Bill KerstenLEESBURG, VA (May 15, 2007) - The board of directors of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) announced several staff changes within the organization. The board has named COO/CFO Tim Zilke to succeed Ron Weiner, ASE's president and CEO for 25 years, effective Jan. 1, 2008. Zilke, the current COO/CFO, is a 15-year veteran of ASE.
"This transition period will ensure that the company has a smooth transfer of leadership, and Ron will continue in a consulting role for a time beyond 2008," ASE Board of Directors Chairman Stan Elmore says.
A native of Deerfield, MI, Zilke has a strong commitment to the automotive industry. He joined ASE in 1991 as vice president and CFO and has been a key member of the ASE management team since then. He was promoted to senior vice president/CFO in 1997, and named COO/CFO in 2003. He holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Cleary University in Ypsilanti, MI.; an MBA from Marymount University in Arlington, VA; and is an experienced leader with experience in human resources, operations, finance, customer service and information technology.
"I feel very positive about the future and feel the timing is right to begin a transition," says Weiner, who has been involved with ASE most of his professional life.
"Over the last 30 years, Ron's contribution to the organization has been enormous," Elmore says. "While a Denver shop owner, he served two terms on the founding ASE board of directors and has served as ASE president since l982. Under Ron's leadership, ASE has enjoyed tremendous growth and earned a prestigious reputation within the occupational testing industry. Ron has developed a great team that will step up to fill his shoes and drive ASE into the future without missing a beat. He has agreed to remain available to assist ASE as a consultant."
Other changes within the organization include the promotion of Trish Serratore to senior vice president and the extension of Bill Kersten's tenure as president of the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF). Originally set to retire in 2008, Kersten has agreed to remain in his position to continue the work he began in 2005.
(Source: ASE)
