LEESBURG, Va. – Forty automotive professionals were recognized Nov. 16 at the Fall board meeting of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). The meeting and annual awards banquet, held at the Marriott City Center in Charlotte, N.C., spotlights top scorers on the ASE Certification Tests.
Thirty different companies from both the OEM and aftermarket segments sponsored the individual technician recognition awards in the Auto, Truck, Collision and Parts categories, along with three instructor awards. In addition to looking for top scores on ASE tests, award sponsors examine on-the-job excellence, community service and other factors when selecting honorees.
This year’s celebration in Charlotte was enhanced by a visit from five former Team ASE drivers, who volunteered their time to sign autographs and meet the award winners in person. NASCAR drivers Kasey Kahne, Jason Leffler and Mike Bliss were joined by Ted Musgrave and Jimmy Spencer to help make the reception a memorable affair. In addition, there were two new award sponsors this year, one being the first ever from the military, representing the U.S. Air Force.
“ASE has been honoring the best of the best in our industry for more than 30 years, and this year we recognized 40 outstanding individuals from all across the nation,” said Tim Zilke, ASE president and CEO. “We couldn’t do this without the support of our many award sponsors, whose ranks include some of the best-known names in the industry. Their commitment to excellence is reflected in the talented individuals we recognize each year.”
The ASE 2011 Award Winners are:
ASCCA/ASE Master Automobile Technician of the Year
Patrick Nicall, Pat’s Automotive, Santa Maria, Calif.
AYES/ASE Instructor of the Year
David White, Parkside High School, Willards, Md.
BodyShop Business/ASE Master Collision Repair & Refinish Technician of the Year
Michael Baker, Pro-Tech Collision, Pacific, Mo.
Bridgestone Retail Operations/ASE Master Automobile Technician of the Year
Noel Barnhart, Firestone Complete Auto Care, Delmar, Iowa
Chrysler/ASE Master Automobile Technician of the Year
Scott Rosencrantz, GarberChrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Flushing, Mich.
Chrysler/ASE Master Collision Repair & Refinish Technician of the Year
Mike Hunkler, Larry Hillis Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Poplar Bluff, Mo.
Delco Remy/ASE M/H Truck Electrical/Electronic Systems Technician of the Year
Joseph DeLap, Ryder, Dakota, Ill.
Delmar Cengage Learning/ASE Automobile Technician of the Year
William Davis, JD Byrider, N. Baltimore, Ohio
Freightliner/ASE Master M/H Truck Technician of the Year
Robert McNees Jr., Truck Centers Inc., Middle Brook, Mo.
Sterling/Western Star/ASE Master M/H Truck Technician of the Year
Kevin Treichel, Don’s Truck Sales, Greene, Iowa
Gates/ASE Master Automobile & L1 Technician of the Year
Andreas Miller, Stonum Automotive, Longmont, Colo.
GM/ASE Master Automobile Technician of the Year
Jeffrey Heinz, Hendrick Auto Mall, Apex, N.C.
Honda/ASE Master Automobile Technician of the Year
Joseph Londo, Bianchi Honda, Erie, Pa.
Acura/ASE Master Automobile Technician of the Year
Sandra Giordano, Acura of Turnersville, Blackwood, N.J.
Identifix/ASE Aftermarket Drivability Technician of the Year
Andy Olson, Courtesy Car Care, Holmen, Wis.
Midas International/ASE Automobile Technician of the Year
John Gillies III, Midas Auto Service Experts, Ludington, Mich.
Mitchell 1/ASE Technician of the Future
Steven Ray, The Automaster BMW, Essex Junction, Vt.
Motor Age Training/ASE Master Automobile & L1 Technician of the Year
Joseph Young, San Diego Miramar College, San Diego, Calif.
NATEF/ASE Instructor of the Year
Bradley Dressen, Butte College, Orland, Calif.
Navistar/ASE Master M/H Truck Technician of the Year
Shawn Lehman, Tri County Motor Sales, Stoystown, Pa.
Navistar/ASE Master School Bus Technician of the Year
Kenneth Passmore, Midwest Transit Equipment, Indianapolis, Ind.
Navistar/ASE Parts Specialist of the Year
Adam Russell Sr., Goodman Truck & Tractor, Amelia, Va.
Navistar/ASE Truck Paint & Refinish Technician of the Year
Collin Harris, International Truck Sales of Richmond, Manquin, Va.
Nissan/ASE Master Automobile Technician of the Year
Glenn Ferrer, Nissan of St. Augustine, Palm Coast, Fla.
Infiniti/ASE Master Automobile Technician of the Year
John Roderich, Fields Infiniti of Glencoe, Phillips, Wis.
Pep Boys/ASE Master Automobile Technician of the Year
Mark Regan, Pep Boys, Walpole, Mass.
Peterbilt/ASE Master M/H Truck Technician of the Year
John Wood, Interstate Truck Center, Oakdale, Calif.
PPG/ASE Master Refinish Technician of the Year
Robert Bender, Bender Auto Repair, Saltsburg, Pa.
Snap-on/ASE Master Automobile Technician of the Year
Jack Harlan III, Harlan’s Auto Care, Canfield, Ohio
Snap-on/ASE Master Collision Repair & Refinish Technician of the Year
Neal Nuce, Precision Collision Repair Center, Wake Forest, N.C.
Snap-on/ASE Master M/H Truck Technician of the Year
Steven Sass Sr., A.N.D. Service Inc., Carlstadt, N.J.
Standox/ASE Refinish Technician of the Year
Daniel Walsh, Boch Collision Center, West Bridgewater, Mass.
Subaru/ASE Master Automobile Technician of the Year
Daniel Pratt, Flatirons Subaru, Firestone, Colo.
TECH-NET Professional/ASE Master Automobile Technician of the Year
Michael Byer, Mike Byer Auto & Truck Repair, Asheville, N.C.
Toyota/ASE Master Automobile Technician of the Year
Warren Butrim, Koons Toyota of Annapolis, Arnold, Md.
Toyota/ASE Master Collision Repair & Refinish Technician of the Year
Leonel Dufault, Toyota of North Dartmouth, Westport, Mass.
Lexus/ASE Master Automobile Technician of the Year
Anthony Bausano, Lexus of Smithtown, Huntington, N.Y.
USAF/ASE Technician of the Year
Msgt. Andrew Slater, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, U.S. Air Force
Valvoline Career Tech/ASE Instructor of the Year
John Kasper, Millington High School, Memphis, Tenn.
Volvo/ASE Master Automobile Technician of the Year
Jesse Berryman III, Koons Volvo, Westminster, Md.
