Meet Our Team

John Jovaneli, Owner

• John Jovaneli is the owner of LTE and is no stranger to the automotive industry. Originally attending college for Mechanical Engineering, he ultimately completed a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, which has supported his entrepreneurial goals by helping him properly establish and run a business.
  
  He worked for multiple luxury car OEMs (BMW and Mercedes-Benz) throughout the late 2000s and 2010s, where he learned how major companies deliver top-notch service experiences, as well as the ins and outs of running an effective service shop. Early in his career, John also worked in the racing industry for the Pirelli World Challenge, where he developed a passion for the motorsports side of the automotive world.
  
  After relocating across several states, John settled in Charleston, South Carolina, with his family and decided to open two automotive repair shops in the area. Longtail Engineering was his answer to classic car owners who seemed to have limited options in the Charleston area.
  
  John met Michael Baldino in 2021, and over time, they built a strong professional relationship that ultimately culminated in the opening of Longtail Engineering in early 2026.

Michael Baldino , Expert Technician

• Michael Baldino is an accomplished technician from the South Florida area. John moved Michael to the Charleston area to help launch LTE. Michael’s background includes working with companies such as 9Automotion in West Palm Beach, where he cut his teeth restoring G-body Porsches and developed a passion for working on classic vehicles. Michael was heavily involved in multiple high-level restorations, including a 1970 Porsche 911T Sports Purpose and later a 1974 IROC tribute car.
  
  Michael gained an in-depth understanding of CIS systems, flat-six air-cooled engine tuning and repairs, Targa top adjustments, and Porsche 356 carburetor tuning. He later decided to shift his focus to the racing side of the industry, joining the legendary 901 Shop as a fly-in technician providing trackside support.
  
  Michael also worked with Greg Dillion at Eurosport Motorwerks, performing side work when he was not at the racetrack with 901 Shop, and assisted Concept GT with several of their shop cars. At Concept GT, Michael developed a passion for dash-out repairs on several Ferraris, including a Testarossa and a 1972 Ferrari 365 GTC. He also assisted with gauge cluster repairs on a Ferrari F40, as well as a dash-out repair on a Lamborghini Countach.
  
  Michael is highly experienced working on high-end classic cars and looks forward to continuing to support the Charleston market with its classic and exotic automotive needs.