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Auto Care Association, National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Announce 2026 World Class Technicians



March 31, 2026


BETHESDA, Md. – March 31, 2025 – The Auto Care Association and the National Institute for Automotive Service  Excellence (ASE) today announced the newest automotive professionals to earn the prestigious World Class Technician designation in 2026.  

 

The ASE World Class Technician designation recognizes automotive service professionals who have demonstrated an exceptional level of technical expertise and commitment to ongoing training and certification. To earn the designation, technicians must pass a rigorous series of ASE certification tests across multiple specialty areas. 

This year’s newly recognized ASE World Class Technicians represent a wide range of experience across the automotive service industry, including independent repair facilities, fleet operations, education, dealerships and emerging electric vehicle service roles.

The following technicians earned the ASE World Class Technician designation in 2026: 

  • Jesse Ackerman — Strawberry Plains, Tenn. 

  • Edward Dan P. Aclaro — Tamuning, Guam 

  • Jonathan M. Adams — St. Helena Is., S.C. 

  • Nicholas C. Anselmo — Grapevine, Texas 

  • Ben Avesani — Cape Coral, Fla. 

  • Chris M. Bachura — Council Grove, Kan. 

  • Clifton G. Barse — Farmington, Mo. 

  • Robin P. Bruce — Denham Springs, La. 

  • John J. Cahill — Plainfield, Ill. 

  • Jason M. Carsey — Pataskala, Ohio 

  • Ryan C. Chalmers — Ottawa Lake, Mich. 

  • Kevin A. Clark — Overton, Texas 

  • Brian Climes — Port Richey, Fla. 

  • Michel Darnell — Marion, Ill. 

  • Aaron K. Darst — Des Plaines, Ill. 

  • Christopher J. Downs — Caldwell, Idaho 

  • Scott L. Elliott — York, Pa. 

  • Leon D. Farineau — Huntsville, Ala. 

  • Bryan Fischer — Bossier City, La. 

  • Davis Flannagan — Sanger, Texas 

  • Thomas Fox — Big Lake, Minn. 

  • Harlan S. Freeman — Amissville, Va. 

  • Ryan P. Gilden — Bolivar, Mo. 

  • Andrei M. Gogulia — Hollywood, Fla. 

  • Thomas M. Hayes — Somers, Conn. 

  • Michael D. Holton — Santa Ana, Calif. 

  • Matthew G. Key — Williamston, Mich. 

  • Ryan Lee — San Gabriel, Calif. 

  • Jeremiah S. Lilly — Sunnyvale, Calif. 

  • Richard A. McDuffie — Newton, N.C. 

  • Paul J. Mceachern — Livonia, Mich. 

  • Donald B. Meng — Las Vegas, Nev. 

  • Douglas J. Monaghan — Monroe, N.C. 

  • Daniel W. Monroe — Sacramento, Calif. 

  • Sean P. Morgan — Lake Wales, Fla. 

  • William C. Nance — Noble, Okla. 

  • Aleksei Naranovich — Ozark, Mo. 

  • Mark Steven K. Oskins — McDonald, Tenn. 

  • Jacob B. Oswald — Rigby, Idaho 

  • George Paleologos — Chicago, Ill. 

  • Brandon D. Parady — Old Town, Maine 

  • Steven A. Pastir — Stratford, Conn. 

  • Jose L. Ramirez — Wichita, Kan. 

  • Nicholas A. Rispoli — Griffith, Ind.

  • Jeff A. Roberts — Harrisburg, Ill. 

  • Benjamin Rossman — Baxter Springs, Kan. 

  • Joseph C. Sabba — Ooltewah, Tenn. 

  • Alexander T. Sanford — Mashpee, Mass. 

  • Corey A. Sellers — Lebanon, Tenn. 

  • Shaun M. Sessa — Odessa, Texas 

  • Benjamin D. Severson — Madison, Wis. 

  • Jonathan F. Sherwood — Hereford, Ariz. 

  • Lowell D. Sowers — Virginia Beach, Va. 

  • Ryan J. Stafki — Wellington, Colo. 

  • Ryan A. Sussman — South Ozone Park, N.Y. 

  • Brandon W. Sweet — Colorado Springs, Colo. 

  • Jenna L. Tenbrook — Broadview, Ill. 

  • Keith E. Textor — Gerry, N.Y. 

  • Robert M. Veazie — Tampa, Fla. 

  • Robert C. Veach — Moore, Okla. 

  • Richard Vijeh — Rocklin, Calif. 

  • James K. Whaley — Park Hills, Mo. 

  • Joshua J. Whiteman — San Bernardino, Calif. 

  • Jason A. Whitworth — Belvidere, Ill. 

  • Donald J. Williams — Caledonia, N.Y. 

  • Conrad R. Wilson — Reno, Nev. 

  • Michael D. Wray — Roanoke, Va. 

“Achieving World Class status is important to me because I am hoping it will add substantial credibility to the high school automotive program that I teach and I hope it will serve as an example to my students that with effort and persistence, they can achieve their own goals and reach their own level of excellence too.” – Michael Derek Wray, DAYTEC – Charles W. Day Technical Education Center, Roanoke, Virginia 

“In my opinion, any individual who attains this level of certification is someone who has real passion for the craft. This is more than just a job. Achieving this status is indicative of people who have a real love of the industry. – Christopher Bachura, Bachura Family Automotive, Council Grove, Kansas 

Technicians recognized with ASE World Class status have proven their dedication to mastering the technologies and service procedures required to maintain and repair today’s increasingly complex vehicles. 

Congratulations to this year’s ASE World Class Technicians!    

For more information about the Auto Care Association’s World Class Technician certification qualifications, timing and recognition, visit the association’s World Class Technician webpage.  

For more information about ASE and service professional certification, visit ase.com/worldclass.