LEESBURG, Va. – Feb. 17, 2026 – ASE Connects, the workforce initiative led by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) in partnership with WrenchWay, announces a new collaboration with Worldpac aimed at helping shops, dealerships and OEMs better connect with education programs to support the technician pipeline.
“Strong partnerships between industry and education are essential to solving the technician shortage,” said Dave Johnson, president and CEO of ASE. “By partnering with Worldpac, we are expanding the reach of ASE Connects and providing more shops with the opportunity to meaningfully support schools and students while strengthening their own workforce pipelines.”
The automotive industry continues to face a critical technician shortage driven by an aging workforce and declining enrollment in career and technical education programs. ASE Connects was created to help address these challenges by making it easier for schools and the industry to connect, collaborate and build stronger technician pipelines at a local level.
Through this partnership, Worldpac will promote ASE Connects to its customers and help raise awareness of the tools, data and resources available through the platform. ASE Connects memberships give shops, dealerships and OEMs the ability to build real relationships with schools to educate future technicians, access to real-time insights on technician pay, benefits and labor rates and elevate leadership and employee management practices that support long-term retention strategies.
“Worldpac plays an important role in the aftermarket and their commitment to supporting the future of the industry makes them an ideal partner,” said Jay Goninen, co-founder and president of WrenchWay. “By working together, we’re making it easier for shops and dealerships to engage with schools, support students and take a more proactive role in developing the next generation of technicians.”
ASE Connects is an initiative led by ASE in partnership with WrenchWay and is built to create a single, trusted source of truth for school-to-industry connections nationwide. The platform helps reduce friction in outreach, ensures contacts are accurate and up to date and gives businesses a clearer path to getting involved with education programs in their communities.
Membership fees directly support the technology, tools and platform enhancements that help schools and industry partners connect more easily and work together more effectively. Worldpac customers receive a discounted rate for ASE Connects membership as part of the partnership. To learn more, visit https://wrenchway.com/partners/worldpac/
About ASE Connects
ASE Connects is a national workforce initiative led by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) in partnership with WrenchWay. The program is designed to strengthen school–industry relationships, expand access to reliable workforce data, and promote and improve automotive, diesel, and collision careers.
About Worldpac
Worldpac is North America’s premier wholesale distributor of Genuine Original Equipment, National Aftermarket, and proprietary Exclusive Brands. Dedicated to the professional repair community across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, we provide the critical parts and logistics required to keep the industry moving.
Leveraging over 30 years of specialized import expertise, Worldpac has defined excellence in the automotive aftermarket since 1995. Our robust infrastructure—featuring over 300 strategic branches and 8 master distribution centers—provides immediate access to a massive inventory of 200,000+ SKUs covering 40+ import and domestic car lines.
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 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.