Press Release

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.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL (May 16, 2019) – 3M and the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) announced the establishment of the 3M and CREF Grant; Growing the Collision Education Programs of Tomorrow. The new grant program, funded by 3M, will provide two collision schools in markets where 3M has facilities with $10,000 each to support the advancement of their programs. The local 3M community will also work to help the schools that receive the grant.

The two schools that will receive the grant include:

• Greenville Technical College, a CREF Benchmark Tier 1 school in Greenville, S.C.; and
• South Central College, a CREF Benchmark Tier 2 school in North Mankato, Minn.

The grant funds will be used to pay for tools and equipment to enhance the training opportunities they provide to the next generation of collision industry professionals studying in the schools. The grant will enable South Central College to achieve the CREF Benchmark Tier 1 status.

“We are excited about this opportunity to continue our support of CREF and the communities in which 3M has a large presence,” said Kelly Lunder, U.S. Channel Marketing Manager for the 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division. “We are committed to career and technical education and advancement for the men and women enrolled in these programs.”

“The grants available to these two schools will provide funds needed to help these colleges advance their collision programs to meet the needs of the collision industry’s future workforce,” said Melissa Marscin, Director of Operations and Administration for the Foundation. “I want to thank 3M for working with the Foundation to enhance these programs as they prepare students to enter the industry with the training necessary to succeed.”

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 is 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 programs allow schools 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 already at Tier 1 status, like Greenville Technical College, can request support for items that further advance and expand their program.

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

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About 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division:

3M automotive products keep the world on the move, with innovative solutions for building, repairing and maintaining vehicles.  From the collision repair professional to the individual vehicle enthusiast, people around the world trust 3M products to protect, repair and keep their vehicles looking showroom new.  And our commitment to this industry extends beyond product performance to a careful stewardship of the world’s resources and environment. Serving the needs of our customers has made 3M a trusted leader in vehicle care and repair, and we are dedicated to earning that trust each and every day. 

For more information, contact 1-877-MMM-CARS, contact your local 3M Distributor or 3M Sales Representative or visit the website at www.3Mcollision.com.  Follow 3M Collision Repair Solutions on Facebook, on twitter @3M_Collision and Instagram @3MCollision.

About 3M

At 3M, we apply science in collaborative ways to improve lives daily. With $33 billion in sales, our 93,000 employees connect with customers all around the world. Learn more about 3M’s creative solutions to the world’s problems at www.3M.com or on Twitter @3M or @3MNews.

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.