World Class Wednesday: Randy Riggan: Repairing to Support

Earning the title of Automotive Service Excellence WorldClass 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 as of 2026, only 2,000 technicians have achieved World Class status.  

In this Q&A, Motor Age sat down with Randy Riggan — an ASE World Class technician for the City of Hamilton, Ohio — 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.

Riggan: I have spent over 35 years in automotive repair. Fourteen of them in the professional field after graduating with honors from Ashworth College in automotive repairs.

I specialize in driveability and electronic diagnosis. I am also a master emergency vehicle technician and involved in police, fire, and public works vehicle upfitting. I achieved ASE World Class status at age 44 in 2024.

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

Riggan: Many of my most memorable repairs are based on personal integrity and not the difficulty of the repair. We face challenging repairs almost daily, and as I often quote, if it were easy, anyone could do it. 

One of those moments was a time when I had a customer who was a single mother of two come into my shop asking for help. She had been recently quoted a price to replace her entire brake system for a hefty charge. I was able to thoroughly inspect the brake system and get her back on the road safely.

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

Riggan: I became very interested in automotive repair at a very young age. My mother raised my two sisters and me on minimum wage and only one vehicle, on which we were all dependent. My grandfather, who lived over 3 hours away, would often walk me through diagnosis and repairs via phone to help keep our car, appliances, and lawnmower working.

When visiting my grandparents, I would spend a lot of time in the garage, watching, learning, and helping him when I could. Aside from gaining knowledge in repairs, I learned the importance of patience, determination, and integrity. He was known by many as one who was willing to help anyone in need.

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

Riggan: One of the most promising technologies in the industry is Autonomous vehicles (AV1s). The biggest concern is the door that opens, which allows drivers to be unaware of their surroundings. AV1s diminish situational awareness when behind the wheel of an automobile.

We are a long way from relying on cameras, sensors, and computer modules to be able to react to real-life situations and conditions like weather, pedestrians, and construction zones. I am supportive of most of the technology used for added safety while driving.

For example, lane assist, blind spot indication, driver alert system, and adaptive cruise control. Because let's face it, we are all human and make mistakes, but allowing that same technology to completely remove human control from the equation is a scary thought for me.

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

Riggan: I began getting ASE certifications when I went into business for myself. It helped reassure customers of my knowledge and skills needed to properly diagnose and repair their vehicles.

Later on, reaching World Class status has opened up the door for job advancements and pay raises.