BETHESDA, Md. — The Auto Care Association (ACA) and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) have joined to honor 17 auto technicians in the U.S. and Canada with the 2017 World Class Technician Awards.
All the winners took tests and obtained ASE certification in 22 specialty areas during 2016, ACA and ASE said.
“Recipients of the World Class Technician Award are truly the best of the best and the Auto Care Association is proud to recognize these professionals with ASE,” said Bill Hanvey, president and CEO, Auto Care Association.
“Passing 22 ASE tests is a monumental achievement requiring exceptional knowledge and skills.”
The winners are:
- Dale Banfi, Downers Grove, Ill,;
- James Bennett Jr., Norfolk, Va.;
- Justin Buckler, Mechanicsville, Md.;
- Karl Chabowski, Rolling Meadows, Ill.;
- Joe Gould, Hastings, Fla.;
- Kenneth Grabowski, Rolling Meadows, Ill.;
- Kelley Hatlee, Gillespie, Ill.;
- Matt Krull, Lester Prairie, Minn,;
- Andrew Lewis, Island Lake, Ill.;
- James Mcleod Sr., Newmarket, Ontario;
- Dwayne Myers, Woodsboro, Md.;
- Gary Sapp, Pensacola, Fla.;
- John Steinacker, Lamy, N.M.;
- Tony Tasillo, Moffat, Ontario;
- Lewis Vicinus Jr., Millville, N.J.;
- John Villa, San Luis Obispo, Calif.; and
- Ernest Warner, Plantersville, Texas.
The ACA did not provide any information regarding the winners' employers.
Some 1,930 auto technicians have won the World Class Technician award since its inception more than 30 years ago, the ACA said.
There are more than 895,300 auto technicians working in the U.S. today.