About Shifting Gears USA
A car enthusiast nonprofit rallying behind Marin County students through automotive and career technical education since 2012.
What We Do
The mission of Shifting Gears USA, a car enthusiast organization, is to develop, enhance and support vocational training for young people of Marin County by advancing technical education programs that provide a pathway to successful careers in today's workplace.
Where We're Headed
Shifting Gears USA envisions a community where automobile culture is an important social value, vocational careers are a highly rewarded professional path, and the talent for a variety of trade jobs is available to local businesses.
What We Do & Who We Serve
We direct our charitable giving back into the community, helping to build awareness and respect for skilled trade career choices. Our goal is to fund skilled trade education for Marin students and to develop and establish vocational pathways. We're creating career opportunities for people who want to take an alternate path and we're helping to build a new generation of skilled tradespeople.
We support Marin students seeking skilled trade education as an alternative path to a rewarding career, different from the "college-at-all-costs" approach and help working technicians find apprenticeship placement and achieve a career in the vocational trades, particularly in the Car Appreciation and Preservation Program (CAPP) and vocational services.
Our Programs
Car Appreciation and Preservation Program (CAPP)
The Car Appreciation and Preservation Program (CAPP) is a non-profit program dedicated to providing guidance and philanthropic aid to young people for developing appreciation and enjoyment of the automobile, in conjunction with the Marin County Superintendent of Schools.
The Shifting Gears Rally raises funds and awareness for the Car Appreciation and Preservation Program (CAPP), bringing local and international car enthusiasts together. Most recently, Novato High School received the CAPP program with a $1.5M facility buildout.
Previous beneficiary partners have included The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Hospice by the Bay, the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation, Beyond Differences, and Roots of Peace.
Support CAPPCareer Technical Education (CTE)
Skilled Trades & Vocational Programs
Career Technical Education (CTE) courses provide technical career training opportunities for local youth, equipping them with the skills needed for today's workforce in trades and vocational employment across Marin County.
Shifting Gears USA awards trade school scholarships to aspiring technicians to help them learn the skills they need to begin their career. Students receive up to $2,500 per school year to help pay tuition costs at an accredited technology school.
Our scholarships are given to deserving students from diverse backgrounds who want to build a career in the Car Appreciation and Preservation Program (CAPP) and skilled trades.
Support Career Technical Education (CTE)
Marin County students in Car Appreciation and Preservation Program (CAPP) and Career Technical Education (CTE) programs
Board of Directors
Our board is composed of passionate car enthusiasts, business leaders, and community advocates united by a shared commitment to Marin County students.
Charles Goodman
Founder & Chair
Named one of the "Top 50 Collectors in North America" by Sports Car Market Magazine, Charles Goodman has enjoyed avid participation in the car hobby for over 50 years. The founder and past chairman of the Marin Sonoma Concours d'Elegance, Charlie is also a 40-year member of the Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg Club and serves on the Board of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum in Auburn, Indiana. He founded Shifting Gears in late 2012 and resumed the Chairmanship following the passing of Gary Spratling in March 2025.
Bryan Schwab
Vice Chair
Bryan's appreciation for everything automotive began before he got his license, riding motorcycles and buying his first car, a 1967 Camaro. Over the years he has enjoyed European sports cars and American trucks, attended numerous Formula 1 and IndyCar events, and was encouraged to start racing shifter karts which led to racing open-wheel formula cars with SCCA. His career started in sales/marketing with United Technologies, which led to an entrepreneurial path in marketing.
Mike Westbrook
Secretary
Mike has been a certifiable "car nut" since childhood. Born in Dallas, Texas, to a family that owned a trucking transport company, he learned to maneuver 18-wheelers by age 10. He graduated from the NADA (National Automobile Dealers) academy and is currently General Manager of Ford Lincoln Fairfield. Previously General Manager of Mercedes-Benz of Marin, Mike joined the dealership team of world-class collector Tom Price in 2019.
Tamara Hull
Treasurer
Tammi has been in love with cars for as long as she can remember, starting drag racing at Sears Point in high school. She has competed in the Sports Car Olympics, One Lap of America, Targa Newfoundland, BMW Car Club of America's Club Racing series, SCCA races, SVRA races, and the 2016 Great Race. As a CPA, Tammi co-founded the BMW Car Club of America Foundation and has volunteered as treasurer for many local organizations, including the Marin-Sonoma Concours d'Elegance.
N. Gary Cohen
Co-Founder
Gary is co-founder of Shifting Gears (2012) and the Marin Sonoma Concours d'Elegance. Former owner and CEO of Golden Gate Electronics, Digital World, Golden Bay Sports, City Sports, and Okidoke USA. Currently associated with Golden Restoration and Construction in Marin County. He finished the 2016 Great Race in a 1938 DeSoto with Charlie Goodman.
Janet Evans
Board Member
Janet worked at Hospice of Marin as Senior Director of Development, Marketing and Communications, where she partnered with Charlie Goodman to launch the Marin Sonoma Concours d'Elegance. She is especially honored to join the Shifting Gears USA board in support of the reintroduction of the trades in Marin high school curriculums. She and her husband Del enjoy driving their 1969 Chevrolet Camaro convertible on California's backroads.
Pete Herley
Board Member
Pete retired from a 35-year law enforcement career, culminating as a Chief of Police and past-president of the California Police Chiefs Association. He acquired a '67 Corvette just prior to retirement, which has won multiple car shows including "Best of Show" for the Western States Corvette Council. Pete now teaches and consults in various law enforcement specialties.
Peter Hsu
Board Member
Peter's connection to Shifting Gears is deeply personal as he has spent 30+ years driving in high-performance environments. Starting as a driving student, Peter's passion for the sport quickly grew into learning everything he could about "going fast" with a focus on mastering the art of driving at the limit with precision and safety. Peter is an instructor with the BMW Car Club of America, the Porsche Club of America and Speed SF helping other drivers build skill, confidence, and discipline behind the wheel for over a decade. Peter's racing experience includes 5 years competing in Spec Miata with the Sports Car Club of America, 4 years in competitive karting, and participating twice in the grueling 25 Hours of Thunderhill endurance race. His automotive journey spans a range of vehicles, from multiple BMW M cars to a dedicated Spec Miata race car. He continues to pursue his passion at local time trial events at the wheel of his childhood "dream car," a Corvette C6 Z06.
Ray Kaliski
Board Member
Ray's first experience with fine cars came when he "borrowed" his Dad's brand new '59 Cadillac de Ville in San Francisco at age 16. He has been a car enthusiast ever since, owning classics including a '58 Impala, '67 Firebird, '68 Bonneville, Jensen Interceptor, Porsche 928, 911, and BoxsterS. He and his wife Carla are proud members of the Porsche Club of America Redwood Region and the 5150 Car Club in Novato, CA.
Michael Mackintosh
Board Member
Michael has been around classic cars since childhood. In high school he modified motorcycles and muscle cars, and at 14 started restoring a 1940 Ford Woody Wagon. He established and ran startups, worked in Class Action/Security litigation, and ran Atlas Elevator as CEO. Michael has sat on the boards of the Marin History Museum, the Northern California Region Classic Car Club of America, and the San Rafael Youth Soccer organization, and was one of the founders of the Marin Sonoma Concours d'Elegance.
Bob Simon
Board Member
After a 40-year career in Investments and Wealth Management, Bob continues to work out, play golf, and mountain bike Mt. Tam. His wife, two sons, and their spouses are in San Francisco and Larkspur. Bob spent 17 years on the Board of By the Bay Health and is an Olympic Club member. He feels strongly that there is a real need and opportunity to build career paths for Marin's younger generations in trades and vocational employment. It is a privilege for Bob to collaborate with Charlie and become a Board member of Shifting Gears USA in 2025.
Cathy Spratling
Honorary Board Member
Cathy Spratling is an Honorary Board Member of Shifting Gears, continuing the legacy of her late husband Gary, who served as Chairman of the Board until his passing in March 2025. As the founder of Serra Horse Rescue (established 2013), Cathy brought a different kind of horsepower to the table. Though she originally joined Shifting Gears "for the ride," she has grown to love the community and its mission. She is proud to carry on the tradition in Gary's honor, alongside his family.
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Reviving Marin County's Auto Shops
For decades, Marin County high school auto shops sat closed and forgotten. Shifting Gears is changing that — one school at a time.
CAPP & Construction ActiveTerra Linda High School
San Rafael, CA
Home of the Car Appreciation and Preservation Program (CAPP) and Intro to BCT A – Building (Carpentry, Framing, Painting, Roofing). Terra Linda's auto shop was revived through Shifting Gears' partnership with the school. BCT A – Building meets Wednesdays, Aug. 19th – Dec. 9th, 3–7 pm. Students build sheds, complete painting projects, use power and hand tools, go on career field trips, and meals are provided.
Coming Fall 2026★ New!Novato High School
Novato, CA
Novato High School is the next exciting expansion of Shifting Gears' mission, featuring a new $1.5M facility. Programs coming Fall 2026: Car Appreciation and Preservation Program (CAPP) · Intro to BCT B – Trades (Electrical, Plumbing, Welding, HVAC). BCT B – Trades meets Thursdays, Aug. 20th – Dec. 10th, 3–7 pm. Students complete electrical wiring projects, plumbing projects, MIG Welding, career field trips, and meals are provided.
Medical Program ActiveSan Marin High School
Novato, CA
San Marin High School is home to the Medical pathway — giving students in one of Marin's most diverse communities a direct path to healthcare careers. Programs offered: Medical (Healthcare).
Why Trades?
Hear from Marin County CAPP and Career Technical Education (CTE) graduates who chose the trades path — and haven't looked back.
"I came into the CAPP class not knowing a carburetor from a crankshaft. By the end of the year I'd rebuilt an engine from scratch. That hands-on confidence is what got me my apprenticeship at a shop in San Rafael — not a four-year degree."
Marcus T.
CAPP Graduate · Now a Journeyman Auto Tech
"Everyone told me college was the only path. The Career Technical Education (CTE) welding program showed me there's a path that pays $75K a year right out of high school. I have zero student debt and I own my own truck. My college friends are still paying off loans."
Destiny R.
Career Technical Education (CTE) Welding Graduate · Union Welder, Local 377
"The Shifting Gears scholarship didn't just pay for school — it told me someone believed in what I was doing. I'm the first in my family to finish a trade program. Now I run a crew of five at a commercial electrical contractor in Novato."
Javier M.
Shifting Gears Scholar · Electrical Crew Lead
* Testimonials are representative of program graduate experiences.
Support Our Students
Thank you for your interest in making a charitable donation to fund our continuing work with the Car Appreciation and Preservation Program (CAPP), Career Technical Education (CTE), and related educational programs. Shifting Gears USA is, in fact, a 501(c)(3).