Zachary Ciaschini chose metal fabrication shop in high school because his first choice class, auto body, was full. Now, as a business owner, he says, that training has served him well. Ciaschini grew up with a passion for cars; he was always interested in taking them apart and then rebuilding them, and his hobby in high school was building and racing Ford Mustangs.
Ciaschini worked at an autobody shop as a painter for many years, and in 2008, when he was expecting his first child, decided it was time to open his own shop. His brother Matt joined him as partner in 2011. He says he’s grateful to be living out his passion; he still loves Mustangs — and has one sitting at his shop, waiting for him to work on it when he can find the time. His 7-year-old son is hoping to rebuild a Mustang with his dad for his first car.
Full name: Zachary Ciaschini
People know you as: Zac
Date and place of birth: March 4, 1983, Northampton
Town of residence: Easthampton
Job: Owner of and paint technician at Full Tilt Autobody in Easthampton
Who lives under the same roof as you? My wife, Casey, and my three kids; Maddox, 7; Milah, 3; and Nico, almost 4 months
Education: Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School in Northampton, 2001
Hobbies: Building radio-controlled cars, and building and racing Mustangs
Book you’d recommend to a friend: “Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity” by David Allen
Some favorites: Movies — “Ace Ventura,” “The Goonies”; TV — “The Walking Dead”; singer — James Brown
Five things you can’t live without: My family, cellphone, car, SATA Jet (paint spray gun), and bacon
What’s at the top of your bucket list? I’d like to go to Italy.
Life-changing experience: Losing my mother to cancer, and having children
Strangest job you ever held: I picked cucumbers in Hatfield.
Current Facebook status: A picture of a 1970 Pontiac GSX
A little-known fact about you: I am a workaholic.
Dumbest thing you ever did: I rode my quad just days after qetting my appendix out and fell off. The wound reopened and I ended up back in the hospital. I was always a daredevil. I am probably lucky to be here.
One fashion you’d like to see return: Stone-washed jeans (haha). I’m not really a trendy person.
What really sets you off? Disorganization and having to repeat myself
If you could spend the day with a celebrity from any time in history, who would it be? Richard Rawlings (American entrepreneur, auto mechanic, racecar driver and media personality) because he has a successful business and is the kind of person/business owner I strive to be.
Best advice you ever got: Work for what you want and don’t expect it to be handed to you, it is much more satisfying.
Favorite place to get a bite: Moshi Moshi in Northampton — it has the best sushi around and they remember me when I walk in.
Favorite athlete: Michael Jordan, because he was a super-talented athlete and a great businessman
What does your ideal weekend look like? Working on cars, hanging out with my family and sleeping in. Ideally, the kids would be behaving.
One thing you would change about yourself: I’d grow a thicker skin, so the little things wouldn’t bother me so much.
What gives you the creeps? Blood, sickness, hospitals. I have a weak stomach and tend to think the worst in those settings/situations.
People who knew you in high school thought you were: A class clown
Whom do you most admire? My wife, because she deals with me.
Parting shot: Don’t give up on your dreams and work hard every day to achieve your goals. I did not know my business would be what it is today. As proud as I am of that, I know I still need to work hard because there is so much more to accomplish. Know that whatever you are doing can always be improved, every day there is an opportunity to learn and improve and be better.
— Compiled by Brenda Nelson
To suggest someone for ID, send an email to bnelson@gazettenet.com.