FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.—The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) honored 47 ASE-certified automotive professionals recently as the top service technicians at 38 companies, including 13 at tire and automotive service dealerships.
Those honored are among the top scorers nationwide on ASE tests, the institute said, and are selected by the award sponsors based on those scores plus on-the-job excellence, community service and other factors.
The award winners represent a cross-section of the auto, truck, collision, parts and educational segments of the industry, ASE said. Six of the 13 in the tire and auto service shop category were from TBC Corp. retail units, including the Big O Tires, Midas International and SpeeDee Oil Change franchise groups.
“The enthusiasm and professionalism displayed by all of our award winners is a testament to the high quality individuals wearing the ASE Blue Seal,” said ASE President and CEO Tim Zilke, “and we are proud to have them as part of the ASE family.”
The winners were recognized at the ASE's Fall Board of Governors meeting held in Fort Lauderdale.
Among those recognized was Jamie Bullis, only the second working female technician to be honored in more than 30 years, the ASE said. She is a master auto technician employed at Bridgestone Retail Operations' Firestone Complete Auto Care location in Minnetonka, Minn.
Others recognized as their employers' top automobile technicians include:
c Bobby Soward, Belden's Automotive & Tires—Pronto Smart Choice award winner;
c Ron Knuckles, Big O Tires, Louisville, Ky.;
c Dave Wilson, Merchant's Tire & Auto Centers, Baltimore;
c Keith Young, Meyer's Automotive Service, Festus, Mo.—Bosch Automotive Solutions;
c Shane Schultz, Midas International, Freemont, Ind.;
c Jason Gruber, National Tire & Battery (NTB), St. Peters, Mo.;
c Ed Kiekover, OK Tire Stores, Zeeland, Mich.—Identifix “drivability” technician of the year;
c Vu Nguyen, Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack, Murrieta, Calif.;
c John Zeiss, Ray & Dana's Inman Auto Care, Fords, N.J.—RepairPal;
c Brad Greer, SpeeDee Oil Change & Tune-up, Oakdale, Calif.;
c James Foulk, Tire Kingdom, Edgewater, Fla.; and
c Gerry Wolfe, Wolfe's Auto Service, Lititz, Pa.—Snap-on Inc.
The ASE said it has been recognizing top technicians for more than 40 years, often with sponsor support.
Mr. Zilke said the support and commitment to excellence of award sponsors”is reflected in the talented individuals receiving these awards each year.”
Randy Nussler, an instructor at Midlands Technical College in Chapin, S.C., was named the “Gates Tools for Schools” ASE instructor of the year.
Fifteen of the winners work at car dealerships and five at truck dealerships. One student, Joe Grenchick at Southern Illinois University, was honored, as was Master Sergeant Robert Forbes of the U.S. Air Force, stationed at Ramstein Airbase in Germany. The remainder work at a variety of auto and/or truck repair facilities, ASE said.
The ASE was established in 1972 as a non-profit to help improve the quality of automotive service and repair through the voluntary testing and certification of automotive technicians and parts specialists.