World Class Wednesday: Michael McNeely: Autonomous Vehicles, Antique Watches, and Advancing in Automotive

Earning the title of Automotive Service Excellence World-Class Technician is no small accomplishment. To be recognized as ASE 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 ASE World Class is no small feat. As of 2025, only 2,000 technicians have achieved ASE World Class status.

In this Q&A, Motor Age sat down with Michael McNeely — an ASE World Class Technician and Diesel Instructor at Dade County public schools in Miami, Florida — to learn more about his journey in the automotive industry and how gaining ASE World Class status has helped advance his career.

Motor Age: Please introduce yourself and tell us about your experience in the automotive industry.

McNeely: I got into the industry back in 1982. I went to University of Northern Ohio for two years, and I've been working in the automotive industry ever since. I've been a technician, shop foreman, a service technician, and now I'm a schoolteacher for the Dade County public schools. I got my (ASE) World Class certification in 2024.

Motor Age: What's the most memorable repair you've ever completed?   

McNeely: In the industry, you never replace an Automotive Engine Computer (ECM) within a car because they never go bad. I had an instance where we had to. We did a diagnosis on a vehicle and went through all the things that you were supposed to do. Eventually, we ended up having to pull the ECM out of the dash. We found a bullet inside of it. There must have been a fight or something, and a gun went off. If you looked closely, you could see a hole in the dash, and we found that the bullet hit the computer and killed the truck.

Motor Age: Tell us one thing about you that we can't guess from your certifications.

McNeely: I rebuild antique watches from the 1800s. I have all the equipment in my house, and I go through them and rebuild them so they work again.

Motor Age: What automotive technology trend are you most excited about/most concerned about? 

McNeely: I like autonomous vehicles. I think that they’re going to eventually take over the industry.

Motor Age: How has ASE certification helped advance your career? 

McNeely: When you walk in with a World Class Master certification that no one else has at a repair shop, that's a big deal. It can really help anyone in their career as a technician or educator.