Q&A With Richard Ihlanfeldt
Earning the title of Automotive Service Excellence World Class Technician is no small accomplishment. To be recognized as World Class, these individuals have obtained ASE certification in 22 specialty areas: A1-A8 (automotive), T1-T8 (medium/heavy truck), B2-B5 (collision repair), and L1-L2 (advanced).
Not only is achieving certification in these areas impressive, but becoming World Class is no small feat. As of 2025, only 2,000 technicians have achieved World-Class status.
Motor Age sat down with Richard Ihlanfeldt, an ASE World Class Technician at Stevenson Hendrick Toyota in Jacksonville, North Carolina, to learn more about his journey in the automotive industry and how gaining World Class status has helped advance his career.
Motor Age: Please introduce yourself and tell us about your experience in the automotive industry.
Ihlanfeldt: I had no prior experience in the mechanical world. I did four years of active duty in the Marine Corps and then six years in the guard. When I got out of the Marine Corps, I was trying to find jobs. One of the jobs I found was as a lube tech at Toyota here locally. I decided to do that, and that's where I started. I bounced around a bit — going from Chrysler, Jeep, Mazda, and then a month later, they lost their franchise. I went to Toyota, spent a couple of years there, hopped to Kia, then Honda, back to Kia. I've been at Stevenson Hendrick Toyota for a little over three years, so I have about 16-plus years in the business. Before I came here to this Toyota dealership, I was already an ASE master. I was kind of burnt out on the business when I was with my last job at Kia, and I kind of wanted out. I always heard great things about Stevenson Hendrick Toyota, so I came over here. They're one of the main reasons I got my World-Class. Mr. Hendrick and his company do a very good job of supporting their employees, and that's one of his core values — service, leadership, and helping employees. They covered 100 percent of my attempt to get my World-Class. One of my Toyota trainers told me about World-Class. Probably within a week or two, I started to try to accomplish it. I don't remember the exact time I got it. I know the piece of paper I got says that I was awarded it in February of this year. I think 2024 is when I finished all the prerequisites for it. But as far as officially being titled it, it was February 2025.
Motor Age: What's the most memorable repair you've ever completed?
Ihlanfeldt: I don't know if it's the most memorable repair, but the most memorable thing I've probably done in the business is putting together and running a NASCAR motor at a competition I was selected to go to last year. The competition is between a Hendrick automotive technician and a motor sports technician. It was an amazing experience.
Motor Age: Tell us one thing about you that we can't guess from your certifications.
Ihlanfeldt: I am definitely a father. That's what I enjoy doing. The only other thing I would say is I own a weird car, and I used to do car shows.
Motor Age: What automotive technology trend are you most excited about, and most concerned about?
Ihlanfeldt: If there's anything I'm most concerned about, it's getting qualified technicians in the trade. It's a very stressful, hard job to do. On top of that, a flat rate really doesn't benefit quality work. I think that it's a deciding factor in having quality technicians, because flat rate doesn't generate techs that want to take the time to make sure they're doing things right. It just generates techs wanting to find out the quickest way to do this, and unfortunately, that may result in some less-than-quality repairs happening. I do enjoy hybrids. I don't think EVs are the way. I think hybrids are a great platform. The only other worry in this business is that manufacturers try to get more and more out of their vehicles. We are starting to see more issues related to that. With issues happening along the way because they're trying to get more out of the vehicle.
Motor Age: How has ASE certification helped advance your career?
Ihlanfeldt: I think having World Class helps me. If you look at me on paper, I look great. I used to tell people in the Marine Corps, if you've ever seen the Marine Corps dress blues, it doesn't matter if you take the ugliest person in the world and put them in those dress blues — they look great. So at least on paper, I look great. However, knowledge-wise, being ASE World Class is great as a technician to know how things work. It helps you understand how things are made and put together. The auto body courses made it easier for me to have a general understanding of how it all works. It may not directly translate into my job, but it definitely helps me expand my knowledge base.
