Held on the grounds of the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida, Moda Miami is one of the world’s premier automotive events. For the third consecutive year, RM Sotheby’s, which coordinates Moda Miami and conducts a high-value auction of rare cars, employed Penn College students to assist at the event. Their duties including ushering multimillion-dollar cars. (Photo by Ian T. McClain, Penn College student)
Shortly before Spring Break, a group of Pennsylvania College of Technology students went to Florida – to work. The contingent traded their classroom for a classic-car concours while assisting at Moda Miami.
Held on the grounds of the historic Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Moda Miami is considered one of the world’s premier automotive events, attracting luxury brand enthusiasts, collectors and industry professionals. RM Sotheby’s, which coordinated the four-day extravaganza and conducted a high-value auction featuring rare cars, employed the Penn College students and covered their transportation and lodging costs.
This year marked the third edition of Moda Miami, and Penn College students have worked at each one.
“We help form the backbone of the event,” said Roy H. Klinger, co-department head of collision repair and adviser to the Penn College Classic Cruisers Club. “We help handle the concours show, the staging, the auction and the ambiance of the event. We’re able to give our students real-world application of their training.”
Klinger, who spearheaded the creation of the college’s automotive restoration certificate, accompanied the 13 students, all members of the Classic Cruisers Club.
“We worked about 10 hours a day, helping with production, display, cabling, cleanup and ushering cars,” he said. “RM Sotheby’s appreciates that our students understand the care needed to handle multimillion-dollar cars. They appreciate us because of our attention to detail.”
RM Sotheby’s is the world’s leading collector car auction house. The Moda Miami auction featured nearly 90 cars valued at more than $100 million. A 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder topped the auction, selling for $7.045 million.
“I am extremely grateful for this opportunity because no other college or club gets to experience something like this, and you won’t be able to see this stature of vehicles anywhere else,” said Will A. Raynor, an automotive restoration student from Montauk, New York.
Raynor, who is president of the Penn College Classic Cruisers Club and received an associate degree in collision repair technology last year, noted that his favorite car was a 1967 Ford GT40 Mark I. “It was an absolute dream to see it, and it sounded so amazing,” he said.
In addition to Raynor, the Penn College Moda Miami crew consisted of automotive restoration students Caroline G. Colangelo, Pine Bush, New York; Loren G. Cutshall, Petersburg; Raiden B. Hogan-Monaghan, Irwin; Ethan W. Minor, Clearfield; and Lilly A. Witmer, Lancaster; collision repair technology students Madelon E. Andersen, Media; and Jonathan C. Cooley, Montoursville; automotive technology students Ian T. McClain, Latrobe; and Joshua H. Nelson, New Providence, New Jersey; automotive technology management student Gio A. Perez, Bloomfield, New Jersey; applied management student Leah J. Weber, Kutztown; and 2025 automotive restoration graduate John E. Shaffer Jr., Williamsport.
Hogan-Monaghan (automotive technology), Minor (collision repair technology) and Perez (automotive technology) all previously earned degrees at the college.
“Moda Miami is a highly detailed event in terms of placement of cars and display areas,” Klinger said. “It’s like being on a movie set that has a car show and an auction. RM Sotheby’s has recognized the work ethic of our students who can take verbal instructions and perform the required tasks with minimal supervision to ensure the work is completed to their standards.”
Other duties as assigned: Some members of the Penn College crew position the letters “MODA” in the Biltmore Hotel’s water feature.
“This experience enhances my education because it teaches us the history and importance of all the vehicles that are at the event,” Raynor added.
Networking within the exclusive world of car collection management is another benefit for the students at Moda Miami. For example, Raynor said he’s talking to contacts at RM Sotheby’s about potentially working for them as an independent contractor after his May graduation. That path has been followed by recent alumni who assisted at the event.
“Students at Moda Miami are exposed to job opportunities in all aspects of the restoration and investment car industry,” Klinger said. “A student with the automotive restoration certificate from Penn College and a high recommendation from RM Sotheby’s could work anywhere in the world.”
To learn more about the automotive restoration certificate and other programs offered by Penn College’s School of Engineering Technologies, call 570-327-4520.
For information on Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education, email Admissions or call toll-free 800-367-9222.
The historic Biltmore Hotel, celebrating its 100th anniversary, provides the perfect backdrop for Moda Miami. Photo by Roy Klinger.
The Penn College contingent takes a moment to relax with other staff supporting RM Sotheby’s. Photo by Ian T. McClain.
Penn College’s Will A. Raynor finishes his cleanup detail after an eventful week. Photo by Ian T. McClain.