Beverly Madden

When Beverly Madden joined the United States Marine Corps, she never imagined her future would involve building engines instead of fueling them.

Madden served as a bulk fuel specialist, or “gas grunt,” as she calls it, setting up portable fuel farms to power everything from ground vehicles to aircraft during deployments. “We were their supplier,” she said. “Air, land, sea — you name it.”

After completing her service, Madden knew she wanted to take her mechanical curiosity further. “I’ve been working on cars since I was seven,” she said. “My foster dad taught me how to fix things because we couldn’t afford to go to a shop. He showed me how to keep things running.”

But that curiosity was shaped long before the foster home. Before she was adopted, Madden watched her single mother struggle to keep their only vehicle running. The car’s transmission failed, leaving it able to move only in reverse, and mechanics treated her mother poorly because she didn’t have the money or support to challenge them. “I saw the mistreatment she got,” Madden said. “It hurt our family. I never forgot that.” Her business today is rooted in that memory, a promise to protect people like her mom from being taken advantage of.

That early spark became her lifelong passion. Today, Madden owns MadTech Mobile, a growing mobile mechanic business that brings trustworthy automotive service directly to people’s driveways. “I want to take care of people like my mom,” she said, recalling the times her family struggled with unreliable mechanics. “I want my customers to feel valued — not like they’re just a dollar sign.”

But the road from the Marines to mechanic shop owner wasn’t easy. Transitioning to civilian and college life came with challenges. “When you get out, they give you a two-week crash course on how to be a civilian again,” she said. “It’s hard. You have to unlearn the military mindset and find your footing.”

That’s when she found Río Hondo College, or rather, when the community found her. “Everywhere I went — Lyft passengers, smog shop owners — everyone kept saying, ‘Go to Río Hondo. Go to Río Hondo,’” Madden laughed. “I finally listened, and I’m so glad I did.” At Río Hondo, she discovered the Veterans Service Center (VSC), a support network that she says made all the difference. From navigating vocational rehab paperwork to providing meal vouchers, tutoring and even holiday meals, the VSC became her home on campus.

“The counselors go above and beyond,” she said. “They don’t just help you with classes. They help with emotional support, job prep and even emergency needs. They genuinely care.” Her most memorable moment came at graduation, when the VSC celebrated veterans with a special ceremony. “They made us feel elite,” she said. “We wore our branch sashes with pride, it reminded me how far I’d come.” Through Río Hondo’s renowned Automotive Technology Program, Madden earned her Associate of Science in Automotive Technology and her General Service Technician Certificate, and is now pursuing alternative fuels and EV hybrid technology degrees while completing her bachelor’s in Automotive Technology.

“Río Hondo gave me the technical foundation to build my business — and the confidence to launch it,” she said. “By the time I graduated, I knew I could make Mad Tech Mobile real.”

Her advice to other veterans considering higher education? “You can do anything you set your eyes on,” Madden said. “Río Hondo and the Veteran Services Center will make sure you’re not doing it alone.”

If you’re a veteran looking to build your next mission, visit Río Hondo College’s Veterans Service Center to learn how we can help you achieve your goals. Learn more at riohondo.edu/veterans.