Auto techs at nine tire outlets earn top ASE honors for 2018

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) recently recognized 52 automotive technicians from 41 companies — including nine who work at tire dealerships — as the top techs at their respective places of business.

The honors were bestowed at the ASE's fall board of governors meeting, held this year in Fort Lauderdale on Nov. 14.

The awards go to the top scorers on ASE certification tests in the auto, truck, collision, parts and service categories in both OEM and aftermarket sectors, ASE said. Award sponsors also examine on-the-job excellence, community service and other factors when selecting honorees.

"The enthusiasm and professionalism displayed by all our award winners is a testament to the high-quality of ASE Certified technicians and specialists. We are proud to have them as part of the ASE family," ASE President and CEO Tim Zilke said.

Among the automobile technician winners are six mechanics from TBC Corp.'s retail and franchise businesses plus individuals from Bridgestone Retail Operations, Icahn Automotive/Pep Boys and Bellevue Tires & Auto Service.

The TBC winners and their store locations are:

• Mario Corral, Big O Tires, Las Cruces, New Mexico store;

• Ryan Bretschneider, Merchant's Tire & Auto Centers in Richardsville, Va.;

• Jonathan Dawsey, Midas of Melbourne, Palm Bay, Fla.;

• John Hughes Jr., NTB National Tire & Battery Southeast, Midlothian, Va. (Master certification);

• Aaron Burton, NTB National Tire & Battery West, League City, Texas; and

• Nick Wesner, Tire Kingdom, Orlando, Fla.

From Bridgestone Retail Operations:

• Erik Craddock, Firestone Complete Auto Care, Neenah, Wis. (Master certification)

From Icahn Automotive:

• Bledi Cela, Pep Boys, Bolingbrook, Ill. (Master certification)

From Bellevue Tires & Auto Service — the Gates Corp.-sponsored winner:

• John Grengel, Bellevue Tires in Bellevue, Neb., who was recognized in two categories — Master Automobile and L1 (advanced engine performance)

In addition SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service — part of Grease Monkey International since early 2017 — named Scott Spanbauer of the Speedee outlet in Modesto, Calif., its master automobile technician of the year.

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. Today, there are approximately 250,000 ASE-certified professionals at work in dealerships, independent shops, collision repair shops, auto parts stores, fleets, schools and colleges throughout the country.

Other winners and their affiliations are:

• Auto Value — Andrew Langello, Treasure Coast Automotive, Vero Beach, Fla.
• Axalta Coating Systems — Robert Warren, O'Hare Auto Body, Bensenville, Ill.;
• BodyShop Business — David Rogers, Nyhus Chevrolet-Buick, New York Mills, Minn.;
• Bosch — Christopher Bornemann, Satori's Auto Service, Manitowoc, Wis.;
• Bumper to Bumper — Mike Creighton, Creighton's Auto Repair, Perkasie, Pa.;
• Chrysler — Mark Shankroff, Outten Chrysler Dodge Ram, Myerstown, Pa.; and Steve Martindale, Dick Scott Motor Mall, Fowlerville, Mich.;
• Delco Remy — Jon Keasler, City of Longview Fleet Services, Longview, Texas;
• First Transit — Pat Erickson, Star Prairie, Wis.
• Freightliner/Western Star — Jonathan Cecil, Transwest Truck Trailer RV, Evans, Colo.;
• General Motors Co. — Lewis Walther III, Schumacher Chevrolet, Rockaway, N.J.; John Schwartzmann, Castle Chevrolet of Villa Park, Downers Grove, Ill.; and Dave Harnak, A&T Chevrolet, Plymouth Meeting, Pa.
• U.S. Air Force (Sponsored by GM) — Justin Vigil, Spangdahlem Air Base, Spangdahlem, Germany;
• Honda— Joey Och, Apostolakis Honda Cars, Cortland, Ohio;
• Acura — Devin Conne, McGrath Acura of Westmont, Homer Glen, Ill.
• Mitchell1 — Matthew Wolfe, Rebersberg Inspection & Auto Repair, Rebersburg, Pa.;
• Motor Age Training — Jimmy Brigance, Kiamichi Technology Center, Stigler, Okla.;
• NAPA — Ronald King, Dattco Sales & Service, Kensington, Conn.
• Navistar — Thomas Marty, Mid-State Truck Service Inc., Plover, Wis.; David Gabrielle, Truck King International, Wyckoff, N.J.; and Timothy Ehrhart, Zacherl Motor Truck Sales, Corsica, Pa.
• Nissan — Chris Beasley, Ben Mynatt Nissan, Salisbury, N.C.
• Infiniti — Ken Winders, Infiniti of Lubbock, Lubbock, Texas;
• PPG — Tom Dagenais, Continental Toyota, Oak Forest, Ill.
• Pronto Smart Choice — Troy Herlyn, Specialty Automotive Inc., Freeman, S.D.;
• RepairPal — Andrew Gibson, DJ Auto, Provo, Utah;
• Snap-on — Joseph Mason III, Raffia Road/Spring Street Service Centers, Enfield, Conn.; Kevan Short, Suburban Collission, Oak Park, Mich.; and Adrian Russ, J&J Transporation Specialists Inc., Beavercreek, Ohio;
• Subaru — Dan Nelson, Larry Miller Subaru, Boise, Idaho; and Abraham Giles, Shortline Subaru, Aurora, Colo.
• TECHNET Professional — Bret Lamoreaux, Kelly Automotive, Mesa, Ariz.
• Toyota — Chet Wallace, Inver Grove Toyota, Hastings, Minn.; and William Cahill, Dorschel Automotive Group, Webster, N.Y.;
• Lexus —Julian Benzaia, Lexus of Birmingham, Clay, Ala.
• Volvo — Neal Krenzke, Momentum Volvo, Houston;
• ZF — Mark Verdi, Dakota Truck Sales & Service, Tampa, Fla.

From academia:

• Byrl Shoemaker — Brian LaCroix, Capital Region BOCES Career & Tech, Shafsbury, Vt.;
• I-CAR Platinum — Christopher Shepherd, Caddo Career & Technology Center, Shreveport, La.; and
• Cengage Learning — Mark Lutz , Newton North High School, Roslindale, Mass.; and
• First Student — Shane Lally, Brookfield, Conn.