Many news articles have covered what the auto industry has described as a critical shortage of service technicians. In appreciation to those technicians currently making a strong contribution, an Auto Care Association program has honored a new round of recipients with its 2019 World Class Technician award.   

In partnership with the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), the Auto Care Association provides this annual award to recognize professional technicians who have achieved ASE certification in 22 specialty areas during the 2018 certification test administration. The tests include: A1-A8 (automotive), T1-T8 (medium/heavy truck), B2-B5 (collision repair) and L1, L2 (advanced).

Of the estimated 879,000 technicians in the United States, more than 250,000 hold ASE certification. More than 2,000 technicians have earned the “World Class Technician” status since the organizations began the award program more than 30 years ago.

The newest round of World Class Technicians includes 45 recipients:

— Carlos Acevedo Ramos – Bayamon, Puerto Rico
— John Adams IV – Euless, Texas
— Brian Beauchemin – Cumberland, R.I.
— Richard Benson – Houston
— David Boyce – Westport, Mass.
— Kevin Brown – Leander, Texas
— Michael Campbell – Chicago
— William Childers – Lizella, Ga.
— Roberto De La Torre – San Juan, Puerto Rico
— John Dibartolomeo Jr. – Atco, N.J
— Amos Eaton – Pevely, Mo.
— Ryan Egleston – St. Louis
— Leroy Fleming – Bel Air, Md.
— Luke Franta – Santa Margarita, Calif.
— Robert Gouveia – Everett, Mass.
— William Gray – Metairie, La.
— Travis Guenzler – Catawissa, Mo.
— James Hahn – Milwaukee
— Brad Harder – Emporia, Kan.
— Jason Hodge – Saint Charles, Mo.
— Tyler Hurt – Debary, Fla.
— Scott Jensen – Boynton Beach, Fla.
— Steven Johansson – Troy, Mich.
— Raymond Johnson – Holly Springs, N.C.
— John Jones – Gahanna, Ohio
— Steven Kuhr – Moore, Okla.
— Brian Lacroix – Medley, Fla.
— Kit Mak – Vancouver, British Columbia
— Steven McAtee – Milton, Ky.
— Jeramiah Mihelich – Waltham, Mass.
— Michael Mizzi – Willow Spring, N.C.
— Frank Naelitz – Lorain, Ohio
— Matthew Olsen – Burlington, Mass.
— William Onessimo Jr. – Rockland, Mass.
— David Piper – McKinney, Texas
— Kenneth Ratliff – Bethel, Ohio
— Robert Reiss – Carnegie, Pa.
— Mark Robinson – Mississauga, Ontario
— Steven Sears – East Bridgewater, Mass.
— Jacob Shuter – Manchester, N.H.
— Michael Springman – Pensacola, Fla.
— John Stacey – Whitesboro, Texas
— Curtis Walker – Woodland, Calif.
— Ryan Weaver – East Falmouth, Mass.
— Thomas Wheeler – Lincoln, Maine

Prometric testing centers offer ASE testing nationwide. The World Class distinction is valid for life.