Contact:	Angie Wilson (800) 272-7467, ext. 216 angie@asashop.org
For Release:	Immediate News Bulletin ASA-69 November 10, 2008

ASA Mechanical Division Names
ASA/ASE Mechanical Technician of the Year

BEDFORD, TEXAS, November 10, 2008 - Mark Wagenblast, owner of Mark's Automotive Inc. in Bend, Ore., has been named the 2008 Automotive Service Association (ASA)/National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Mechanical Technician of the Year and will receive his award during the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) in Las Vegas. The award recognizes the ASA Mechanical Division member who received the highest score on the 2008 ASE master automobile certification test.

The award was presented Nov. 7, during the Automotive Service and Repair Week (ASRW) Awards Breakfast. ASRW is the umbrella under which CARS and NACE are being co-located at the Mandalay Bay and Convention Center.

ASRW is an industrywide event, which includes both the collision and mechanical segments of automotive service and repair. It allows both collision and mechanical service professionals to benefit from NACE and CARS.

When Wagenblast was informed of the award, he said: "I would like to thank ASA and ASE for this special recognition. This is truly an honor and the highlight of my professional career. My belief has always been to provide my customers with the best in service and to always put their best interest first. To accomplish this I believe an investment in continuing education and training has played a key role.

"I recognize that success is not merely an individual achievement and would like to give a sincere thank you to my lovely wife, Ginger, my children - Hunter and Piper - and the rest of my family. It is with their love, support and encouragement that I am able to achieve what I do."

Wagenblast, 47, has been in automotive service and repair 26 years. He started working on vehicles soon after he graduated from high school and earned an associate degree of applied science in automotive technology from Central Oregon Community College in Bend.

He has been an ASE master technician more than 20 years.

Wagenblast started Mark's Automotive in 1988. Although his shop specializes in Chrysler and Mitsibushi vehicles, it also works on all domestic vehicles and Asian imports. Mark's Automotive is also a NAPA Auto Care Center.

Because he believes continuing education is so important, Wagenblast spends more than 60 hours a year in classes, primarily those presented through the CARQUEST Technical Institute. He has also taken Automotive Management Institute (AMI) classes.

CARS is being held Nov. 5-8 as part of Automotive Service and Repair Week at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. To sign up for the official ASRW online daily highlighting the events of CARS, visit www.ASRWnow.com.

The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind dedicated to and governed by independent automotive service and repair professionals. ASA serves an international membership base that includes numerous affiliate, state and chapter groups from both the mechanical and collision repair segments of the automotive service industry. ASA's headquarters is in Bedford, Texas.

ASA advances professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair industry through education, representation and member services. For additional information about ASA, including past news releases, go to www.asashop.org, or visit ASA's legislative Web site at www.TakingTheHill.com.

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