Mechanic Steven Whittenberg has been selected as the 2022 Big O Tires ASE Technician of the Year. Whittenberg, who works at the Big O Tires store on Missouri Boulevard in Jefferson City, Mo., will receive a $1,000 cash prize and a trip to the ASE Technician of the Year Awards Banquet at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel in San Diego, Calif.
Mechanics with at least three certifications from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) are eligible to nominate themselves for the award. A panel of Big O Tires corporate representatives select the winner each year.
Jim Williams, Big O Tires senior territory manager, says Whittenberg currently holds four ASE certifications and plans to obtain the four remaining certifications by the end of the year to become a Master Certified Technician.
“Steven loves challenges and has been an exceptional employee for Big O Tires,” Williams says. “He is very dependable and is always willing to work with others to help them improve, as he wants to see his entire team succeed. His rapport with customers is always great, and he has built a large base of repeat business.”
Store manager Monte Shoultz says he is incredibly proud of Whittenberg’s progress in his mechanic career.
“Steven has come a long way from when we first hired him,” Shoultz says.
Big O Tires initially hired Whittenberg in March 2013, when he started as a tire technician. Within three months of employment, he was promoted to alignment technician, where he got his first exposure to light mechanical repairs such as tie rod ends, ball joints, brakes and some electrical work.
His experience in electrical repairs sparked an interest that led Whittenberg to pursue a position with Best Buy as an automotive electronics installer. Whittenberg spent six months with Best Buy, earning a mobile electronics certified professional accreditation before deciding he wanted to return to Big O Tires.
When Whittenberg rejoined Big O Tires, he committed himself to become the best mechanic he could be. He began watching online training videos, invested in more tools and challenged himself to take on any repair job that came into the shop.
“We are all proud of Steven’s selection as the Big O Tires ASE Technician of the Year and feel that he is extremely deserving of this award,” Williams says.