Auto Care Association Announces 2025 Education Award Recipients
PHOENIX – May 21, 2025 – The Auto Care Association recently announced the winners of its annual awards recognizing excellence in education in the industry. The award ceremony took place during the association’s 2025 Auto Care Connect event, which took place in Phoenix, Ariz. The awards distributed included the 2025 Auto Care Education (ACE) Awards and 2025 Mort Schwartz Excellence in Education Award.
The ACE (Auto Care Education) Award recognizes auto care companies dedicated to excellence in education. The Auto Care Association promotes the winning companies as examples of what leading companies are doing, outlining their successful programs, and sharing the return on investment each company experiences. This may include employee training, customer education programs, programs for instructor and/or students, and other education programs for the industry at-large. Up to three ACE awards are given annually, based on company size:
Small: Under 100 Employees
Mid-size: 101 – 999 Employees
Large: Over 1,000 Employees
The 2025 Auto Care Education (ACE) Award recipients are:
ACE Award, Small Company: Topel’s Service Center, Inc. .png?sfvrsn=67a24a9a_0&MaxWidth=300&MaxHeight=300&ScaleUp=false&Quality=High&Method=ResizeFitToAreaArguments&Signature=57051D23807CF07FBDFA9D49AB0ED08F16422173 "Topels logo Aug 2018 (1)"){kind=logo}
Topel’s Service Center views education as essential to achieving excellence and the company has built a professional development program with 100 hours of annual training for technicians, plus resources for service advisors and owners. Topel’s uses tools like “The Group Training Hub” and a digital library to organize learning, and it supports ongoing education by covering both course fees and time spent training. Inspired by the late business coach Bob Greenwood, Topel’s recognizes that the future of auto repair requires advanced knowledge and a shift in how the auto care industry is valued. This belief led the company to prioritize education so its team stays ahead of evolving vehicle technologies and is compensated for their expertise, not just their labor. The results have been clear—Topel’s investment in training has boosted technician confidence, efficiency and fostered team-wide knowledge sharing through post-training discussions.
ACE Award, Mid-size Company: Mevotech 
Mevotech is committed to creating an environment that supports growth and excellence for both team members and industry professionals. The company offers a range of educational and professional development programs, such as “MevoUniversity,” Mevo101 Webinars, and the LEAD Program. Additional initiatives include the Next Generation Program, Sales Excellence Program, and the “UnstoppabElle” employee resource group, all designed to support professional growth. Mevotech also extends its training efforts externally through resources like the Mevotech Training Portal, instructional videos, a blog, and a YouTube channel. These programs reflect Mevotech’s dedication to continuous learning and equipping its community with the tools to succeed.
ACE Award, Large Company: Parts Authority 
Parts Authority is deeply committed to education and professional development, demonstrated by its leadership-driven initiatives and a dedicated in-house education department. In 2024 alone, the company delivered over 55,000 hours of training through its proprietary learning management system, “Parts Authority Education” (PAE), live virtual sessions, and in-person programs, while also participating in key industry education events and committees. The PAE platform offers over 360 courses on topics like leadership and compliance, and uses adaptive technology to tailor learning to each employee’s role and needs. Innovative approaches such as micro-learning modules and storytelling in cultural training improve retention and engagement, supplemented by customized live training sessions. Automated systems ensure seamless onboarding and training integration, while high user engagement reflects a strong internal culture of continuous learning. With nearly 44,000 active course enrollments, Parts Authority has established itself as a leader in employee development, driving both individual growth and industry advancement.
2025 Mort Schwartz Excellence in Education Award
The Mort Schwartz Excellence in Education Award is given annually by the Auto Care Association’s Education Committee to an individual that best advances the concepts and programs for education or continuing education in the North American auto care industry.
The 2025 winner is Eric M. Johnson, president and managing partner, Arnold Motor Supply.
Eric M. Johnson is the president and managing partner of Arnold Motor Supply, a large automotive distribution company with nearly 80 locations across the upper Midwest. He grew up on a farm in Iowa, where the values of hard work and perseverance were instilled early on. With a bachelor's degree in economics and finance and a master's degree in information systems, Eric has built a successful career by embracing the motto, "there has to be a better way."
Johnson has always been interested in education and is a teacher at heart. He is the author of “You Build a Business with People” and enjoys speaking on business related topics. When asked what receiving the Mort Schwartz award meant to him, Johnson noted, “it’s honestly something I never even considered possible. Over the years in the industry, I’ve always read about past winners and looked up to their accomplishments. It is humbling to be associated with someone like Mort Schwartz who have had such a lasting impact on so many people.”
Learn more about the Auto Care Association’s Education awards at autocare.org/awards.