2026 World Class Technicians announced from ASE and Auto Care Association
The Auto Care Association and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) today announced the newest automotive professionals to earn the World Class Technician designation in 2026.
The ASE World Class Technician designation recognizes automotive service professionals who have demonstrated technical expertise and commitment to ongoing training and certification. To earn the designation, technicians must pass a series of ASE certification tests across multiple specialty areas.
This year's newly recognized ASE World Class Technicians represent a range of experience across the indsutry, 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.
What people are saying
“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