BETHESDA, Md. — Sixty-six auto technicians in the U.S. and Canada achieved "World Class Technician" status last year, according to the Auto Care Association (ACA), which said the award recognizes mechanics who attain ASE certification in 22 specific areas in a single year.
The 66 are among roughly 250,000 ASE-certified technicians, the ACA said, and now are part of a select group of more than 2,000 who have earned the distinction over the past 30 years.
The ACA announced the winners in partnership with the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), which oversees the ASE testing process. The ACA estimates overall there are over 875,000 auto technicians in the U.S.
The ACA did not identify the World Class Technicians' employers. There is one Canadian and two woman among the 66.
In alphabetical order, the winners are:
James Adair Jr., Phoenixville, Pa.; Jason Arst, Signal Hill, Calif.; Brian Atwood, Cedar Rapids, Iowa;
Rodney Bennett III, Beaufort, S.C.; Jason Branch Sr., Castle Rock, Colo.; Timothy Burnley, Lewisville, Texas;
Scott Dickson, Jacksonville, Fla.;
Chris Elkins, Adrian, Mich.; Travis Elliott, Windham, Maine; Mike Evans, Mesa, Ariz.; Lucas Ewald, Naples, Maine;
Thomas Flentie, Oak View, Calif.; David Frank, Flint, Mich.; Hayden Frazier, Halifax, Mass.;
Reuben Gosewisch, St. Michael, Minn.; Brian Grabsky, Lombard, Ill.;
Brian Haskell Jr., Naples, Maine; Joshua Hassing, Augusta, Mich.; Robert Heintz, Hopatcong, N.J.; Matthew Heller, Park Ridge, Ill.; Dennis Higdon, Lawrenceville, Ga.; Brandon Homan, St. Louis, Mo.;
Raymond Jackson Jr., Elkridge, Md.;
Randall Kang, Fountain, Colo.; Keith Kelly, Tipp City, Ohio; Kenneth Kerbaugh, Needville, Texas; Basil A. Konnaris, Oakville, Ontario; William D. Krones, Mason City, Iowa;
Shane E. Lally, Brookfield, Conn.; Cody A. Lana, Riverside, Iowa;
Marty Leach, Imlay City, Mich.; Kevin Lockhart, Beaverdam, Va.; David Luka II., Grand Island, N.Y.;
Eric Mattice, Bakersfield, Calif.; Alejandro Mayorga, Lompoc, Calif.; Jason Montini, Madison, Tenn.; Angel Morales Jr., Morana, Ariz.; Ryan Moraux, Fairhaven, Mass.; Kevin Myers, Weymouth, Mass.;
Ryan Oblak, Saltsburg, Pa.; Fadi Oweis, Jacksonville, Fla.;
John Paolino Jr., Pollock Pine, Calif.; Kevin Paradis, Westford, Mass.; Michael Pritulsky, Mesa, Ariz.; James Przybylski, Batavia, Ill.;
Andrew Ramirez, Lompoc, Calif.; Mike Ream, Defiance, Ohio; Michael Rodriguez, Mansfield Center, Conn.;
Shannon Saili, Waipahu, Hawaii; Michael Sanders, Doyle, Calif.; Michael Sandmeier, Bel Air, Md.; Michael Schultz, Torrance, Calif.; Richard Sena Jr., Youngstown, Ariz.; Gregory Shelby, Canal Fulton, Ohio; Patrick Shine, St. Charles, Mo.; Kevin Speaks, Duncanville, Texas; Meredith Spencer, Milford, Maine; Daniel J. Symeon, Tallahassee, Fla.;
Jeffrey Tinsley, Dickson, Tenn.;
Erik Ulintz, Grove City, Ohio;
Angel Velasquez, Gurnee, Ill.; Steven Vezensky, Lakemoor, Ill.;
John Warrington, Tolland, Conn.; Cleidus Shawn White, Imperial, Mo.; Jeffrey Wood, St. Charles, Mo; and William Woods, Delta, Pa.