---
title: "ASE expands workforce development efforts with WrenchWay acquisition"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/e6c45a93-f979-45c5-9fc1-deb2c0faaf43
source: "Auto Service World"
original_url: https://www.autoserviceworld.com/ase-expands-workforce-development-efforts-with-wrenchway-acquisition/
author: "Adam Malik"
category: "Automotive"
industry: "Automotive"
topics: ["Finance & M&A","Development & multi-unit"]
published: 2026-07-06T10:30:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T13:18:16.441Z
image: https://www.autoserviceworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/01/puzzle-deal-merger-acquisition-1024x640-2.jpg
---

# ASE expands workforce development efforts with WrenchWay acquisition

**TL;DR:** The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) has acquired WrenchWay, a workforce development platform, to strengthen industry connections and support future technicians. The acquisition brings WrenchWay's team and technology into the ASE organization, building on an existing relationship between the two organizations.

*By Adam Malik, originally published in Auto Service World on 2026-07-06. [Read the original](https://www.autoserviceworld.com/ase-expands-workforce-development-efforts-with-wrenchway-acquisition/).*

## Story

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence has acquired WrenchWay, bringing the workforce development platform and its team into the ASE organization as part of a broader effort to strengthen industry connections and support future technicians.

Under the agreement, WrenchWay co-founders Jay Goninen and Mark Wilson, along with the company’s employees, will join ASE. The organizations said the move is intended to expand collaboration between schools, employers and industry partners while enhancing support for both current and future service professionals.

“Modernizing ASE has always meant more than updating our tests. It means rethinking how we serve technicians, shops, educators and the next generation entering the industry,” said Dave Johnson, president and CEO of ASE. “WrenchWay has built something remarkable and together we can deliver on that vision at a scale neither of us could achieve alone.”

The acquisition builds on an existing relationship between the two organizations. Earlier this year, ASE and WrenchWay launched ASE Connects, a platform designed to strengthen links between educational institutions and the transportation industry while providing workforce data and career pathway information for automotive, diesel and collision repair careers.

ASE said ASE Connects will remain a major focus following the acquisition, with WrenchWay’s technology and workforce development expertise expected to support additional initiatives across the organization.

“Growing up in the industry, ASE has always been a brand I admire and respect,” said Jay Goninen, co-founder and president of WrenchWay. “The opportunity to now be part of ASE’s future is both humbling and exciting.”

Mark Wilson, co-founder and CEO of WrenchWay, said the acquisition brings together two recognized industry brands focused on technician development and workforce growth.

“There are not many brands in this industry that every technician and every shop instantly recognize. ASE is one of them,” Wilson said.

The move comes as the automotive industry continues to face technician recruitment and retention challenges, with employers, educators and industry associations increasingly focused on building stronger pathways into the trades.

ASE said additional details regarding integration plans and what the transaction means for current users of WrenchWay platforms will be released in the coming weeks.

## Entities

- Automotive (sector)
- acquisition (topic)
- Auto Service World (publication)
- workforce development (topic)
- Adam Malik (person)
- industry connections (topic)
- Dave Johnson (person)
- ASE (company)
- WrenchWay (company)
- ASE acquisition of WrenchWay (deal)
- Jay Goninen (person)
- Mark Wilson (person)

---
Originally reported by Adam Malik, Auto Service World (https://www.autoserviceworld.com/ase-expands-workforce-development-efforts-with-wrenchway-acquisition/). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/e6c45a93-f979-45c5-9fc1-deb2c0faaf43).