Des Plaines, Ill., April, 2018 – Wheels Maintenance Assistance Program (MAP) team members Christopher Bellios and Jean Pierre Widmaier have earned the prestigious World Class Technician Award issued by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).
Christopher and Jean Pierre join an elite group of the top 1% of U.S. automotive technicians who have achieved World Class status. They are two of only 38 recipients of the 2018 award. To qualify, professionals must test for and obtain ASE certification in 22 specialty areas.
“Earning World Class Technician Status is a major accomplishment that requires a significant commitment of time outside of work,” said Brian Simek, Sr. Manager, Maintenance & Mechanical Repair. “We’re proud of Christopher and Jean Pierre for their dedication to providing world-class service to our clients.”
Wheels has a strong commitment to continuing education and requires that all MAP technical advisors become ASE-certified. The majority of Wheels advisors have also achieved advanced certification, with more than 30 advisors holding Master Technician or Dual Master status (car and truck repairs). Eleven Wheels technicians hold World Class status (car, truck, and auto body repairs).
Christopher has been with Wheels nearly 7 years and is a MAP Supervisor for our Gurnee, IL call center. In addition he serves as that location’s Business Continuity Coordinator. Jean Pierre Widmaier joined Wheels 12 years ago and is currently an Advisor with the MAP response team. He also assists our Canada MAP and Collision teams with French translations.
Christopher and Jean Pierre will receive a special certificate signed by the presidents of ASE and the Auto Care Association as well as an embroidered shoulder insignia. In addition, their names will be inscribed in an honor book in the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Michigan.
About ASE
Incorporated on June 12, 1972, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) was established as a non-profit organization to help improve the quality of automotive service and repair through the voluntary testing and certification of automotive technicians and parts specialists. Today, there are more than 300,000 ASE-certified professionals working in dealerships, independent shops, service stations, collision repair shops, auto parts stores, fleets, schools and colleges throughout the country. For more information about ASE, visit www.ase.com.
About the Auto Care Association
Based in Bethesda, Md., the Auto Care Association has nearly 3,000 member companies that represent some 150,000 independent automotive businesses that manufacture, distribute and sell motor vehicle parts, accessories, tools, equipment, materials and supplies, and perform vehicle service and repair. Visit www.autocare.org.
About Wheels
Wheels, Inc. was established in 1939 as the world’s first automotive fleet leasing and management company. Seventy-nine years later, Wheels is one of the largest privately-held companies in North America, featuring a portfolio of more than 325,000 vehicles under management across the continent, capabilities in 54 countries worldwide, and a client base that consists of some of the best-known businesses in the world. In addition to vehicle acquisition and leasing, Wheels provides numerous specialized services that help all sorts of organizations manage their fleets. These include driver/vehicle support functions like maintenance management, fuel cards, and registration processing, as well as strategic account-level consultation to drive optimal fleet efficiency and measure results. For additional information, please contact [email protected].
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