ASE names 2017 board members

LEESBURG, Va. (Jan. 11, 2017) — The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) has appointed Jeff Walker, owner of Walker's Automotive Service in Pleasantville, N.J., chair of the 2017 board of directors.

Ted Hayes, owner of Hayes Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Lawrenceville, Ga., has been named vice chair, ASE said.

In addition:

• Tom Trisdale, general manager, customer quality services, Toyota Motor North America in Torrance, Calif. will be treasurer;

• Bobby Bassett, manager of training automotive aftermarket, North America, Gates Corp. in Ridgeland, Miss., will be secretary; and

• Mike Durkin, general director, retail dealer Channel, GM Customer care & aftersales in Grand Blanc, Mich., will be past chair.

"The leadership of the ASE board is vital to ensuring that ASE keeps pace with our changing industry," ASE President and CEO Tim Zilke said.

"We are grateful for the commitment of ASE's all-volunteer board, and the ongoing support of ASE's mission by the companies that encourage such talented people to work through ASE for the betterment of our entire industry. With the participation of such outstanding people, ASE will continue to improve the high-quality certification."

ASE also announced that Paul Mathias, western area technical training manager, Nissan North America Inc. in Ontario, Calif.; and Roger Mesiemore, director of service & collision operations, Hendrick Automotive Group in Charlotte, N.C., were appointed to the board of governors for 2017.

The ASE was established in 1972 as a non-profit organization to help improve the quality of automotive service and repair through the voluntary testing and certification of automotive technicians and parts specialists.

There are approximately 300,000 ASE-certified professionals throughout the country and more than 50,000 students hold ASE student certification credentials. More information is available online at www.ase.com.