Meet our Staff
Mark Valiollahi
Owner and operator, Mark Valiollahi, founded University Car Care in 1987. He has been addressing car issues in the LSU area though for the past 32 years. With over three decades of experience, Mark knows how to fix practically anything wrong with your vehicle. Providing quality car care to the Baton Rouge community is such a big part of Mark’s life, that he has a hard time taking off from work, you will see him there everyday they’re open from dawn to dusk.
- Favorite Car: Mercedes
- Favorite Child: His daughter, Amy
- Favorite Movie: Anything with John Wayne
- Dislikes on Pizza: Sauce
Shak
Shak’s favorite thing at the mechanic station is to help their customers solve problems. His specialties are brake and tire issues. Shak is always willing to help and is in charge whenever Mark has to step out of the office to run errands. He has been with the company for 18 years. Besides his swarthy good looks and continuous comparisons to Johnny Depp, Shak is well known for his nimble athletic take on all problems. He has independently developed his own patent-pending version of the Shak-Attack. It has been hailed twice as effective as the original with a “Q” and is currently under license by the NBA*
* Definitely not under license by the NBA
- Favorite Car: Mercedes
- Hometown: Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Favorite Food: Bangladesh Biryani
- Favorite Song: Anything by Ure Jay
- Favorite Drink: Hot Tea
Kenny
Kareme has been with University Car Care for over 25 years, practically from the beginning. He enjoys solving difficult problems with complex systems like electronics, safety, and cooling. You will never see Kenny without his signature smile and dapper good looks. He specializes in being awesome.
- Second Job: Secret Service; George W. Bush Look-a-Like
- Favorite Quote: “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”― Oscar Wilde
- Favorite Car: Chevrolet
Mr. Pokey
Mr. Pokey could be considered the tire department of this little establishment. Need them rotated? Need them checked? Need new ones because your old ones are bald now? He is the one that can help you out.
- Hometown: Greensburg, Louisiana
- Dream Job: Computer Engineer
- Favorite Animal: Hedgehog
- Favorite Car: Chevrolet
The Ninja
The Ninja, can you see him? Mr. Monty has been working at UCC for at least 10 years. He is excellent at working on air condition systems, car tune ups, and check engine light problems.
- Favorite Car: Mercedes
- Age: No one knows
- Favorite Food: Kimchi
- Favorite Place: the LSU Lakes
- Favorite Disney Character: Buzz Lightgear
Ahmed
Ahmed is known as the master of all trades at the mechanic shop. For any of your service needs, he can assist you.<
- Favorite Car: Mercedes
- Celebrity Look-a-like: Tom Cruise
- Dream Vacation: Alaskan Cruise
- Hobby: Thursday night Karaoke
- Favorite Employer: Mr Mark of Course
David
Finally, David is the newest member of the team, only having worked for a little over a year at the station, where everyone else has worked with Mr. Mark for over a decade. He is best known for his work on the braking system.
- Favorite Car: Mustang
- Hidden Talent: Balancing on his head for 20 minutes
- Hometown: Port Allen, Louisiana
- Favorite Movie: The Godfather
Kleon Knighton
Kleon has been with University Car Care for nearly 20 years and is a legacy employee. He finished High School at McKinley High – few miles from the University Car Care – and other than his family’s farm in Mississippi doesn’t prefer to leave North Highland. Commonly referred to as “special forces” he does a little bit of everything and is always down to lend a helping hand to anyone in need.
- Favorite Car: Chevy Trucks
- Hidden Talent: Speed Biker
- Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Favorite Music: R&B – no rap unless it’s from the north highland neighborhood
- Favorite Food: Red Beans & Rice