2023 ASE award winners include 6 from tire retail sector (updated)

CLEARWATER, Fla.  — The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) has bestowed awards of distinction to 48 technicians working at independent repair shops and car dealerships, including six working for tire retail establsihments.

"Each year, ASE takes great pleasure in recognizing those individuals who have distinguished themselves in the automotive service industry. Together with our industry partners and award sponsors, we salute the best of the best," ASE President and CEO Tim Zilke said.

"The honored individuals come from all segments of the automobile, collision, truck, school bus, parts, educator and training sectors. Although they come from different areas, they all share a commitment to excellence."

Those honored were top scorers on selected ASE tests who also display on-the-job excellence and community service, the ASE said. The awards ceremony has held Nov. 14-15 in Clearwater.

The six winners who work at retail tire dealerships are;

• Joe Bologna, Discount Tire/Ellisville Tire & Service, St. Louis — ASE master tech;
• Jesse Keyes, Dobbs Tire & Auto/Garage Gurus, St. Peters, Mo. -— ASE automobile master/A9/L1-L4;
• David Lang, Midas International, Midas/Auto Resource Center, Huntington, Va. — ASE master automotive tech;
• Jeremy Luther, Icahn Automotive/Pep Boys, Metarie, La. — ASE master automotibile tech;
• Andrew Richards, Bridgestone Retail Operations/Firestone Complete Auto Care in Grand Prarie, Texas — ASE master tech; and
• Brandon Stoutmeyer, MFA Petroleum/Big O Tires, Lebanon, Mo. -— ASE Master tech;

In addition, Jason Rigby, an ASE master tech with Christian Brothers Automotive in Cumming, Ga., received the honor from sponsor Gates Corp.

Forty-three companies from both OEM and aftermarket segments sponsored individual technician recognition awards in the auto, truck, collision, bus, parts and service categories, along with awards for instructors, the ASE said.

Andrew Richards has worked for Bridgestone Americas since 2012, at a Firestone store in Arlington, Texas, after graduating from Houston-based Universal Technical Institute. Since then, he has achieved both his ASE Master certification and L1 certification.

As a lead technician at the Arlington store, Richards mentors those beginning their careers. He also volunteers with the National Stuttering Association, helping people with stuttering challenges develop their public presentation skills.
 
"Andrew sets the standard through his example," Bridgestone RTO President Marko Ibrahim said, "infusing those around him with positivity and humility. Above all, his unwavering commitment to our Promise to Care and delivering the industry's most trusted service shines through."

According to TBC Corp./Midas International, the ASE award recognizes Davis Lang's "outstanding achievements in completing the rigorous ASE certification process and his commitment to staying up-to-date with the latest advancements in automotive technology and repair techniques.

Lang's passion for automobiles and his commitment to providing top-notch service to customers have set him apart in the industry, Midas said, noting that his vast knowledge and ability to diagnose and resolve complex automotive issues have made him an invaluable asset to Midas and its customers.

Bologna, a head mechanic at Ellisville Tire & Service, has 20-plus years of industry experience.

“Joe is an outstanding professional, and his commitment to safety and on-the-job excellence are a perfect reflection of the values and people of Ellisville and at Discount Tire,” Earl Davidson, vice president of full service at Discount Tire, said.

Discount Tire acquired St. Louis-based Ellisville Tire last year.

Jeremy Luther has worked for Pep Boys for the past 10-plus years, joining the firm after graduating high school in Louisiana. He said he enjoys working as a mechanic because i'ts challenging work and he feels he can help people in difficult situations.

Other winners, listed by their nominating company/enterprise, include:

• Acura/ASE Master Automobile Technician of Year: John Heberlein, Courtesy Acura, Morrison, Colo.;
• Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper/ASE Master Automobile Technician of Year: Harrison Keyes, Jerry's Automotive Service L.L.C., Waukesha, Wis.;
• Axalta/ASE Collision Repair & Refinish Technician of Year: James Rice, Ford Body Shop, Carthage, Miss.;
• BMW/ASE Master Automobile Technicians of Year: Patrick Nicodemus, BMW of Des Moines, Clive, Iowa; James Troxell, Apple BMW, York, Pa.; Christopher Wilder, BMW of San Diego, Spring Valley, Calif.; and Timo Wolf, Momentum BMW, Houston;
• BMW/ASE Master Collision Repair & Refinish Technician of Year: Gabriel Qahtani, Platinumwerks Collision, Cocoa, Fla.;
• BodyShop Business/ASE Master Collision Repair & Refinish Technician of Year: Thomas Baunach, PA Brown Daub Chevrolet, Bethlehem, Pa.;
• Byrl Shoemaker/ASE Education Foundation Instructor of Year: Scott Fisler, Milwaukee Area Technical College, St. Francis, Wis.;
• Car-O-Liner/ASE Master Collision Repair & Refinish Technician of Year: Joseph Dukeman, Caliber Collision, Smithfield, N.C.;
• CCAR/Electude/ASE Instructor of Year: Tracey Hicks, Frederick County Public Schools, Frederick, Md.;
• Cloyes/ASE Automobile Technician of Year: David Senula, Gloucester County, Franklinville, N.J.;
• Delco Remy/ASE M/H Truck Electrical/Electronic Systems Technician of Year: David Harrach, City of Mesa Fleet Department, Gold Canyon, Ariz.;
• Enterprise Holdings/ASE Master Automobile Technician of Year: Joseph Lanham, Enterprise Holdings, Mount Washington, Ky.;
• First Student/ASE Master School Bus Technician of Year: Joseph Taylor, First Student, Glenside, Pa.;
• Freightliner/ASE Master M/H Truck Technician of Year: Jason Spore, Peach State Truck Centers, McDonough, Ga.;
• Gates Tools for Schools/ASE Instructor of Year: Joseph Young, Miramar College, San Diego;
• General Motors/ASE Service Consultant of Year: David Hudson, Caldwell County Chevrolet, College Station, Texas;
• General Motors/ASE Master Automobile Technician of Year: Woodrow Robison, Lee Chevrolet/Buick, Greenville, N.C.;
• General Motors/ASE Parts Specialist of Year: Jeff Armour, Feldman Chevrolet, Mason, Mich.;
• Honda/ASE Master Automobile Technician of the Year: Frank Currid, Proctor Honda, Crawfordville, Fla.;
• I-CAR Platinum/ASE Master Collision Repair & Refinish Technician of Year: Barto (Tim) Gruber, Classic Bodyworks, Pearl City, Hawaii;
• Infiniti/ASE Master Automobile Technician of Year: Barry Nielsen, Ray Catena Infiniti of Bridgewater, South Amboy, N.J.;
• Lexus/ASE Master Collision Repair and Refinish Technician of Year: Jared Luttrell, Sewell Lexus of Fort Worth, Burleson, Texas;
• Lexus/ASE Master Automobile Technician of Year: Timothy Putt, Bobby Rahal Lexus, Enola, Pa.;
• Mitchell1/ASE Technician of Future: Benjamin Fisher, Advance Development and MFG, Branford, Conn.;
• Motor Age Training/ASE Master Automobile + L1 Technician of Year: Jared Deskins, Nissan North America, Hammond, La.;
• NAPA/ASE Master Automobile Technician of the Year: Steve Vinkemeier, Pro Auto Inc., Plato, Minn.;
• Navistar/ASE Master M/H Truck Technician of the Year: James Singleton, Highway Motors Inc., Bridgewater, Va.;
• Navistar/ASE Master School Bus Technician of the Year: Jeremy Adkins, Sternberg Automotive Group, Ferdinand, Ind.;
• NEXIQ/Snap-On/ASE Master M/H Truck Technician of the Year: Craig Bekkala, Bekkala's Diesel Repair, L.L.C., Calumet, Mich.;
• Nissan/ASE Master Automobile Technician of the Year: Shawn Bauman, Mark Arbuckle Nissan, Shelocta, Pa.;
• Parts Plus Car Care Center/ASE Master Automobile Technician of Year: Colin Gallagher, Shaffer Auto, Port St. Lucie, Fla.;
• Pronto Auto Service/ASE Master Automobile Technician of Year: Ian Sharp, Schweitzer's Automotive, Junction City, Ore.;
• Snap-on/ASE Master Automobile Technician of Year: Dylan Dickey, Honest Accurate Auto Service, Colorado Springs, Colo.;
• Stellantis/ASE Master Automobile Technician of Year: Zachary Bollinger, Cole Chrysler Dodge, Arroyo Grande, Calif.;
• Subaru University/ASE Technician of Future: Pierce Cartwright, CMA's Subaru of Winchester, Slanesville, W.Va.;
• Subaru/ASE Master Automobile Technician of Year: James Pedicone, Chilson Subaru, Eau Claire, Wis.;
• TechNet Professional/ASE Master Automobile Technician of Year: Chad Van Handel, Van Handel Automotive, Sisters, Ore.;
• TechNet Professional/ASE Service Consultant of Year: David Anderson, Reggie's Motorworks, Noblesville, Ind.;
• Toyota/ASE Master Automobile Technician of Year: Harold Williams, Toyota of North Austin, Belton, Texas;
• Toyota/ASE Master Collision Repair and Refinish Technician of Year: William Lehmann, Freeman Collision Center, Santa Rosa, Calif.;
• TravelCenters of America/ASE Master M/H Truck Technician of Year: Lucas Coyle, Travel Centers of America, Upland, Ind.;
• U.S. Air Force/GM/ASE Master Automobile Technician of Year: Sgt. Fernando Carrasquillo Morales, U.S. Air Force, Crestview, Fla.;
• ZF Aftermarket/ASE Master Automobile Technician of Year: Roger Briggs, H-Tel Autocare, Jonesborough, Tenn.