Press Release

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (September 11, 2023) –

Looking for fresh talent to fill your bays and keep your workflow flowing productively? Shops, suppliers and other collision industry businesses seeking qualified help need look no further than the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) Fall 2023 High School and College Transportation Student Career Fairs, where they’ll have the opportunity to engage with future collision repair professionals. With events scheduled all across the country, employers won’t want to miss the chance to get to know hundreds – or even thousands! – of incoming industry professionals in their market.

“Engaging with future transportation industry professionals is vital for all segments of the industry – collision centers, dealerships and even paint, tool and equipment companies – in order to generate brand awareness for the business and also to showcase the diverse career paths available to the students in attendance,” says CREF Program Manager Tiffany Bulak. “CREF’s Career Fairs provide a unique opportunity for collision industry employers to connect with students who have trained for entry-level positions and are ready to start their careers.”

Fall 2023 High School & College Transportation Student Career Fair Schedule

• October 12: 3M Headquarters (St. Paul, MN)
• October 18: Oakland Community College (Auburn Hills, MI)
• November 8: Sheridan Technical College (Hollywood, FL)
• November 9: South Tech Education Center (Boynton Beach, FL)
• November 29: Axalta Training Center (Concord, NC)
• December 5: Collins College (McKinney, TX)
• December 7: Fort Hayes Career Center (Columbus, OH)

To complement the physical career fair events and ensure CREF helps connect students with employers across the country, CREF also has an electronic student resume database with contact information for over 600 collision students.           

Interested in participating in an event listed above – or in collaborating with CREF to schedule one in your market? Contact CREF Program Manager Tiffany Bulak at Tiffany.Bulak@ed-foundation.org.

Can’t attend a career fair but still anxious to get your company name in front of incoming technicians? Support local high school and college collision students by sponsoring work uniforms to ensure the future workforce recognizes the value of looking professional. For a donation of just $80 per student, companies can provide students with a brand-new Cintas technician shirt (branded with your logo) and a pair of work pants. Alternately, a donation of $40 per student will provide students with a branded technician shirt. Sponsoring companies also have the opportunity to meet with students to distribute the uniforms. Email Tiffany.Bulak@ed-foundation.org to learn more.

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 can Contact Us to learn about the many ways to get involved. 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.

Follow us on social media on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

If you would like more information about this topic or any of CREF’s initiatives, please email info@ed-foundation.org.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (September 11, 2023) –

The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) is excited to welcome John Eck, head of Product, Accident Assistance, General Motors Global Strategy & Innovation Future Digital Products, to its Board of Directors.

“The Foundation is thrilled to have John join our Board of Directors,” shares CREF Executive Director Brandon Eckenrode. “His vast array of industry experience is certain to be a major asset, and I look forward to him joining in our efforts to support collision school programs and students.”

Eck boasts more than 30 years of experience in the automotive aftermarket industry, having held numerous field sales, marketing and management positions in several business segments in the United States, Canada and South Africa for GM. For eight years, he served as the Collision manager for GM Customer Care and Aftersales, a role in which he was responsible for managing parts strategies, developing and executing innovative programs, and deepening industry relationships. In April 2022, Eck joined the Global Innovation team as head of Product, Accident Assistance, to improve the customer journey/ownership experience and develop new solutions that drive revenue and retention. Within GM, he developed the GM Collision Repair Network with much input from collision repairers.

Additionally, Eck was the GM product owner who, “led a team to create and develop MyPriceLink (MPL), a dynamic pricing engine which runs on multiple algorithms that consider multiple variables of an estimate,” he explains. “The project took several years to build, configure and integrate into the three estimating platforms and over a dozen dealer DMS systems, but upon launch, it has provided new opportunities to connect and communicate to all stakeholders. MPL is more than just a pricing tool, it has unlocked numerous other opportunities!” He also considers himself a, “life-long car enthusiast and DIYer when it comes to vehicle repair and maintenance.”

Over the past decade, Eck has been deeply engaged in the collision industry with many stakeholders and is customer-focused, excelling at engaging with collision repair professionals, making contacts at their place of business, talking and meeting with techs and understanding their perspective as well as engaging with owners to understand their challenges.

In addition to serving two terms on the I-CAR Board of Director’s Strategic Planning and Finance Committees, Eck held the position of president and chairman of the board for the OEM Roundtable from 2017-2020 and is an active participant on the CIC Governance Committee, two CIECA committees, SCRS, IBIS and OEC Advanced Repair Logic. “I enjoy working on the bigger issues and finding solutions,” he shares.

Eck is excited about joining CREF’s Board because “I look forward to working alongside this group of industry colleagues to do what I can to support and help this industry solve this technician shortage crisis. I want to see a vibrant industry grow and for others to recognize the important work the collision repair industry provides to support safety.”

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 can Contact Us to learn about the many ways to get involved. Monetary donations can be made online.

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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.

Follow us on social media on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

If you would like more information about this topic or any of CREF’s initiatives, please email info@ed-foundation.org.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (August X, 2023) – As the temperature rises, Operative Talent is turning up the heat on its efforts to raise awareness for careers in the automotive industry by offering a chance to win a custom 1969 Camaro in its “Drive for Talent” fundraiser, taking place now through November. The fundraiser is a collaboration between the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), BASF and KTL Restoration, seeks to raise $500,000. Additional partners include Petty’s Family Foundation, Autoshop Solutions, Auto Metal Direct, and In the Garage Media.

Operative Talent takes a multi-pronged approach to addressing the industry’s need for more technicians, estimators and other automotive industry professionals by changing the public’s perception of what a modern career in automotive looks like today.

Raffle tickets for a chance to win “Talent,” a 1969 custom Camaro built by KTL Restorations, and with assistance from local students and more than 60 partnering companies, can be purchased at bit.ly/Talent-raffle. The funds raised from raffle ticket purchases and donations will benefit the entire collision industry through a national awareness campaign that will direct people to the newly-developed CollisionCareers.com website, built by I-CAR, to promote collision repair careers.

“It’s time to do something about the automotive tech labor shortage, and that begins with changing how the public sees the auto collision repair industry,” said CREF Executive Director Brandon Eckenrode. “For change to happen, the entire industry needs to support our industry’s future by getting behind our efforts with Operative Talent. The success of the ‘Drive for Talent’ fundraiser relies on everyone getting involved and championing the endeavor. By helping raise the funds needed to launch an awareness campaign we can better showcase careers in the collision repair industry and ensure it has a bright future!

CREF, BASF and KTL Restorations are also planning a literal ‘’drive’’ for talent which includes cruising cross-country during spring 2024 which will end in Danville, VA where KTL Restorations is located and the 1969 Camaro is being built.

A “Drive” thermometer in the shape of a United States map will showcase the funding progression between now and November, and as more raffle tickets are sold, it will push the starting line of the Drive further and further west. Stops along the cross-country drive will provide an opportunity to visit collision school programs, check in with talent build partners, and more. A west coast starting line will mean the $500,000 goal has been met, which will fund the broader public awareness campaign.

Eckenrode added, “The success of this fundraiser will be completely determined by the industry’s reaction and support and it’s impressive to see so many organizations that are taking off their corporate hats and coming together to raise funds in order to educate the general public on opportunities that exist within the industry.”

To kick-start the “Drive for Talent” several national MSOs, including Driven Brands, CollisionRight, Gerber Collision & Glass and Caliber Collision, will be engaging in a side competition to see which company can sell the most raffle tickets amongst their staff.

To view the fundraising progression, build partner listing, and additional information about Talent’s build, visit www.OperativeTalent.com.

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 can Contact Us to learn about the many ways to get involved. 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.

Follow us on social media on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

If you would like more information about this topic or any of CREF’s initiatives, please email info@ed-foundation.org.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (August 14, 2023) –

The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) is proud to announce the recipients of its 2023 Scholarships and Tool Grants, funded through the generosity of a multitude of industry partners – both small and large. With the industry’s support, CREF funded over $130,000 in 2023 scholarships and tool grants, benefitting nearly 90 individual collision students, as part of its ongoing efforts to support future collision repair industry professionals as they obtain their educations.

“CREF is honored to recognize these outstanding students through the 2023 scholarships and tool grants,” said Melissa Marscin, Director of Operations and Administration for CREF. “These students are truly committed to pursuing their education and in becoming part of the collision industry, and we hope these awards help to contribute to their successful careers.”

3M funded over $30,000 in scholarships and tool grants to benefit military veterans around the country and help them further their careers. In addition to a $2,000 Hire Our Heroes Scholarship and three traditional Hire Our Heroes Tool Grants (valued at $1,500 each), 3M also awarded $500 tool grants to 50 students, with eligibility being established through completion of an abridged application.

3M’s 2023 Hire Our Heroes Family Scholarship was awarded to:

• Zachary Castner (Fox Valley Technical College ─ Appleton, WI)

Three traditional Hire Our Heroes Tool Grants, valued at $1,500 each, were awarded to the following:

• Anthony Cady (Kirkwood Community College ─ Cedar Rapids, IA)
• Ian Irwin (Hillsborough Community College ─ Tampa, FL)
• Dawson Olnes (Metropolitan Community College ─ Omaha, NE)

In its 11^th year, the annual Hire Our Heroes program is a part of 3M’s ongoing efforts to provide military veterans with educational opportunities in the collision repair industry, and the grants are open to collision repair students who currently serve, or recently served, in the U. S. military. Since 3M began the Hire Our Heroes program in 2013, over $1.2 million in scholarships and tool grants have been awarded to over 330 military veterans and their immediate family members pursuing a career in collision repair. Criteria to be considered for the Hire Our Heroes awards and grants includes financial need, future plans, and past academic achievement.

Three lucky students were named the recipients of this year’s Adelmann Family Scholarships and Tool Grants. Each 2023 winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship and $2,000 toward tools to be used during their educational training, with an additional $2,000 tool grant being awarded upon job placement within the industry.

The recipients of the 2023 Adelmann Family Scholarships and Tool Grants include:

• Antonio M Diaz (Kennedy King College ─ Chicago, IL)
• Matthew Nordahl (Dunwoody College of Technology ─ Minneapolis, MN)
• Makiah Stacy (Des Moines Area Community College ─ Ankeny, IA)

Borne of a desire to amplify CREF’s efforts to help schools and students at a higher level, the scholarships were established in 2021 by retired industry veteran Tim Adelmann as a means of leaving a lasting legacy on the industry he loves.

Four students with a special interest in the painting segment of the industry will receive scholarships funded by the PPG Foundation. Each recipient will be awarded $5,000 which will help recipients fund their education and ensure they have the opportunity to pursue a future career in the collision repair industry.

Recipients of PPG’s 2023 student scholarships, who will receive $5,000 each, include:

• Taison Long (Hudson Valley Community College – Troy, NY)
• Reimy Santiago De La Cruz (Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology – Lancaster, PA)
• Arthur Stan (Portland Community College – Portland, OR)
• Kade Stahl (Lake Area Technical College – Watertown, SD)

BASF awarded six tool grants, valued at $2,000 each, to deserving students as a way to help them prepare for their future collision industry careers.

Recipients of BASF’s 2023 tool grants include:

• Kyara Cowan (Kennedy King College ─ Chicago, IL)
• Gabriela Diaz (Kennedy King College ─ Chicago, IL)
• Elisaa McAdams (Nashville Auto Diesel College ─ Nashville, TN)
• Brent Paige (Santana High School ─ Santee, CA)
• Kaden Riehl (Lancaster County Career and Technology Center ─ Willow Street, PA)
• Diego Velez (Metropolitan Community College ─ Omaha, NE)

OEM Roundtable is excited to announce that it funded five post-secondary collision student scholarships, valued at $2,000 each, through CREF.

Recipients of OEM Roundtable’s 2023 scholarships include:

• Hannah Eveland (Minnesota State College Southeast ─ Winona, MN)
• Eric Corona (Kennedy-King College ─ Chicago, IL)
• Jackson Dao (Lexington Technology Center ─ Lexington, SC)
• Jovie Skinner (Rosedale Technical College ─ Pittsburgh, PA)
• Aucasia Berry (Lawson State Community College ─ Birmingham, AL)

Thanks to a generous donation from CCC, three lucky post-secondary students will receive a 2023 CCC Michael Salvatore Repair Technician Scholarship, valued at $3,000 each. CCC’s ongoing dedication to the industry helps ensure that these students and others have the resources and opportunities they need to achieve their goals.

Recipients of CCC’s 2023 student scholarships include:

• Anthony Toney (Kennedy King College ─ Chicago, IL)
• Bernard Anane (College of Lake County ─ Grayslake, IL)
• Jose Padilla (Kennedy King College ─ Chicago, IL)

The winner of the $2,000 Collision Repair Education Foundation Board of Trustees Scholarship is Giovanni Gonzalez-Hernandez (Fayetteville Technical Community College ─ Fayetteville, NC). Funded by current members of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, this scholarship provides students with financial assistance to be used towards tuition and other costs associated with their education in collision repair.

The Sulkala Family Scholarship, valued at $2,000, was awarded to Casey Atkins (Kennedy King College ─ Chicago, IL). Administered by the Foundation, the Sulkala Family Scholarship was created to honor the 50-year career and legacy of Chuck Sulkala, founder and executive director of the National Auto Body Council (NABC), who retired in 2018.

The two students will each receive a $2,500 Lon Baudoux Memorial Scholarship are:

• Adam Perrin (Metropolitan Community College ─ Omaha, NE)
• Sierra Fahley (Fox Valley Technical College ─ Appleton, WI)

Created to honor Lon Baudoux, I-CAR Development Manager who passed away in 2008, the Lon Baudoux Memorial Scholarship is funded primarily by I-CAR staff and instructors who worked with Baudoux, in recognition of the importance he placed on secondary and post-secondary collision repair students receiving a proper education. Scholarship funds are designed to help students finance their education. Recipients are selected based on academic excellence, as well as participation in outside activities, such as sports, clubs, and volunteer work.

The inaugural Jeff Silver Memorial Scholarship, valued at $2,000, was awarded to Robbie McDonald (Lincoln College of Technology ─ Nashville, TN). Established in December 2022, the Jeff Silver Memorial Scholarship honors the memory and long-lasting legacy of Jeff Silver, a respected trailblazer and leader in industry repair standards. During his tenure with I-CAR, Jeff’s concern with the lack of workers entering the skilled trades led to the establishing of the Foundation in 1991 in an effort to attract young people to the collision repair industry and to support the training institutions providing their educations. Due to Jeff’s love for the collision industry and his dedication to ensuring that the next generation would enjoy the same opportunities within the field, the Silver family believes the “Jeff Silver Memorial Scholarship,” designed to help remove financial barriers for students studying collision repair, is the perfect way to continue the legacy he left behind.

Driven Brands awarded the 2023 Tim Clark Memorial Scholarship to David Aguirre (Kennedy King College ─ Chicago, IL) who received a $1,000 scholarship to be used toward tuition, books and tools. The Tim Clark Memorial Scholarship was established in 2015 after Tim Clark, a 37-year industry veteran and executive at Fix Auto USA, passed away. As a strong advocate for education and seeking one’s higher purpose in life, Clark left directions and funding to initiate the scholarship, which was embraced by Driven Brands and CREF in an effort to continue his legacy. Donations can be made to the Foundation in direct support of the Fix Auto USA—Tim Clark Memorial Scholarship to ensure more students have continued access to an education in the collision repair industry.

Eric Garcia (Kennedy-King College ─ Chicago, IL) received the 2023 Ron Ray Memorial Tool Grant, valued at $500. This memorial fund was established in 2020 in honor of CREF’s former Executive Director, Ron Ray, who was instrumental in developing the Foundation into the organization it has become.

Lastly, four outstanding students will benefit from JW Bagley Foundation Scholarships, a non-industry entity that supports CREF’s mission and provided $2,500 toward each student’s education costs. The lucky recipients of these scholarships were:

• Jonathan Aguirre Vivas (Piscatway Magnet School ─ Piscataway, NJ)
• Peter Rozeboom (Dunwoody College of Technology ─ Minneapolis, MN)
• Aleah Sauder (Marengo Community High School ─ Marengo, IL)
• Dominic Tello (Metro Community College ─ Omaha, NE)

Secondary and post-secondary collision repair education students were eligible for these awards, which provide students with financial support to enable them to continue their education and prepare them for a successful career in body shops around the country.

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 can Contact Us to learn about the many ways to get involved. 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.

Follow us on social media on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

If you would like more information about this topic or any of CREF’s initiatives, please email info@ed-foundation.org.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (August 3, 2023) –

The Collision Repair Education Foundation’s (CREF) 21^st Annual Golf Fundraiser, co-hosted by PPG Automotive Finishes, was a resounding success! Held on July 19 at the Hillcrest Country Club in Indianapolis, IN, the event sold out to capacity with 144 golfers and over two dozen sponsors and industry supporters enjoying a day on the green while raising over $100,000 to support collision repair programs, schools and students around the country.

“Thank you to all of our sponsors, golfers, and volunteers who helped make the Foundation’s 2023 golf fundraiser such an incredible success,” CREF Executive Director Brandon Eckenrode stated. “Funds raised from this event allow CREF to continue supporting high school and college collision programs, students, and instructors across the country. We look forward to gathering everyone again in 2024 when the summer industry meetings take us to Denver!”

The winning team – from Certified Collision Group – consisted of Bob Cornelius, Steve Widen and Stan Wassell.  

Participants also had the chance to win great prizes by competing in individual hole contests. The winners included:

• Longest Drive #2: Taylor Imel (Mirka)
• Closest to the Pin #4: Paul Cook (GEICO)
• Closest to the Pin #12: Gene Lopez (Seidner’s Collision Centers)
• Longest Drive #13: Josh Perry (Chief Automotive)
• Straightest Drive #16: Dustin Warren (AkzoNobel)

Helicopter ball drop winners included:

• Closest to the Pin: FinishMaster Corporate Donation ($2,000 winnings)
• Second Closest to the Pin: Cliff Black of Static Solutions ($500 winnings)
• Third Closest to the Pin: John Eck of General Motors ($250 winnings)
• Farthest from the Pin: Paul Folino of LKQ ($250 winnings)

All four helicopter ball drop winners graciously donated their winnings back to CREF to further support tomorrow’s collision repair professionals.

During the reception following the day of golf, attendees heard from collision professional Destiny Potter about how the Foundation helped her pursue her desired career path by eliminating her student debt in 2017.

Eckenrode encourages “industry members to participate in our 2024 Golf fundraiser through a sponsorship, by attending or by donating items for the raffle table and silent auction. Because of your efforts, we are making an impact on the resources of the future.”

CREF is grateful to all its 2023 golf fundraiser sponsors and supporters, including PPG, AkzoNobel, Allstate, Automotive Color & Supply Corporation, Axalta, CAPA, Chief Collision Technology, CollisionRight, Enterprise, GEICO, Gerber Collision & Glass, Hertz, Kent Automotive, Mopar, National Coatings & Supplies/Single Source, Nissan Certified Collision Repair Network, Painters Supply & Equipment, Refinish Distributors Alliance, Subaru Certified Collision, Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes, 3M, BASF, Caliber Collision, Classic Collision, Columbus Collision Education Group, DCR Systems, FinishMaster, Indiana Auto Body Association, Indiana Automotive Equipment, Lord FUSOR, Refinish Solutions Group, SEM Products and Snapsheet.

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, Executive 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.

Follow us on social media on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

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

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (July 10, 2023) –

The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) strives to support collision repair educational programs, schools and students to create qualified, entry-level employees and connect them with an array of career opportunities, but those efforts would not be possible – let alone successful – without the support of volunteers around the country who play a pivotal role in the Foundation’s ability to carry out its mission.

One of those amazing volunteers is Pam Watson (Albert Kemperle, LLC) who was instrumental in delivering 150 quarter panels to 17 schools in the Florida area earlier this year. Watson has been involved with CREF since 2018 in an effort to “help schools in our community find the necessary tools for student success.”

As a member of her local I-CAR Committee, Watson’s involvement ranges from fundraising efforts and industry events with collision repair peers and students to sitting on school advisory committees, assisting local instructors with CREF’s grant application, hosting shop tours and facilitating panel donations. Through those efforts, she’s happy to report several improvements in her local collision schools: “Students have access to the tools needed to enhance their programs while they’re in school, and they also know they have the industry’s support once they graduate.”

Promoting collision education programs and CREF is important to Watson because it provides a way to “help students find careers with skilled trades and know they don’t have to go to college to be successful while simultaneously helping to fill the technician shortage problem that the collision repair industry is currently facing.”

While she believes that “many schools across the country are getting a lot of support from I-CAR volunteers and CREF to improve their programs,” Watson also fears that “many school instructors don’t reach out for help as often as they should.” She would also love to see more collision professionals get involved with local schools by joining advisory committees and attending their meetings, calling them monthly to check in, presenting to the students to let them know about collision career opportunities and organizing or attending career fairs. She would also “love to see CREF interview Mike Rowe on skilled trades specifically regarding careers in collision repair.”

On the opposite side of the country in California, Gene Lopez (Seidner’s Collision Centers) has been involved with CREF since 1998 because of his “love for learning and my ability to share this passion with others.” Over the years, he has been engaged in advisory committees and has actively hired students.

“I began investing time with high schools and community colleges,” he recalls his early introduction to philanthropy within the Foundation. “At that time, there were over 18 high schools and five community colleges in our market area teaching collision repair; today, there are only five high schools (three are on the brink of shuttering the collision program while maintaining automotive technology), and only three of the five community colleges have maintained collision repair education/curriculum.”

Lopez believes that one of the biggest challenges that schools encounter is the increasing difficulty of becoming ASE-credentialed. “It is too difficult to receive the credential because of the 389 task requirements and 1100 hours of training required to be an ASE credentialed school at the secondary or post-secondary level,” he laments. “The change that is needed is for ASE to create a credential that will allow a school to graduate a student with skills that will allow them to enter into our industry as an entry-level technician.”

He also believes that educators need to “teach what collision center owners and managers have expected from an entry-level technician since the 1996 Snap-Shot of the Collision Industry, which is that an entry-level technician can perform these top five skill sets with little or no supervision: 1) remove and replace a bolted-on part, 2) fix a small dent, 3) prep for paint, 4) final detailing and 5) plastic repair. If educators would teach students to attain and accomplish those five skill sets and have the ability to perform them with little or no supervision, the collision industry would begin to reduce the talent shortage,” Lopez insists.

Seidner’s Collision Centers is working to alleviate the talent shortage through a summer internship program that will run for three weeks and includes 36 hours of hands-on training. “These interns have agreed to share their experience with their peers when they return to school in the fall of 2023 when these eleventh graders will take on 55 ASE task lists and 360 hours of classroom and lab time until they graduate as seniors in the spring of 2025.”

It’s also vital for industry professionals to get involved with their local schools in order to “create an outcome that will allow you to see results by volunteering, taking action now and continuing to take action at a local high school or community college,” Lopez urges. “Let the local teacher know that you would like to participate in grooming and hiring entry-level technicians and stick to it because it is going to take a while…but it’s definitely worth the effort! The greatest importance is to let students, both secondary and post-secondary, know they are valued. And when we participate with them at high school or college, we reinforce what their teachers have been teaching. Seeing the faces of the students while they are learning is a very gratifying experience. I feel like I have made a personal impact in their lives. We have some collision center managers who began as entry-level technicians and are now operating multi-million-dollar collision centers.

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 can Contact Us to learn about the many ways to get involved. 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.

Follow us on social media on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

If you would like more information about this topic or any of CREF’s initiatives, please email info@ed-foundation.org.