LEESBURG, Va. – Jan. 21, 2026 – The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) has announced its officers and board members for the upcoming year.
The new chair of the board of directors is John Wolf, president, Snap-on Business Solutions and Tom Palermo, general manager, Preferred Automotive Specialists is vice chair. John Hanighen, president and CEO at Cloyes Manufacturing and Gary Uyematsu, national technical training manager at BMW of North America are serving as treasurer and secretary, respectively. Last year’s chair, Jason Rainey, vice president, NAPA AutoCare/AAA, is now serving as past chair.
Six new governors are serving on the ASE board of governors: Aaron Charbonneau of General Motors, Chris Charton of Toyota, Brent Franks of North Texas Automotive Dealers Association, Mike McSorley of Goodyear, Gerry Mead of TravelCenters of America and Jake Sorenson of McNeil’s Auto Repair.
Six individuals have transitioned from the board after completing their board terms: Karen Allison of Breeden Dodge Chrysler Jeep, Stacy Balzer of Ford, Tej Gill of Pohanka Lexus, Elisha Huddleston of General Motors, Rebecca Mahan of Clarience Technologies and Mike Mallet of Freightliner.
“On behalf of the ASE team, I look forward to collaborating closely with the new officers and board members whose knowledge and experience will be invaluable to ASE,” said Dave Johnson, ASE president and CEO. “Together, we will continue to reinforce ASE’s leadership in the transportation industry and explore new ways to best serve technicians, service providers and vehicle owners.”
About the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)
Established in 1972 as a non-profit organization, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) is a driving force in the transportation industry. As an independent third party, ASE upholds and promotes high standards of service and repair through the assessment, certification and credentialing of current and future industry professionals, and the prestigious ASE Blue Seal logo identifies professionals who possess the essential knowledge and skills to perform with excellence. Today, there are approximately 220,000 ASE Certified professionals at work in dealerships, independent shops, collision repair shops, auto parts stores, fleets, schools and colleges throughout the country. For more information about ASE, visit www.ase.com.