Our Team
Sheldon Teierle
Founder and Owner
Born and raised in Central Alberta, Sheldon has been an entrepreneur since childhood. He launched Mikasa in 2000 and has built it from the ground up. Sheldon takes great pride in quality workmanship and values honesty and fairness. The most satisfying parts of his job are getting to the bottom of difficult problems that stump other technicians and having great relationships with longtime customers. Though he enjoys many different makes and models of vehicles, he has a special affinity for Volkswagens. Sheldon is a proud father to his children and husband to Laurel, with whom he owns and manages the business.
Laurel Teierle
Business Manager and Owner
Laurel joined Mikasa Automotive as Business Manager and co-owner with her husband, Sheldon, in 2008. With training as a musician (Bachelor of Arts) and experience running a Suzuki Pedagogy violin studio, Laurel was well prepared for running the Mikasa business, finding she reads the numbers as easily as she reads music. Her business savvy, hard work ethic, positivity, and constant commitment to learning and improvement have been assets to Mikasa’s growth. Laurel enjoys getting to know customers and working with the Mikasa team. When she is not working, she likes making music with her kids, playing violin, and baking. Ask for a copy of her cookbook, “Canadian and Swiss Cakes,” which she made with a traveling customer who became a friend!
Sharon Keim
Assistant Manager
Sharon thrives on creating long-term relationships with clients. She also values excellence, customer satisfaction, and integrity. She is a team builder, a leadership expert, as well as an experienced bookkeeper and an ESL teacher. Away from work, Sharon enjoys being outdoors, gardening, and watching her kids play hockey. She has travelled to 16 countries and has lived in South Korea, Australia, and Hawaii. She has 4 kids and lives on a family farm that her grandfather homesteaded 75 years ago.
Dan Holzapfel
Shop Foreman; Double Red Seal Endorsement
Dan specializes in mechanical diagnostics, including leaks, and in issues on classics, British, and German vehicles. Perfection and passion drive Dan. If there is a problem, he can find and correct it. Dan has two certifications: he apprenticed as a tool and die maker in Germany; he also apprenticed in Canada and is a Red Seal Certified Automotive Technician. Dan appreciates the teamwork and family-orientation at Mikasa, which he notes as one of the best aftermarket auto shops in central Alberta. When he is not working, he enjoys traveling and camping.
Jeramey
Van Vilet
Red Seal Automotive Technician
Jeramey has more than a decade of work experience at Mikasa, where he specializes in BMW diagnostics. During this time, he has taken several training programs to deepen his professional knowledge and skills. He appreciates Mikasa’s family-friendly, positive, and customer service-driven business culture. He also enjoys the team’s constant striving to create positive experiences for customers and employees. He stays on top of the latest technological advances in the automotive industry, especially in electric cars. He sees working on each vehicle as a joint learning experience for both the technician and the owner. When not working at Mikasa, he enjoys 3D printing, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and spending time with friends and family. His favourite vehicle is the Audi S5.
Aaron Hilz
Red Seal Automotive Technician
Aaron has been a Red Seal journeyman for 13 years. He spent 15 years working for General Motors and 2 years at Hyundai. Aaron’s specialty is in brakes and suspension. Pride in his work and honesty are the values that motivate him and he enjoys Mikasa because of the people he works with. His favourite car is the 1969 Dodge Daytona. When off work, Aaron enjoys riding motorcycles and lounging with his friends and family. Some of his favourite memories are drag racing in high school, especially the Mission Drag Strip.
Adrian Laszkiewicz
Red Seal Automotive Technician
Adrian graduated from BCIT in 2010 and has been Red Seal certified since 2019. Although he likes Toyotas, he also specializes in Vanagons. He enjoys working in a team environment and appreciates the family-like workspace at Mikasa. Adrian thrives on learning about constantly changing automotive technology and always seeks to expand his skills. He also welcomes new challenges: at the age of 15, he summited Mt. Kilimanjaro. When he is not working, Adrian enjoys quality time with his family and visiting new places.
Serhii Matsyuk
Automotive Technician
Serhii specializes in engine repair and in servicing BMW’s. His favorite vehicle is the Renault Megane RS. Serhii has been learning the tricks of the trade for a long time: as a child in Ukraine, he took apart all of his toys in his quest to learn how they worked. At Mikasa, the values of responsibility, decency, and sincerity guide his everyday work. He appreciates the professionalism, friendliness, and comfort of being part of the team at Mikasa. When not working, Serhii enjoys spending time with his family in nature, playing the trumpet, or playing volleyball with his friends. His favorite dessert is chocolate ice cream.
Byron Wallace
Automotive Technician
Born and raised in BC, Byron has more than 16 years of experience in the automotive industry, having worked primarily with European and Japanese vehicles. At Mikasa, he feels fortunate to be able to work with cars and with friends every single day. He makes it his goal to treat every customer like family, and to work with fastidious detail. His motto is: “Just because it works, doesn’t mean it can’t be better.” When he’s not at Mikasa, he can be found working on his own vehicles, racing, or spending time with his kids.
Chris Snyder
Shop Assistant
Chris is responsible for serving Mikasa customers and for detailing. In the past, he has worked as a salesperson at an auto dealership, an RV show detailer, and as a sales representative. He likes working at Mikasa because of the strong work ethic and the pride everyone takes in providing the highest level of customer service and excellence. When Chris is not working, he enjoys playing sports, working out, and spending time with friends and family. His secret superpower is disc golf—he can throw a disc more than 500 feet!
Jayda Keim
Junior Service Advisor
Jayda is working as Mikasa’s junior service advisor during the summer. In the fall she will continue studying kinesiology at the University of Alberta. She is the friendly face who is likely to be the first to greet you when you walk into our shop doors. Jayda loves meeting the new folks who come in every day, and appreciates the opportunity to grow her skillset at Mikasa. Her strengths are good communication and careful attention to detail. She values education and family, and loves playing sports and spending time with friends. Her favourite vehicle is the Audi R8.