News & Events

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL (October 9, 2018) – The Hertz Corporation has donated $25,000 to the Collision Repair Education Foundation to assist the charitable organization’s efforts to support high school and college collision school programs, instructors, and students across the country.

“The body shop and insurance industries have been instrumental partners over the past 20 years, so we certainly understand the industry’s need for qualified graduates of collision school programs,” said Bob Stuart, Hertz Executive Vice President of Global Sales. “We are proud to show our support by helping to provide meaningful opportunities for these students in collision education.”

Collision Repair Education Foundation Executive Director Clark Plucinski said, “I would like to thank Hertz for their support of the Education Foundation’s work improving high school and college collision school programs. Improving collision schools helps students have the skills industry employers need, and connecting those students with the array of career opportunities in our industry, they are better prepared to enter the industry as productive, efficient entry-level employees.”

Industry members interested in joining the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s roster of supporters to assist high school and post-secondary collision school programs and students should contact Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at (312)231-0258 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org.

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About HERTZ:

The Hertz Corporation, a subsidiary of Hertz Global Holdings, Inc., operates the Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty vehicle rental brands in approximately 10,200 corporate and franchisee locations throughout North America, Europe, The Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The Hertz Corporation is one of the largest worldwide rental companies, and the Hertz brand is one of the most recognized in the world. Product and service initiatives such as Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, Ultimate Choice, Carfirmations, Mobile Wi-Fi and unique vehicles offered through the Adrenaline, Dream, Green and Prestige Collections set Hertz apart from the competition. Additionally, The Hertz Corporation owns the vehicle leasing and fleet management leader Donlen, operates the Firefly vehicle rental brand and Hertz 24/7 car sharing business in international markets and sells vehicles through Hertz Car Sales. For more information about The Hertz Corporation, visit: www.hertz.com.

About the Collision Repair Education Foundation:

The Collision Repair Education Foundation, founded in 1991, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting collision repair educational programs, schools, and students to create qualified, entry-level employees and connect them with an array of career opportunities. For information on how to donate to programs supported by the Education Foundation visit us online at: www.CollisionEducationFoundation.org.

Hoffman Estates, IL – September 27, 2018– The Collision Repair Education Foundation fall schedule of career fairs, offered in partnership with the TechForce Foundation, provides collision and auto service industry businesses with the opportunity to connect with high school and college transportation students across the country. Through these partnerships, the fall events will bring together over 2,500 collision, auto service, heavy duty, and diesel students to participating employers.

Employers who are interested in participating at the events should contact Brandon Eckenrode, Director of Development for the Education Foundation via email at Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org or (312) 231-0258  

The remaining fall 2018 schedule includes:

• Topeka, KS (10/11) – Washburn Institute of Technology
• Concord, NC (10/18) – Axalta Coating Systems Customer Experience Center
• Jamaica, NY (11/27) – NYADI – The College of Technology for Transportation
• Columbus, OH (12/6) – Fort Hayes Career Center

The Education Foundation plays an active role in facilitating on-site interviews, employment related presentations, and ensuring students are well prepared for meeting company representatives.

“Connecting students with the array of career opportunities available to them in the industry is a core component of the Education Foundation’s mission,” says Brandon Eckenrode, Director of Development for the Education Foundation. “Our transportation career fairs provide the perfect opportunity for industry employers to meet and interview students who have trained for entry-level positions in collision repair and other related automotive professions.”

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About the Collision Repair Education Foundation:

The Collision Repair Education Foundation, founded in 1991, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting collision repair educational programs, schools, and students to create qualified, entry-level employees and connect them with an array of career opportunities. For information on how to donate to programs supported by the Education Foundation visit us online at: www.CollisionEducationFoundation.org.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL – September 14, 2018 – The Collision Repair Education Foundation is currently accepting nominations for its “Collision Student of the Year” award. The deadline for nominations is September 21, 2018.

Launched two years ago, the Collision Student of the Year award, seeks to recognize truly outstanding students training for a career in the collision industry. Nominated students must currently be studying collision repair/refinishing at a school that has completed the Foundation’s 2018-2019 Collision Repair School Solutions Survey.

“We encourage instructors who would like to recognize the academic achievement, collision repair and refinish training success and drive of their best students to submit nominations for the award,” said Melissa Marscin, Director of Operations/Administration for the Foundation.

Instructors who would like to nominate a student can download a nomination form from the Foundation’s website. (https://www.collisioneducationfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/2018-Student-of-the-year-application.pdf)

In addition to an instructor endorsement, students must submit a one-minute video to the Foundation explaining his/her academic and collision course achievements, future plans for his/her career, and why he/she enjoys being in the collision industry.

Winners of the Collision Student of the Year award and their instructors must be able to attend the Foundation’s reception on October 30th at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nev. The award will cover two nights of hotel each for the instructor and for the student, airfare (or mileage if driving), and meals.

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About the Collision Repair Education Foundation:

The Collision Repair Education Foundation, founded in 1991, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting collision repair educational programs, schools, and students to create qualified, entry-level employees and connect them with an array of career opportunities. For information on how to donate to programs supported by the Education Foundation visit us online at: www.CollisionEducationFoundation.org.

OVER $250,000 IN COLLISION SCHOOL GRANTS TO BE AWARDED DURING PARTNER AND MAKEOVER CELEBRATION

Hoffman Estates, IL –September 12, 2018– Collision industry members are invited to join the Collision Repair Education Foundation during their annual reception the evening of Tuesday, October 30th from 9:00 p.m.-10:15 p.m. (PDT) in the Renaissance 1 Room at the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel during the 2018 SEMA Show. During the reception, attendees will hear about the organization’s efforts to support high school and post-secondary collision students, 2017 donors/supporters will be highlighted, and winners of the annual 2018 Ultimate Collision Education Makeover school grants will be announced.

The Foundation will also announce the winner of both its Student of Year and Collision School Instructor of the Year awards celebrating the achievement of outstanding students training for a career in the collision industry and educators. Industry members will also have an opportunity to meet and greet attending collision school instructors and students.

Collision Repair Education Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode said, “Now more than ever, collision school programs need the industry’s support and we welcome the industry to join us during this reception to not only recognize our current industry partners and participating schools but also showcase opportunities how others can get involved with us to fuel the future of the industry.”

Industry members are asked to RSVP online (http://bit.ly/CREFSEMA18) for the reception. Questions regarding the reception and/or the Education Foundation’s efforts to support the future of the collision industry can be directed to Director of Development, Brandon Eckenrode at Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org or 312.231.0258.

Additional details of the event will be made available as the date approaches.

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About the Collision Repair Education Foundation:

The Collision Repair Education Foundation, founded in 1991, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting collision repair educational programs, schools, and students to create qualified, entry-level employees and connect them with an array of career opportunities. For information on how to donate to programs supported by the Education Foundation visit us online at: www.CollisionEducationFoundation.org.

(Hoffman Estates, Ill. – August 28, 2018) – In addition to their $3,370,740 software donation last year through a partnership with the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), Audatex,  a Solera Company, has committed to donating $25,000 to the Foundation annually for the next five years. The funds are unrestricted and will be used to support collision repair education students and programs in North America.

“We see a long-term commitment to CREF as a commitment to the health and growth of the automotive repair industry,” said Don Mikrut, Vice President, Solera Global SMR Service Sales. The partnership aims to provide today’s collision repair students and training programs with the tools and resources they need to succeed in the continually evolving repair industry.

“Vehicles continue to get smarter and more complex and it’s crucial that the technicians who work on them receive the best training,” said Mikrut.

Audatex also collaborates with CREF on the Audatex Educational Institutions Program, which provides eligible collision schools in North America with access to Audatex Estimating software, online courses and training, a custom curriculum that includes CEUs and I-CAR points, and technical support.

Mikrut said, “Audatex partners with CREF because they support and enable the training of collision and repair technicians. The automotive workforce continues to age and sees fewer young adults enrolling in training programs – we want to help CREF attract students and train them with the best, most advanced technology.”

The partnership between CREF and Audatex Educational Institutions Program has provided subscriptions to the Audatex estimating software to 269 collision repair programs at schools in 41 states and continues to grow each year.

“We want to see CREF, and by extension, the collision industry, thrive by certifying qualified, knowledgeable technicians,” said Mikrut.

To qualify for participation in the Audatex Educational Institutions Program and access the estimating software, online courses and training, and technical support Audatex offers, technical and vocational schools in the USA and Canada that offer a collision repair program should fill out the Educational Institutions Program Contact Form on the Audatex website, www.Audatex.us.

Companies and individuals interested in supporting high school and technical college collision school programs, instructors, and students should contact Collision Repair Education Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org or 847.463.5244.

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About the Collision Repair Education Foundation:

The Collision Repair Education Foundation, founded in 1991, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting collision repair educational programs, schools, and students to create qualified, entry-level employees and connect them with an array of career opportunities. For information on how to donate to programs supported by the Education Foundation visit us online at: www.CollisionEducationFoundation.org.

(Hoffman Estates, Ill. – August 24, 2018) – The Collision Repair Education Foundation announced that nominations are now being accepted for the Instructor of the Year award that recognizes the achievement of secondary and post-secondary collision school instructors.

The collision instructors working at career and technical schools and colleges across the U.S. have one of the most important and challenging jobs; to teach and guide young men and women towards becoming a successful asset to the collision industry and to have a thriving and fulfilling career.

 “The Instructor of the Year Award recognizes an instructor who has gone above and beyond his/her roles and responsibilities as an educator to become a true leader, role model and mentor of the students they teach,” said Melissa Marscin, director of operations and administration for the Foundation. “We urge industry members and administrators to think of the collision instructors they know who set an example for all to follow and nominate them for this recognition.”

A nomination form is available online at:

https://www.collisioneducationfoundation.org/instructor-of-the-year-form

An instructor must be nominated by a third party. However, the third party should notify the nominated instructor prior to submitting the application, in order that the instructor can fill out the biographical information and school information accurately.

This application is only available for collision repair instructors teaching at a career and technical school or college.

The deadline to submit nominations is September, 21, 2018.

The winning collision instructor will receive a paid trip to SEMA 2018 in Las Vegas, Nev. and will be recognized at the Foundation’s Industry Reception and Instructor Roundtable events.

 

For more information about the Instructor of the Year award, contact Marscin at Melissa.Marscin@ed-foundation.org or 847.463.5282.

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About the Collision Repair Education Foundation:

The Collision Repair Education Foundation, founded in 1991, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting collision repair educational programs, schools, and students to create qualified, entry-level employees and connect them with an array of career opportunities. For information on how to donate to programs supported by the Education Foundation visit us online at: www.CollisionEducationFoundation.org.