ASE Connects, the workforce initiative led by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) in partnership with WrenchWay, is collaborating with Worldpac to help 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.”

Ongoing Technician Shortage

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. 

Connecting with Future Technicians

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.”

Source for School-to-Industry Connections 

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.