ASE names new 2024 leadership helmed by Dave Johnson

LEESBURG, Va. — The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) has selected former Ford Motor Co. executive Dave Johnson to succeed ASE President and CEO Tim Zilke, who's retiring at year-end after 16 years in that position.

Trish Serratore, senior vice president of communications, also plans to retire Dec. 31.

Johnson, previously global director, service engineering operations at Ford, will serve as ASE president and CEO designate effective July 12 and succeed Zilke on Jan. 1, 2024.

Donna Wagner, most recently assistant vice president of the ASE Education Foundation, has been named to succeed Serratore as vice president of industry and media relations.

Zilke joined the ASE in 1991 and was promoted to president and CEO in 2008.

Serratore joined the ASE in 1988 and was promoted to senior vice president of communications in 2008. She served six years as president of the ASE Education Foundation, from 2012 to 2017, before rejoining ASE as senior vice president.

During the past 16 years of Zilke's and Serratore's tenure, the ASE has evolved measurably, defining standards and certification to better serve technicians, transportation service providers and the motoring public, the association said.

The ASE said a major accomplishment was the transition from paper and pencil to computer-based testing. This advancement increased the availability of professional testing from six nights per year to year-round, enabling the addition of 11 new ASE certifications.

More recently, the ASE Renewal App was introduced in 2020 and last year Pro-Proctor remote testing was launched, offering alternatives to help automotive service professionals remain certified.

The ASE said it responded to evolving vehicle technologies and the rapid introduction of electric vehicles with an Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) test and the rollout of Electric Vehicle Safety certifications for all transportation industry personnel, including advanced levels for technicians.

The group has introduced various levels of credentials supporting a changing workforce. The ASE Entry Level tests have soared in popularity with Zilke's guidance, the association said.

The ASE also assumed management of the Automotive Youth Education Systems (AYES) organization in 2009, and in 2018 merged AYES with the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) to form the ASE Education Foundation.

In 2018, the Automotive Training Managers Council was rebranded as the ASE Training Managers Council (ATMC). ASE, ASE Education Foundation and ATMC have all been aligned to support the career cycle of technicians from initial education through lifelong learning, ASE said.

"The ASE board is overwhelmed with gratitude for Tim Zilke building an impactful organization," Homer Hogg, ASE chair and vice president of truck service at Travel Centers of America, said.

"He has led ASE through good times in our industry, and challenging ones, with unwavering enthusiasm and commitment. Under his leadership, ASE has evolved, grown and introduced many new initiatives to support technicians, service repair business, education and our industry overall.

"The industry will also miss Trish Serratore and her passionate promotion of ASE and ASE Certified technicians for so many years. As the familiar face of ASE, she, too, has always had the industry's best interests at heart. We wish Tim and Trish all the best in their retirements."

Johnson brings over 30 years of automotive industry experience to ASE. At Ford, he led all vehicle repair support activities.

"I look forward to working with the great ASE staff to serve our technicians, service providers and car owners and to communicating the amazing mission of ASE. I am honored to take on the mantle of leadership of this important industry organization," Johnson said.

Wagner will be responsible for both new and existing company relationships along with representing ASE to consumer, corporate, government and technician audiences.

Wagner brings a 30-plus year aftermarket background in education and parts supplier representation, including 12 years with the Car Care Council.

At the ASE Education Foundation, she oversaw the field manager network and represented the organization in school, corporate and government relations.