The end of 2010 brought accolades to many in the aftermarket and performance industries. NASCAR recently held its contingency sponsor/awards program, and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) recently recognized the top scorers on its ASE Certification Tests at an awards banquet.
The event, held during the fall ASE board meeting in mid-November at the Cottonwoods Resort in Scottsdale, AZ, recognized 38 automotive professionals for their achievement.
According to Tim Zilke, ASE president and CEO, 31 different companies from both OEM and aftermarket segments sponsored the individual technician recognition awards in the Auto, Truck, Collision and Parts categories, along with three instructor awards.
“ASE has been honoring the best of the best in our industry for more than 30 years, and this year we recognized 38 outstanding individuals from all across the nation,” said Zilke.
“We couldn’t do this without the support of our many award sponsors, whose ranks include some of the best-known names in the industry. Their commitment to excellence is reflected in the talented individuals we recognize each year.”
In addition to looking for top scores on ASE tests, award sponsors examine on-the-job excellence, community service and other factors when selecting honorees.
The staff of Underhood Service congratulates the winners as well as the award sponsors, for their understanding of the need to promote professionalism in our industry.
Too often, it’s the negative articles about technicians that seem to get the most media coverage. We feel honored to put the word out on these top techs who are not only our readers, but your friends, neighbors and maybe even co-workers.
The 2010 (automotive-related) ASE honors go to:
ASCCA/ASE Master Auto Tech: Gregory Lipp, Certified Automotive Specialists, Glendora, CA;
AYES/ASE Instructor: Michael McGhee, Arlington Career Center, Fairfax, VA;
Bridgestone Retail Operations/ASE Master Auto Tech: Steven Nessman, Lakeside Firestone Complete Auto Care, Oklahoma City, OK;
TECH-NET Professional/ASE Master Auto Tech: Shawn Petry, Petry’s White Bear Automotive, Saint Paul, MN;
Chrysler/ASE Master Auto Tech: Robb Schenck, BZ Motors, Lewisburg, PA;
Delmar Cengage Learning/ASE Auto Tech: Samuel Bell, The Lusty Wrench, Cleveland Heights, OH;
Gates/ASE Master Automobile and L1 Tech: Adam Ketterl, Dave’s Oil Service, Atwood, KS;
Honda/ASE Master Auto Tech: Keith Schaeg, Stephen Vince Honda, Wildwood, MO;
Acura/ASE Master Auto Tech: Douglas Moch, Acura of Salem, Salem, OR;
Identifix/ASE Aftermarket Driveability Tech: Stephen Shelton, Japanese Auto Service, Wheat Ridge, CO;
Midas International/ASE Auto Tech: Daniel Gagnon, Midas, Cohoes, NY;
Mitchell 1/ASE Tech of the Future, Simon Ward, Preferred Fleet Services, Dayton, OH;
Motor Age Training/ASE Master Auto and L1 Tech: Charlie Fuller, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Kalamazoo, MI;
NATEF/ASE Instructor: Ben Upham, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI;
Nissan/ASE Master Auto Tech: Dennis Corson, Charlie’s Motor Mall, Augusta, ME;
Infiniti/ASE Master Auto Tech: Thomas Thompson, Sewell Infiniti of Houston, Houston, TX;
Snap-on/ASE Master Auto Tech: Ronald Hartzler, RNS Service, Orrville, OH;
Subaru/ASE Master Auto Tech: Steven Pittman, Dewey Griffin Buick, Bellingham, WA;
Toyota/ASE Master Auto Tech: Marlin Burns, Joel Confer Toyota, Warriors Mark, PA;
Lexus/ASE Master Auto Tech: Alex Himes, Lexus of Albuquerque, Albuquerque, NM;
Valvoline Vo-Tech/ASE Instructor: Michael Elder, Pittsburg High School, Pittsburg, KS; and
Volvo/ASE Master Auto Tech: John Stuckey, Powell Volvo, Scottsdale, AZ.