I go there?’ Adam explained. “I told him, ‘Absolutely, go try. As my brother told me, he told me, try it out.’ I tried it and I loved it.”

They hope to open another shop soon to expand their business, and we can’t wait to see what else they accomplish!

For anyone dreaming of a career in automotive technology, Basel and Adam's story is an example that with the right education, you can be prepared to pursue a career.

You can learn more about Automotive Technology at our Programs page.