News & Events

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL (August 1, 2019) – The Collision Repair Education Foundation and I-CAR have collaborated to provide an updated executive summary of the Snapshot of the Collision Repair Industry survey, which is now available for download. The survey provides data on both the business environment and the technician workforce. Over 675 collision repair businesses responded to the survey, representing over 4,500 technicians. The survey provides unique insights on industry trends such as average age, incomes, entry-level worker task expectations, and more going back more than two decades.

“The research clearly shows the collision repair industry’s urgent need to build its skilled workforce development efforts,” said Jeanne Silver, from CARSTAR Mundelein who serves as chair of the Collision Repair Education Foundation Board of Trustees. “The Snapshot Survey of the Collision Industry results provides a detailed view of the challenges facing the collision industry’s workforce and clearly identifies the path, opportunities and solid financial rewards available to people seeking to train for a career in the industry. We urge the industry to help the Foundation deliver these solutions.”

“We are pleased to again work with the Collision Repair Education Foundation in conducting this important industry survey,” said John Van Alstyne, I-CAR CEO & President. “The survey verifies the critical need for well-trained collision repair technicians – both today and in the future – and it also confirms the outstanding professional and financial opportunities that are available in the industry. Today’s rapidly changing vehicle technologies and materials require technicians who have the training and ability to utilize information, knowledge and skills to repair damaged vehicles correctly. There has never been a better time to consider a rewarding career in the collision repair industry.”

The updated Snapshot of the Collision Repair Industry survey is available for download from the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s web site or via I-CAR’s web site. This report of the survey results will be distributed to high school and college collision school programs across the country this fall, including an effort to distribute the information to school guidance counselors. Industry members with questions about the survey, or interest in supporting the Collision Repair Education Foundation, should contact Director of Development, Brandon Eckenrode at (312) 231-0258

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 About I-CAR

Founded in 1979, I-CAR is a not-for-profit education, knowledge and solutions organization designed to support the evolving needs of the Collision Repair Inter-Industry. I-CAR is focused on improving the quality, safety and efficiency of auto collision repair for the ultimate benefit of the consumer.

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.

 

https://files.constantcontact.com/c4579bcc001/cc3cf775-8d47-47ec-9c2c-df45d017354b.pdf

 

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL (July 10, 2019) – Ensuring that the next generation of collision repair professionals is receiving the proper training in up-to-date facilities with modern equipment and tools is vital to the industry’s future success. Recognizing this, Liberty Mutual recently donated $25,000 to the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), and those funds were distributed between four Massachusetts technical schools to support their collision repair educational programs.

Scott Kohl, Vice President of APD Field Operations for Liberty Mutual Insurance, explains why the company decided to get involved with local programs through CREF. “It’s really important that the industry continues to fund technical schools and their automotive collision repair and refinish technology programs. First, we all know there’s an extreme shortage of qualified techs in the industry today, and that will only improve if we make it easier for highly equipped schools to train students with new technology and empower those students so they’re able to produce immediately upon entering the workforce.”

“Additionally, it’s very important for Liberty Mutual to give back to the industry, and it’s so fulfilling to witness, through these students, the human side of self-development and pursuing their dreams,” Kohl continued

The schools that benefitted from Liberty Mutual’s donation were Assabet Valley Vo Tech in Marlborough, Bay Path Vo Tech in Charlton, Montachusett Vo Tech in Fitchburg, and Southeastern Vo Tech in South Easton.

Bill Collins, Instructor at Southeastern, recalls, “Upon applying for the CREF Benchmark Readiness Grant, we were very fortunate and surprised to find out we were awarded a grant in the sum of $5000, sponsored by Liberty Mutual. We have been continuously trying to keep updating our shop and equipment to be considered a Tier One school by the standards set forth by CREF.”

Bay Path used the funds from Liberty Mutual to update old equipment and purchase items the program desperately needed, including a drain pan, hood prop, part carts, storage cabinets, a wheel caster system, several drill motors, a twist drill set, and a scan tool with OBDII capabilities. Instructor Ray Beck says, “This donation has had a positive impact on how we store car parts, and with the parts stored in a better way, it opens up more space to work in.”

Enabling schools to educate higher quality technicians entering the industry is vital to Liberty Mutual.

Kohl said, “We want to get our policyholders back in their vehicles as quickly as possible, but there’s not enough techs to fix all the cars. When the industry has an adequate pool of highly trained techs with the best tools, vehicles get repaired properly and returned to our policyholder quicker; by working together as an industry to make this happen, we all win.”

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 Eckenrode at (312) 231-0258 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org

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About liberty mutual Insurance

Liberty Mutual’s purpose is to help people embrace today and confidently pursue tomorrow.  The promise we make to our customers throughout the world is to provide protection for the unexpected, delivered with care.

In business since 1912, and headquartered in Boston, Mass., today we are the fifth largest global property and casualty insurer based on 2018 gross written premium.  We also rank 75th on the Fortune 100 list of largest corporations in the U.S. based on 2018 revenue.  As of December 31, 2018, we had $41.6 billion in annual consolidated revenue.

We employ nearly 50,000 people in 30 countries and economies around the world. We offer a wide range of insurance products and services, including personal automobile, homeowners, specialty lines, reinsurance, commercial multiple-peril, workers compensation, commercial automobile, general liability, surety, and commercial property.

You can learn more about us by visiting www.libertymutualgroup.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 (June 18, 2019) – The Collision Repair Education Foundation announced it launch a program this summer to provide 100 collision repair schools with new flooring. The #100Floors75Days project seeks to build relationships between the local collision industry and their collision repair schools by providing the materials necessary to refinish the schools floors during the summer break. The freshly refinished floors will increase the professional appearance of school collision programs, helping to attract students to careers in the collision industry.

The Foundation has identified 100 schools in 23 states in need of new floor coatings. A complete list of schools is available online at: https://www.collisioneducationfoundation.org/2019/06/100floors75days/

The list includes the cost to adopt a school to provide the epoxy coatings necessary to refinish the floors in the collision repair work space. The schools will apply the coating over the summer while school is not in session.

Sponsoring companies will be recognized on a banner presented to the school.

The Foundation plans to continue the effort during the winter break and help additional schools.

“Collision repair training programs compete with other skilled trades for the next generation of employees. Improving the appearance of high school and college collision schools reflects the professionalism of the collision industry and improves the quality of students seeking pre-employment training,” said Brandon Eckenrode, director of development for the Collision Repair Education Foundation. “Improving the image of our school programs will benefit the industry that is increasingly viewed as a high technology, high growth career field.

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 Eckenrode at (312) 231-0258 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org

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About Rust-Oleum

For nearly a century, Rust-Oleum has been the global leader in manufacturing innovative coatings that empower do-it-yourselfers and professionals alike across categories including small project paints, cleaners, primers, automotive, industrial, high performance coatings and wood care. Its wide breadth of brands and products include such trusted names as Rust-Oleum, Stops Rust®, Painter’s Touch®, Universal®, EpoxyShield®, Varathane®, Zinsser®, Watco®, MultiSpec®, X-I-M®, Krud Kutter®, RockSolid®, Wipe New®, Testors®, Seal-Krete®, Modern Masters®, Moldex®, Whink®, Miracle Sealants®, Roto-Rooter®, and Mean Green® .Visit rustoleum.com for more information. Follow Rust-Oleum on LinkedIn, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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. – May 28, 2019 –TechForce Foundation, in partnership with the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), awarded three collision repair students with scholarships funded through a TechForce Foundation FutureTech Success Grant. Winners were selected from a pool of students who demonstrated a passion for learning and an affinity for the collision repair industry based on their participation in the scholarship’s selection process.

Each winner received $2,000 that can be used to continue their education in the collision repair industry.

This year’s scholarship winners include:

• Hanife Manning of Guilford Technical Community College in Greensboro, N.C.
• Dilan Miller of City College in Billings, Mont.
• Larmar Tillery of Guilford Technical Community College in Jamestown, N.C.

 “The transportation industry needs on average more than 15,000 new collision repair technicians each year, but tech schools are only graduating one third of that number,” says Jennifer Maher, Executive Director, TechForce Foundation. “TechForce Foundation is proud to partner with organizations, including the Collision Repair Education Foundation, to solve this industry-wide challenge. By supporting collision repair students like Hanife, Dilan and Larmar, TechForce and CREF are working together to champion the next generation of transportation technicians and keep America rolling. Congratulations to the scholarship winners!”

 Industry members interested in joining the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s supporters, and assisting 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 TECHFORCE Foundation:

TechForce Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) with the mission to champion students to and through their technical education and into careers as professional transportation technicians. The Foundation distributes more than $2 million in scholarships and grants annually, thanks to its generous corporate sponsors and donors, and spearheads FutureTech Success^®, the industry-wide initiative to help encourage and support more young people to pursue the vehicle technician profession. For more information, visit www.techforcefoundation.org.

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 (May 20, 2019) – Registration for the 18th Annual Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) Golf Fundraiser, co-hosted by the automotive refinish business unit of PPG, is selling out fast. 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.

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/)

Brandon Eckenrode, Collision Repair Education Foundation Director of Development, said, “We urge everyone who wishes to participate in this year’s golf fundraiser to register early. This is an incredible event that helps us raise funds to provide crucial support to collision school programs across the country.”

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.

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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 (May 17, 2019) – The Greater Philadelphia-area I-CAR Committee will host its 4th Annual Golf Tournament fundraiser on Tuesday, June 4, 2019 to bring industry business partners together, show appreciation for their ongoing support, and to bring awareness to the needs of local technical schools and programs in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. All donations will benefit the Collision Repair Education Foundation in support of area high school and college collision repair programs. The event will take place at the Penn Oaks Golf Club, 150 Penn Oaks Drive in West Chester, Pa.

The presenting sponsor for the event is PPG.

The registration fee for individual golfers is $175 or a team of four golfers costs $700. Supporters can also choose to attend the reception only for $75. Complete details on the event, sponsorship and online registration is available at:

https://icar-philadelphia.weebly.com/

“To better prepare students for a career in the collision industry, for the last several years the Greater Philadelphia I-CAR committee has engaged with our local schools and colleges to assist them in improving their programs and keeping them up to date with the latest technology, said Lisa Ferguson from Caliber Collision and the volunteer state chair for I-CAR in Pennsylvania. “The funds we raise at this event will help us aid the schools that will be crucial to the success of the collision industry’s next generation.”   

For more information on the event or sponsorship, contact Lisa Ferguson at lisa.ferguson@calibercollision.com or via phone at (610)368-0503.

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.