Collision Repair Education Foundation

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Toyota Auto Body California Donates Nearly 1,000 Quarter Panels to Collision Students Through CREF

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (May 25, 2022) –

Toyota Motor North America, Inc. believes in taking charge of the future – and that’s exactly why they connected the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) to Toyota Auto Body California, Inc. for a donation of 944 quarter panels, valued at $632,480, which will benefit collision repair educational programs around the country. Quarter panels will be distributed to over 100 schools, immediately impacting over 3,000 students by allowing them to practice the skills needed to success in this field; however, the long-term impact will be much higher as instructors often reuse these panels in multiple semesters with many more students.

“Technician shortage concerns come up every time I talk to our certified collision centers, field offices and the industry,” Toyota Motor North America Collision Repair & Refinish Manager Kazuyo Jones explains why it’s important to connect industry with schools. “When Toyota comes across those part or vehicle donation opportunities, our organization wants to utilize those opportunities for people who need them. We need to energize the industry by doing what we can to support its future workforce.”

Collision education programs are frequently underfunded, limiting instructors’ ability to purchase vehicle parts to use while training students. By partnering with the Foundation, Toyota is helping ensure that the next generation of collision repair professionals receive the hands-on experience necessary to graduate with the skills they need to successfully join the industry as entry-level technicians.

“This type of in-kind donation is mentioned as one of the most needed items by collision programs across the US,” says CREF Director of Marketing and Project Management Amber Ritter. “This is truly an example of a donation that allows students to learn, practice and hone the important skills that lead to rewarding careers. Repetitions are an important part of the learning process, and Toyota’s donation is helping to make that possible.”

Industry members interested in getting involved and supporting the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s efforts to assist secondary and post-secondary collision repair training programs should contact Brandon Eckenrode, Managing Director, at 312-231-0258 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org. Monetary donations can be made online.

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.

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2009 CREF Scholarship Winner Pays It Forward

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (May 11, 2022) –

Most people have settled into their career by the time they reach the age of 39, so switching careers at such a stage in life may seem like a daunting prospect – especially when the choice was not of your own volition – but Susan Bock saw the challenge as an opportunity to expand her knowledge and examine her options.

Bock worked at an insurance agency for over 16 years, but in January 2009, her boss informed her that he had to let her go due to downsizing. “It was quite a shock as insurance was really all I had ever known career-wise, but I realized this would be a good opportunity to explore different career options,” she recalls.

Learning that she was eligible for a dislocated worker program since her former boss had laid off over 50% of his workforce, Bock enrolled at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, WI. Rather than discarding her years of experience in insurance, she decided to capitalize on her existing knowledge by looking at career options that would utilize that experience.

“I enrolled in the Vehicle Refinishing & Repair Technology associate degree program because I figured that I would need to understand how damaged vehicles are repaired if I wanted to seek a career as an insurance adjuster or write repair estimates for a collision repair facility,” Bock says.

Fox Valley’s degree program gave Bock “introductory hands-on experience with understanding how to repair a damaged vehicle. The prospect of heading into shop classes with zero knowledge was incredibly daunting; it was quite an adjustment going from using office equipment to learning how to look for damage on a vehicle, weld (which I absolutely loved), hammer out dents, disassemble and reassemble parts of the vehicle and refinish vehicles, including looking up color codes and mixing toners. And those were just a few of the things I learned!”

“Thankfully, our instructors Jerry Goodson and Joe Kircher were fantastic with teaching someone with zero collision repair skill or knowledge and providing a deeper understanding of the industry,” Bock adds. “Their support, combined with my desire to learn all I could, allowed me to do more than simply get through the course – I thrived!”

With support from Goodson, Bock applied for and won a $5,000 scholarship from the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) and AkzoNobel to assist in funding her attempts to further her education in the field. “The CREF scholarship aided me in purchasing the collision repair tools needed to go to school,” Bock shares. “The monies removed a stressor at that time, and with being unemployed, that really meant a lot to have support from the industry.”
“Susan looks at every challenge as an opportunity, and her passion for learning does not go unnoticed,” Goodson said at the time. “It is my belief that she will be very successful in whatever facet of the collision industry she may choose.”

Although Bock initially intended to become an auto physical damage appraiser, she ultimately chose a different path. In January 2012, she began working as an Instructional Designer at I-CAR. “Instead of ending up as a shop estimator or an insurance adjuster, I decided to research, develop and write training courses for the collision repair industry,” Bock notes. “Upon getting hired at I-CAR, I set up an automatic paycheck donation to CREF because I feel it’s important to keep paying it forward.

“Vehicles get damaged and need to be repaired, and we need people to perform those repairs,” Bock continues. “That’s why it is everyone’s responsibility to support the schools that are cultivating the incoming workforce to help ensure that vehicles are repaired safely and properly.”

Acknowledging that becoming an Instructional Designer was “not a career path that had ever entered my mind – or that I was even aware of as an option,” Bock indicates that it was a “great learning experience which laid the foundation for my next role at I-CAR.”

After four years in her first role, Bock moved to the Repairability Technical Support team as an Industry Technical Relations associate, ultimately advancing to Senior Associate Industry Technical Relations. “This position includes answering incoming technical questions via Ask I-CAR emails and phone calls,” she explains. “These questions often lead to I-CAR Collision Repair News articles which further helps the industry. Continuing to assist the industry is very important to me.”

Bock’s journey into the collision repair industry serves as an inspiring example of the heights that can be reached with dedication and a desire to grow, and she feels it’s important for students entering the industry to understand that the industry offers much more than many realize. “Go in prepared to learn everything you can, and understand that there are many different career options available to you. This is a growing field, and we need more new techs coming into this profession, but we need qualified professionals entering other roles as well.”

Industry members interested in getting involved and supporting the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s efforts to assist secondary and post-secondary collision repair training programs should contact Brandon Eckenrode, Managing Director, at 312-231-0258 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org. Monetary donations can be made online.

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

If you would like more information about this topic, please email info@ed-foundation.org

 

 

 

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Houston I-CAR Committee “Adopts” Kingwood Park High School

Hoffman Estates, Ill.(April 12, 2022) –
 

Getting involved with local collision repair training programs can seem daunting, but the rewards are well worth the effort, as Chris Ryland, Houston I-CAR Committee Chair and instructor, can attest. Since the Houston I-CAR Committee “adopted” Kingwood Park High School, the positive impacts have been apparent.

“We’re seeing an influx of students. The more we’ve gotten involved with helping, the more notoriety the school gets, leading to increased interest in their collision program,” explains Ryland who has been involved with the committee since 2014and has served as a committee chair since 2017. “We’re able to provide them with materials that can be used to educate students, and we’re also working on a way to support Kingwood Park even further by having collision professionals visit the school as guest lecturers.”

Kingwood Park High School has received support from the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) every year since 2015, and in 2017, program instructor Jeff Wilson joined the Houston I-CAR Committee where that relationship was fostered and continues to grow. “Being a part of the Houston I-CAR committee has also allowed me to better prepare my lessons for the students enrolled in the program,” he shares.

The relationship also benefits the collision program from a financial perspective. “The support we receive from the Houston I-CAR Committee and CREF filled that budgetary gap with consumables that generally would have eaten up my budget. Both institutions have been a main contributor to the success of my students who complete the course,” Wilson acknowledges.

Most recently, the Houston I-CAR Committee donated over $15,000 worth of materials to the school during an Open House event.

“We brought in the donations so they could see everything, and then we gave a presentation,” Ryland recalls. “Once the floor opened up, we were tied up with different parents and students all night long. It was interesting, and a lot of parents questioned whether their kids were on the right path and whether they need to attend trade school after graduation. Hopefully, they’ll all enter our industry in the near future.”

“As great as it felt to donate the materials, the best part was actually talking with the students and their parents because it gave us an opportunity to explain that this is a great trade for their children,” Ryland continues. “The only way to attract new blood into this industry is by talking with parents and students to communicate how collision repair is changing and growing –not declining! –and make sure they’re aware of the many career paths they can take if they want a lucrative career. We have to engage them at a young age before they accrue a bunch of unnecessary college debt.”
 
“Students were so excited that they couldn’t wait to dig through everything and start using the materials,” Wilson reports. “Having new toys always piques our students’ interest, and we are so grateful to the Houston I-CAR Committee, UTI, SH Nissan, Leading Edge Collision, 3M, Axalta and CREF for donating time, encouragement, advice and over $15,000 worth of supplies to KPHS.”
 
Wilson agrees that industry’s engagement with students and parents is a vital component to successfully promoting collision repair careers. “Hearing positive feedback from actual industry professionals who spend every day in the field opened the eyes of many parents. Having a relationship with local shops/industry professionals helps with that ‘I don’t know’ factor which many students and parents have when entering this industry. With these partners, I have real-world facts being filtered to the students and their parents, which leads them to a better understanding as to what all is involved in the industry.”
 
“The ONLY way to get new techs into this industry is by getting young people involved, and we can only do that if we talk to students and their parents,” Ryland stressed. “Parents want their kids to do better than they did, but many of them don’t understand that working with hands as a skilled technician can lead to a great career path for their children. College isn’t for everyone, and there’s no reason for students who are mechanically inclined to incur student debt; instead, they should train to enter this industry where they could be earning $70,000 a year by the time their peers graduate from college. But the only way they’ll realize that is if the industry gets involved with the schools and informs them of those opportunities because no one else is going to tell them that.”
 
Ryland also encourages every shop to hire and invest in new trainees. “The technician pool is shrinking every day, and the only way to fill positions is to hire and train new people. If a shop isn’t bringing new trainees in, not only are they behind the eight ball-they’re also missing the boat completely. Shops can’t afford NOT to have a trainee on their payroll if they want to move forward and be properly staffed in the future. More techs are retiring than are coming to work, so if you’re not training, you’re in trouble.”
 
Industry members interested in getting involved and supporting the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s efforts to assist secondary and post-secondary collision repair training programs should contact Brandon Eckenrode, Managing Director, at 312-231-0258 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org. Monetary donations can be made online.

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.

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If you would like more information about this topic, please email info@ed-foundation.org.

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Software for Students: Audatex, CCC and Mitchell Provide 500+ Collision Schools with Free Subscriptions Through CREF

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (April 12, 2022) –

 

Year after year, Audatex, a Solera Company; CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc. (CCC); and Mitchell, an Enlyte company, partner with the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) to support secondary and post-secondary students by donating software subscriptions to help ensure that future collision repair technicians learn on the same software widely used by the collision repair facilities and insurance carriers where they will soon seek employment – at no cost to the school or students. In 2021, software subscriptions valued at nearly $10 million were donated to over 500 schools’ collision repair educational programs across the United States.

“The Foundation is grateful to Audatex, CCC and Mitchell for their generous ongoing support of the collision industry’s education system and providing this invaluable opportunity for the next generation of technicians, estimators and suppliers,” says CREF Director of Operations and Impact Melissa Marscin. “Due to very limited funding, collision schools cannot always afford to purchase the latest programs and technologies for students to learn on. Thanks to Audatex, CCC and Mitchell, these schools are able to teach their students on the same program that they’re likely to encounter after graduation, ultimately making them better entry-level employees since students who have access to the most recent technology during their education are more likely to be successful when they begin their career in the industry.”

“The Foundation thanks Audatex for the continued support of the industry’s pre-employment education system,” said CREF Managing Director Brandon Eckenrode. “The ability to learn on current technology as a student has been proven to drive career success when these young people join the workforce.”

Audatex’s generous software donations are part of the company’s collaboration with the Foundation on the Audatex Educational Institutions Program, which also provides eligible schools with access to online courses and training, a custom curriculum that includes CEUs and I-CAR points, and technical support. This partnership has provided Audatex estimating software to nearly 300 schools’ collision repair programs in 41 states, a number that increases each year. To qualify for the Audatex Educational Institutions Program, technical schools in the United States and Canada offering a collision repair program must complete the Educational Institutions Program contact form found at Audatex.us.

“Access to the technologies and tools collision repair professionals rely on every day is essential for students to hone their craft and be productive immediately upon entering the workforce,” said Andreas Hecht, senior vice president, OEM services group, CCC. “CCC is proud to build upon our decades of support, equipping tomorrow’s estimators and technicians with the technology they to be successful, and have a positive impact on the industry.”  

CCC, a founding member of CREF, has helped tens of thousands of students from more than 500 schools through its generous donation of software, onsite and virtual training, and world-class technical support services, delivered at no cost to the students or schools. The CCC ONE® Estimating software package donated by CCC includes digital imaging capabilities, access to tire and recall databases, paintless dent repair guidelines, and frame specifications, along with other products and multi-user access. It also grants access to CCC® Repair Methods and CCC ONE® Touch, CCC’s mobile estimating solution that allows estimates to be written right at the car.

“We are proud to support CREF and its mission to meet the industry’s growing need for qualified, entry-level collision repairers,” said Debbie Day, executive vice president and general manager of Mitchell’s Auto Physical Damage division. “Mitchell is absolutely committed to delivering innovative technology solutions that can be used by collision repairers already in the field as well as those soon joining the workforce.”

Mitchell’s contribution to CREF includes free access to Mitchell Cloud Estimating with Integrated Repair Procedures for students enrolled in participating schools. The advanced estimating software works seamlessly with Mitchell’s cloud-based product suite — giving future collision repairers essential training on technologies designed to efficiently manage workflows and support the delivery of proper, safe repairs. Using Mitchell solutions, students also learn the importance of OEM repair procedures as they diagnose collision damage and develop repair plans for today’s most complex vehicles.  

Industry members interested in getting involved and supporting the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s efforts to assist secondary and post-secondary collision repair training programs should contact Brandon Eckenrode, Managing Director, at 312-231-0258 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org. Monetary donations can be made online.

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.

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CREF Introduces 2022 Executive Committee

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (March 24, 2022) –

The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) is excited to announce and introduce its newly appointed Executive Committee, which consists of seven industry professionals who are dedicated to supporting the future of the industry through engagement with collision schools and students.

CREF’s 2022 Executive Committee includes:

  • Chair Steve Schmidt (State Farm)
  • Vice Chair Kevin Burnett (Gerber Collision & Glass)
  • Secretary Doug Irish (Fayetteville Technical Community College)
  • Treasurer Ryan West (GEICO)
  • Trustee-at-Large Don Mikrut (Wejo)
  • Trustee-at-Large Brenda Hogen (Parts Trader)
  • Immediate Past Chair Tom Wolf (PPG Industries)

“The CREF Board of Trustees encompasses a fantastic cross-section of the industry,” says Schmidt. “Each participant is eager to work toward CREF’s vision and goals, and they are open to sharing their wealth of knowledge to bolster CREF’s success. I enjoy listening to their thoughts and learning from each of them during every BOT meeting. It’s great group – I am honored to work with them on the Board!”

Schmidt entered the collision repair industry “as a high school kid at a dealership body shop and never really left the industry. While I ultimately went to work with an insurer after six years in collision, I still stayed attached as an I-CAR instructor for 31 years, holding classes in 18 different states and enjoying the opportunity to get to know so many great repair facilities and technicians. Now, my goal is to help young individuals get their start and continue their development to be a far better and more successful tech than I was or ever could have been!”

“I look forward to continuing my work with the Board and the Executive Committee, helping to ensure the industry is able to attract and retain enough qualified technicians,” Burnett states. “I like the fact that the Board is made up of people from all sides of the industry which enables good, lively discussion.”

After spending the first 10-plus years of his career in information technology, Burnett switched roles when “Gerber had a need to fill a general manager position in their largest store. I took on the challenge, and with the help of a great mentor, Neal Gerber, I was able to learn the business – starting in a production role, moving to GM and up from there. I’ve enjoyed my almost five years on the board and look forward to continuing on the Executive Committee.”

“This is my first stint on the Executive Committee, and I am looking forward to having a great impact on the discussion for where CREF is heading,” Irish shares. “I have served as a Trustee for a few years now and enjoy participating in the meetings and collaborating with other trustees to map out the goals and objectives for CREF. Serving on the Executive Committee will provide a voice directly from the education field on how CREF can best serve the needs of the education community.”

Irish began working in a friend’s family body shop when he was just 15 years old, attending a high school collision repair program during his junior and senior years and returning to the industry after serving three years in the military. “I worked as a technician and manager in multiple shops and dealerships for 15 years until jumping the fence to the insurance side of the industry,” he recalls. “I spent 20 years with an insurance carrier working my way up from appraiser to management before retiring in 2012. I then began a quality assurance company working with collision repair shops to identify quality issues during the work in process, so the shops could correct the deficiencies before they became a safety or legal concern.

“In 2017, I was contacted by Fayetteville Technical Community College and asked if I was interested in managing the new Collision Repair & Refinish Technology program that was started with a major contribution from CREF and industry stakeholders,” Irish continues. “I have enjoyed the challenges of recruiting, managing the program and teaching classes for the past 5 years. I am confident we will remain a major provider of talent for years to come.”

West is “happy to help as much as I can when it comes to supporting a mission as important as ours.  I have found this Board and its past members were all in it for the right reasons, which is encouraging.

“I am one of the few members of our industry who has spent their entire 30-year career with the same company,” West continues. “I am very thankful that my company, GEICO, supports important efforts like CREF and that they support my work with our Board.”

“Being involved with CREF’s Board is important for multiple reasons,” Mikrut explains. “The most important reason is that it’s a great opportunity to give back to the industry that we love by cultivating and identifying ways to support the industry, and one of the most beneficial ways we can do that is by making sure that schools and students have the necessary equipment to learn our industry.”

Like many other industry professionals, Mikrut found his collision industry career inadvertently. “While I was going to college for marketing, a classmate’s parents who owned a collision business approached me to represent their business to the insurance companies and agents – and they wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer. They sort of yanked me in… I wasn’t looking for this industry, but once I got into it, I fell in love with collision and just never left it.”

“I’m new on the Executive Committee and joined because I really enjoy helping students realize their goals; it’s very rewarding,” Hogen contributes. “I also enjoy being part of a larger initiative to resolve issues within our industry, particularly related to the technician/labor crisis. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to pay it forward.”

Hogen also shares a fun fact about her industry career: “I’ve been fortunate enough to have a career has taken me to all 50 states. I can’t say I like one over the others… I like them all!”

In addition to the Executive Committee, the Foundation Board of Trustees consists of:

  • Stacy Bartnik (Intertek)
  • Mike Croker (Chief Automotive)
  • Paul Folino (LKQ Corporation)
  • Ty Gammill (Caliber Collision Centers)
  • Andreas Hecht (CCC Intelligent Solutions)
  • Mark Helvenston (Insurance Auto Auctions)
  • Ken Hudson (Farmers Insurance)
  • Sean Huurman (Service King Collision Repair)
  • Scott Kohl (Kemper Insurance)
  • Josh Krentz (Forbes Road Career and Technology Center)
  • Sandee Lindorfer (Allstate Insurance Company)
  • Mary Mahoney (Enterprise Holdings)
  • Jay Sharp (National Coatings & Supplies)
  • Jeanne Silver (retired)

As a brand-new addition to CREF’s Board, Krentz is excited to contribute his experience and insights. While attending Forbes, he worked at a local dealership body shop as an entry-level apprentice, and after graduating high school, he attended UTI in Texas, working in various body shops and a restoration shop before branching out to try fabrication and welding for three years. In search for a job that offered advancement opportunities, he moved to parts, progressing to parts manager for six months while beginning to teach some adult night programs.

“I always wanted to get into teaching, and when my former high school instructor decided to retire, he let me know so I could apply for the position. I spent six months teaching auto mechanics at another school before assuming the Forbes position when he retired,” Krentz recalls. “I also complete contract work for VeriFacts, an OEC company, performing independent OEM collision repair program inspections.   All of my experience relates to auto body, and my background in multiple aspects, especially education, will benefit my role on CREF’s Board.”

As CREF’s 2019 Instructor of the Year, Krentz believes “Education is the biggest thing, and that’s my strength. The Board has people from different aspects of the industry who contribute their thoughts as we try to determine how to best support CREF, and I feel it’s vital to have voices that represent the education side because industry members who don’t spend time in the classroom can’t know what’s going through our doors every day. We have to focus on getting the right kids in the classroom, rather than merely filling seats. If we have the right people, we’ll be able to fill the void in the industry as it relates to job openings.”

Trustee Emeriti include J. Laurence “Larry” Costin (CCC Information Services, Inc.), Lirel G. Holt (U, Inc.) and Chuck Sulkala.

Industry members interested in getting involved and supporting the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s efforts to assist secondary and post-secondary collision repair training programs should contact Brandon Eckenrode, Managing Director, at 312-231-0258 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org. Monetary donations can be made online.

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.

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If you would like more information about this topic, please email info@ed-foundation.org.

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Pennsylvania Shop Owner Supports Local Vo-Tech to Promote Collision Careers to Students

Hoffman Estates, Ill.
Richard Daku of Daku’s Auto Body Shop in Catasauqua, PA has been involved with his local Career Technical Education (CTE) school for over three decades. “Our industry has always been in need of qualified technicians, and I started working with schools in the late 1980s because I believe shops being more involved with the students helps them stay interested in the great career options the collision repair industry offers,” he explained. “Being a family-run business for nearly 73 years, it’s important to me to make this industry the best it can be to attract the next generation,” Daku added. “You can make a great career repairing cars and trucks as well as a decent living –without all the college debt!”Daku Auto Body is a staunch supporter of the Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech School (BAVTS). According to Bill Gruschow, collision instructor at BAVTS, “Daku Auto Body supports BAVTS by being an active Occupational Advisory Committee (OAC) member. Their advice as to what is expected of an entry level tech has influenced the program curriculum. This allows us to ensure that what we are teaching the students is knowledge they will need once in the workforce. They have also influenced industry certifications, namely I-CAR, offered to students.” Getting involved is easy –Daku says he simply “attends advisory meetings twice a year and helps with advice on equipment and technology. Changes in the program may be slow because of the pace of technology, but learning the basics is still the same, and that’s where you need to start. Several years ago, there was a big increase in student interest in the auto collision program because of custom car and rebuilding shows on television, but the interest seems steady now.” Daku Auto Body is also “an eager employer of our students and has hired too many to count!” Gruschow stated. “It seems that every year there is at least one student hired. Some have stayed there and are still there, others have advanced, but some did not work out. Daku Auto Body has persevered to provide opportunity to our students. We are greatly appreciative of their continued support!” “When we find the techs who are motivated and willing to learn, we keep them and work with them to help them grow,” Daku added. Jason Fritz, a former BAVTS student currently employed at a technician at Daku Auto Body, shared, “I worked for Daku’s Auto Body on co-op. They worked closely with the school to provide a platform for me to learn and grow in the industry. After I graduated, they offered me a place to work and where I could continue to develop my skills.” Although Fritz received “an education that allowed me to start in the field with the general knowledge needed to help a body shop,” he believes, “You need active collision professionals involved with the schools because this is an ever-changing industry. Constant updates are made to repair procedures, materials, and techniques… Trying to keep up-to-date with all of it can be challenging.”

Gruschow agreed: “Local shops and industry professionals who support the program have a profound effect on our program and our students. Their observation, support and advice about the program allows us to provide instruction that is pertinent for entry into the workforce and prepares students to grow as they advance their place in industry. When a student returns for co-op meetings and shares their experience with classmates, many light up by seeing a true opportunity that is within their reach.” “Schools should provide a clear path to entry in industry, right out of school,” Gruschow added. “With support from industry, courses are guided in the right direction to achieve student preparation. It is very clear that there is a technician shortage, we also know how challenging it is for a young person to enter into employment. Shops that are willing to take a chance, hire and coach a student, are often rewarded with a quality technician.” The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) is a 503(c)(3) nonprofit organization that facilitates the industry’s generosity by investing in collision repair educational programs around the country, helping equip school shops, and funding student scholarships, among many other endeavors that serve to attract, properly train, and retain more qualified collision professionals. Since 2009, the Foundation has been able to provide over $300 million in support to schools and students through the industry’s donations. CREF’s efforts manifest as scholarship, tool and equipment contributions, parts donations, and initiatives to help the schools’ shops look more professional. Instructors have responded very favorably to the industry’s support which helps them better educate their students, but schools are always seeking guest speakers, shop tours, mentors, and advisory committee members as well. The Foundation encourages industry professionals to get involved with their local schools to get in front of future industry professionals. Getting students employed after graduation is another important effort the Foundation has undertaken with the industry’s support. CREF hosts physical and virtual career fairs where they offer interview workshops and resume advice to students, plus this provides a great opportunity to introduce industry employers to recent graduates who are well-trained on current model vehicles using advanced equipment and modern tools, ready to start in your shop! For information on how to donate to programs supported by the Education Foundation, visit CollisionEducationFoundation.org or contact Brandon Eckenrode, Director of Development, at 312-231-0258 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org.