News & Events

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL (February 13, 2019) – Registration for the 18th Annual Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) Golf Fundraiser, co-hosted by the automotive refinish business unit of PPG, is now open. The event will be held Tuesday, July 23rd, 2019. Golfers will enjoy a round of golf at Brickyard Crossing Golf Course in Indianapolis, Ind., voted in Top 100 American Public Golf Courses by Golf Digest and Golfweek. This course has 4 holes inside the oval and 14 holes adjacent to the backstretch of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Organizers anticipate the Golf Fundraiser selling out during the spring, so early registration is encouraged. The event supports the Education Foundation in its mission to provide support for collision repair programs at high school and colleges across North America.

Participants can register online through the Education Foundation’s website.

(https://www.collisioneducationfoundation.org/collision-education-foundation-golf-tournament/)

Registration for the fundraiser includes 18 holes of golf, cart rental, beverages and snacks on the course, lunch, dinner, promotional items, and opportunities to participate in contests throughout the day.

The event will be held in conjunction with the Collision Industry Conference and MSO Symposium events taking place that week in Indianapolis.

“PPG takes pride in supporting the Collision Repair Education Foundation and such a worthy industry challenge. The industry wide shortage of people in our industry has been highlighted as the #1 hurdle we face when staffing for consistent quality repairs. We challenge the entire collision industry repair community to join us in Indianapolis this July to help raise additional funds, support, and awareness for high school and college collision school programs through this great event,” said Tom Wolf, PPG, Director Business Development USCA. “Through the event’s sponsors, players, and volunteers we are able to not only have a great afternoon of golf fellowship but assist the Foundation in supporting the future professionals of our great industry.”

Brandon Eckenrode, Collision Repair Education Foundation Director of Development, said, “Our annual golf fundraiser is an incredible event that helps us raise funds to provide crucial support to collision school programs across the country. We anticipate that we will be sold out within a matter of a few short months, so please register early.”

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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 (February 6, 2019) – The Collision Repair Education Foundation 2019 grant and scholarship application period will close next Thursday, February 14, 2019. The application period is open for high school and post-secondary collision students who will be attending career and technical schools and colleges in the fall.

The Foundation and its industry supporters offer over $200,000 in grants and scholarships annually, as part of their mission to promote collision repair education and create quality candidates for entry level job opportunities.

Application information for CREF grants and scholarships is posted on their website, at https://www.collisioneducationfoundation.org/student-scholarship-and-grant-application-2/. This deadline to apply is February 14, 2019, and winners are chosen and notified by phone or mail in April and May.

“I encourage all collision students to apply for these awards,” said Melissa Marscin, Director of Operations/Administration for the Foundation. “The deadline is fast approaching for the life-changing opportunity for students to graduate with lower or no debt and possibly a tool box ready for employment.”

Collision repair facilities, insurance companies and suppliers interested in supporting scholarships or school grants should contact Education Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org or (312) 231-0258.

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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 (January 30, 2019) –  The Enterprise Holdings Foundation continues its support of the Collision Repair Education Foundation with a contribution of $75,000 to support collision education. The donation benefits the entire industry by enhancing the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s ability to offer grants and scholarships to career and technical schools and colleges and the students attending these schools. The Enterprise Holdings Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the company that operates the Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car brands through its integrated global network of independent and regional subsidiaries and franchises.

“These students are vital to the future of the collision repair and automotive insurance industries, as well as our own business and vehicle service centers, and through our support of the Collision Repair Education Foundation, we can help students pursue their careers in the industry,” said Mary Mahoney, vice president of Insurance Replacement for Enterprise Rent-A-Car. “We’re committed to helping provide opportunities for the next generation of vehicle repair technicians to receive high-quality, hands-on repair training through access to the latest vehicle models and technologies.”

Clark Plucinski, executive director of the Collision Repair Education Foundation, added, “Enterprise’s continued support of the Collision Repair Education Foundation provides crucial support to the industry’s efforts to help collision schools across the country. These schools graduate productive, efficient, and capable staff members day one on the job within the collision industry. Enterprise’s support assists in our ability to help high school and post-secondary collision instructors provide the quality technical education their students need to succeed in the industry.”

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 Brandon Eckenrode, the Education Foundation’s Director of Development, at (312)231-0258 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org.

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About ENTERPRISE HOLDINGS:

Enterprise Holdings – through its integrated global network of independent regional subsidiaries and franchises – operates the Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car brands at more than 10,000 fully staffed neighborhood and airport locations. Combined, Enterprise Holdings and its affiliate Enterprise Fleet Management accounted for $24.1 billion in revenue and owned 2 million vehicles throughout the world in fiscal year 2018. Enterprise Holdings’ regional subsidiaries and Enterprise Fleet Management currently employ 100,000 worldwide. Enterprise Holdings currently is ranked as one of America’s Largest Private Companies. Furthermore, if it were publicly traded, Enterprise Holdings would rank on Fortune’s list of the 500 largest American public companies.

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 (January 24, 2019) –The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) is hosting a two day career fair on March 29-30 in collaboration with the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (CADA). Held during the Denver Auto Show at the Colorado Convention Center auto dealers and collision professionals will have a chance to present career opportunities to student training for a transportation career and other attendees.

“Hosting the career fair at the Denver Auto Show offers the collision industry an important opportunity,” said Brandon Eckenrode, Director of Development at CREF, “Not only can students connect with prospective employers, but sponsoring businesses in collision repair can shine a light on industry issues like the technician shortage with an audience made up of the general public.”

The career fair is held during the Denver Auto Show Friday March 29 from 2-7 p.m. and Saturday, March 30, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Colorado Convention Center located at 700 14^th Street in Denver.

During the career fair, auto show attendees and the anticipated 400+ high school and college student attendees will have the opportunity to learn about career opportunities from participating sponsors and connect with potential employers.

“Partnering with CREF was an opportunity for CADA to offer Colorado’s tech students additional career choices,” said Kim Jackson, Marketing and communications Director at CADA.

Career fair employers can choose one of three sponsorship tiers to showcase the various career paths available to partners, students, and families who attend the auto show.

The Foundation is aiming to recruit 20 collision repair industry employers or representative companies as table sponsors. CADA is also aiming to recruit 20 table sponsors, most of which will be auto dealers.

“New car dealers are painfully aware of the auto technician shortage in their bays,” said Jackson, “As Baby Boomers continue to retire in droves and vehicles become more technologically advanced, the demand for today’s well-trained automotive technician is high.”

Sponsor Information:

The 20 CREF and 20 CADA table sponsors will each have a 10’x10’ booth, an eight foot draped table, two chairs, electrical connections, WiFi, their company name on the passport, and a copy of the student registration list. Investment: $1,500.

The four supporting sponsors will receive all the benefits of the table sponsor, plus their company logo featured on the sleeve of the student tech shirts (as long as the sponsorship is secured by February 16, 2019) and have their company logo on the passport. Investment: $3,000.

The lead sponsor receives all the benefits of the table sponsor, plus their company logo featured on the front of the student tech shirts (as long as the sponsorship is secured by February 16, 2019) and have their company logo on the passport. Investment: $7,500.

To register your company for the event, email Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org

Additional 2019 CREF Events at Special Locations

CREF is hosting a list of career fairs this spring, including the Chicago Spring Career fair. Hosted in conjunction with the World of Wheels/AutoRama Student Day Event, the Chicago Career Fair is another opportunity to increase awareness of collision repair industry issues, like the repair technician shortage.

Student Day takes place during the Friday morning of opening weekend of World of Wheels/AutoRama event and is only open to local students. Over 700 collision and auto service students attend annually.

For more information, look at the autorama website. https://autorama.com/student-day/

Complete CREF Career Fair Schedule for Spring 2019:

Miami, Florida – February 27, 2019

Tampa/Orlando, Florida – February 28, 2019

San Antonio, Texas – March 6, 2019

Chicago, Illinois – March 8, 2019

Denver, Colorado – March 29-30, 2019

Phoenix, Arizona – April 6, 2019

Atlanta, Georgia – April 28, 2019

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – May 8, 2019

Houston, Texas – TBD

Dallas, Texas – TBD

Detroit, Michigan – TBD

Northern California- TBD

Southern California- TBD

Industry members interested in working with the Collision Repair Education Foundation in support of secondary and postsecondary collision repair students, instructors, and their school programs should contact Education Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org or (312) 231-0258.

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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 (January 10, 2019) – The application for the Collision Repair Education Foundation Benchmark Grant program, formerly the Ultimate Makeover Grant, is now available to schools teaching collision repair across the U.S. The grant program is in its 10th year.

Instructors are advised to begin the application early and industry professionals are encouraged to get involved with the Benchmark grant by working with their local school’s collision instructors to help them apply. The winning schools will be announced during the SEMA show in Las Vegas, Nev. in November. Awards of up to $25,000 will be given.

The school Benchmark Grant application is available online and is due by Friday, June 7, 2019.

“School’s teaching the next generation of the collision industry’s workforce continued to face tremendous budgetary pressure. It is difficult for many to maintain their program at current capabilities, no less increase their abilities and improve the training they deliver to the industry’s future workforce,” said Melissa Marscin, Director of Operations/Administration for the Foundation. “The Benchmark grant program is designed to help collision schools get the much needed tools, equipment and supplies to increase their capabilities based upon industry-developed standards. Last year, every school that applied received some level of support through both grants and in-kind donations.”

The Benchmark grant program incorporates the Foundation’s Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark that was launched in 2017. Under the program developed by the Foundation, schools are classified into three tiers:

• Tier 1: Advanced,
• Tier 2: Proficient, or
• Tier 3: Developing.

The designation will be determined by the Foundation based upon information provided by schools about the capabilities of their program detailed in the Collision Repair Education Foundation Benchmark grant application. The criteria for each level includes the number of hours of instruction, curriculum in place, along with what tools, equipment, and supplies a school uses to prepare their students for employment in the collision industry.

If there is something that a school needs to advance to the next level, the Education Foundation’s grant application will allow a school to request that particular item. The goal is to help every school acquire the resources to eventually achieve a Tier 1: Advanced school designation. Schools at Tier 1 status can request support for items that further advance and expand their program.

The organization’s Board of Trustees Selection Committee will select the winners of the awards and determine what items off the wish lists each school will receive.

Since 2009, schools have been able to apply for the grant to get much needed tools, equipment, and supplies for their school. Over $4 million in cash and in-kind donations have been given out to schools as a result of the grant, and over 25,000 collision students have been impacted by the program.

Collision repair facilities, insurance companies and suppliers interested in supporting school grants should contact Education Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org or (312) 231-0258.

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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.

Collision Repair Education Foundation Invites Collision Industry Businesses to Sponsor Student Safety Kits for Local High School and College Collision Programs

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL (December 18, 2018) – The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) is facilitating a student safety kit donation program between collision repair businesses and high school and college collision repair programs.

The safety kit includes:

• New Cintas work shirt/pants
• Pair of safety glasses
• Ear plugs
• Disposable dusk mask

Each local student can be sponsored for $50. Businesses that sponsor 20 or more safety kits can have their corporate logo featured on a patch on the front of the uniform shirts.

“The Collision Repair Education Foundation wants to make the return to school this spring safer and more professional for collision school students,” said Brandon Eckenrode, Director of Development for the Foundation. “Through the generous support of our industry partners, we can provide the next generation workforce with the support they need to succeed.”

Participating businesses can sponsor schools of their choice, or they can choose to be paired with a school in need by the Education Foundation. The donation program can lead to long term relationships between professionals and school programs that are preparing the next generation of collision industry employees.

Sponsorship and donations are facilitated through the Collision Repair Education Foundation, but sponsoring businesses are invited to visit the school to meet the students and distribute the new uniforms.

Companies interested in sponsoring the uniform donation program through the Collision Repair Education Foundation for the 2018-2019 school year should contact Collision Repair Education Foundation Director of Development, Brandon Eckenrode, at Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org or (312) 231-0258.

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The Collision Repair Education Foundation is seeking industry support for student safety kits to make the spring back-to-school season safer and more professional at the over 1000 schools that teach collision repair across the U.S.

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.