Press Release

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL – April 28, 2015 – Over 200 high school and college collision students from the greater Dallas, TX area attended a career fair facilitated by the Collision Repair Education Foundation on Wednesday, April 15th. The event was held at the Service King Collision Repair Support Center in Richardson, TX however in showcasing industry unity Berkshire Hathaway Automotive, Caliber Collision Centers, DentZone, and Oklahoma State University all participated in the event. Students had the opportunity to distribute their resumes, tour an in-production repair facility, view product demonstrations by 3M and Safelite AutoGlass, and those that were seeking employment had the opportunity to be interviewed. Due to the overwhelming success of this event, the Collision Repair Education Foundation is planning similar types of career day events across the country to help connect high school and college collision students to industry members in need of entry-level employees.

Collision Repair Education Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode noted, “This career fair was a follow up to our Cars, Careers & Celebrities event that took place in Dallas this past August and the Education Foundation helped introduce collision students from five Dallas area schools to our August sponsors. It was great to see industry competitors come together under one roof for the betterment of the collision students and the fact that students were hired through this event is proof of its success. It is our goal to replicate this career fair in markets around the country to showcase the Education Foundation’s ability to not only provide collision school programs with support through industry donations, but also help connect students with entry-level employment opportunities within the industry.”

Trimble Tech High School (Fort Worth, TX) Collision Instructor Roger Alfaro noted, “This event gave my collision students a clear view of the fact that they are needed in this industry. They also saw that there are more types of jobs that are within the industry.”

Industry members interested in joining the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s supporters and assist high school and college collision school programs should contact Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at 847.463.5245 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org.

Hoffman Estates, IL – April 21, 2015 – Parts Trader announces they will double their contribution to the Troy Holm Memorial Fund to assist more Collision Repair Technology and Automotive Refinishing Technology state gold medalists to be able to attend the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville this June. The fund, facilitated by the Collision Repair Education Fund, was created in memory of collision industry member Troy Holm, who passed in March 2013, and was established to assist students in attending the national event. Support provided to the students includes travel costs grants and other forms of assistance needed by students to ensure the “best of the best” from around the country are represented at the national contest.

All collision industry members are encouraged to contribute to the fund to ensure that as many deserving collision and refinishing students can participate in this year’s national championships, as well as in competitions in years to come.

“Given his passion for collision repair industry, Troy would be gratified to know that so many talented and motivated young men and women are being assisted in his memory,” said Dale Sailer, PartsTrader’s Vice President of Business Development. “We hope that by allowing additional students to travel and compete in Louisville, they will be driven to continue on their path toward productive careers in an industry that so desperately needs them.”

Collision Repair Education Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode noted, “We informed PartsTrader that collision instructors had begun to reach out to the Education Foundation asking about the Troy Holm Memorial Fund and seeking assistance for their students who had qualified for the national competition in Louisville. When hearing that our current fund wouldn’t be able to help all those that were requesting support, PartsTrader stepped up to double their contribution.”

A video is available online announcing the memorial fund, and collision industry members interested in supporting this fund are asked to contact Collision Repair Education Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at 847-463-5244.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL – April 17, 2015 –The Collision Repair Education Foundation held a ribbon cutting ceremony at Maxwell High School’s (Lawrenceville, GA) collision program on Wednesday, April 8th as they were the recipient of the 2013 $50,000 Makeover school grant funded by the Atlanta I-CAR Committee. Both local industry members and those attending the Collision Industry Conference meetings were provided with a tour of the program and met with school administration, collision instructors, and students. The school also announced that the donations provided to the collision program over the past several years have made it more attractive to prospective students and enrollment for the upcoming fall semester will double compared to previous years. Maxwell High School also had two collision students place 1st in state for the SkillsUSA collision repair and refinishing contests and these students will be competing at the national contest this June in Louisville, Kentucky.

Collision Repair Education Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode noted, “I congratulate and thank the Atlanta I-CAR Committee for coming together to assist Maxwell High School as we are seeing this support result in increased enrollment and highly trained students demonstrated by their SkillsUSA state winning students. Through the committee’s local fundraising efforts, over $100,000 has been invested into the schools collision program which has provided everything from newly painted shop floors, student scholarships, tool/equipment upgrades, and much more. To have the program look brand new and now producing state winning SkillsUSA students should prove to the industry that investing in their local collision programs through the Education Foundation pays off at multiple levels. ”

Maxwell High School Principal Dr. Jeff Hall noted, “The Makeover grant and support has afforded our collision instructors the ability to teach our students, at the highest level possible, through the use of advanced equipment and supplies. More importantly, the grant ensures our students receive industry level training every day. We are fortunate to have the support of the Collision Repair Education Foundation and Atlanta I-CAR Committee, as our graduates leave us well prepared for the workforce and post-secondary education.”

Atlanta I-CAR Chairman Gerry Poirier and Farmers Insurance National APD Manager noted, “The ability to obtain such great results with the school has been made possible by all the members of the Atlanta Committee. Their dedication and passion to make this program excel to such high levels is second to none. Our partnership with Maxwell’s teachers and administrators has been nothing short of phenomenal and has been key to the success. We will continue to support Maxwell and are looking for additional local programs where we can duplicate these outstanding results to promote this great industry and bring in new technicians.”

Industry members interested in joining the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s supporters and assist high school and college collision school programs should contact Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at 847.463.5245 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL – April 14, 2015 – The Collision Repair Education Foundation and AkzoNobel Automotive & Aerospace Coatings have once again partnered to offer the Sustainability Challenge Grant for high schools and colleges with collision repair education programs. In its second year, schools are invited to submit proposals for applying continuous improvement and sustainability principles that improve the processes in the school’s body shop, have a positive impact on the environment and the people working in the shop, or improve the way the shop interacts and impacts the community. The projects should be driven by teams of students with the instructor serving as a mentor for the program. Each winning school will receive funding to introduce their proposed idea into their school and to report on the success of their project. The deadline for applications is Earth Day, April 22, 2015.

In addition to the awards, the program also serves as a way to educate collision repair students across the country about sustainability and its principles and how students could improve and make a positive impact on the environment. The sustainability video series, which is available at the Education Foundation’s website, is one of the available tools for instructors to teach their classes about sustainability.

Clark Plucinski, Collision Repair Education Foundation Executive Director said, “We are honored to once again partner with AkzoNobel on this very important subject matter. The students studying in collision programs today will be the future of our industry, and by getting them thinking about sustainability practices now, it will only make for a better future. Thank you to AkzoNobel for allowing schools to contribute for a better tomorrow.”

About AkzoNobel Automotive & Aerospace Coatings
AkzoNobel is a leading global paints and coatings company and a major producer of specialty chemicals. We supply industries and consumers worldwide with innovative products and are passionate about developing sustainable answers for our customers. Our portfolio includes well-known brands such as Dulux, Sikkens, International and Eka. Headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, we are consistently ranked as one of the leaders in the area of sustainability. With operations in more than 80 countries, our 50,000 people around the world are committed to delivering leading products and technologies to meet the growing demands of our fast-changing world.

AkzoNobel Automotive & Aerospace Coatings is one of the world’s leading suppliers of paints, coatings, film and services for car repair, commercial vehicles, interior and exterior automotive plastic and, aerospace coatings, and specialty finishes for consumer electronics, sports & leisure and cosmetics. It sells coatings and film for original equipment and refinishing applications to bodyshops, aircraft manufacturers, maintenance repair and overhaul, fleet owners, automotive suppliers, major bus and truck producers, contract manufacturers and coatings applicators. Brands include Sikkens®, Schramm®, Lesonal®, Dynacoat®, Wanda®, Sikkens Autocoat® BT, Soliant®, Technicoat®, Aerowave®, Aerobase® and Aerodur®. Operating in more than 60 countries, Automotive & Aerospace Coatings has specialists around the world who understand local markets and can serve local needs. Its state-of-the-art customer services, color and technology solutions include offering technical and logistical support and the delivery of training programs. Internet: www.akzonobel.com/aac

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL – April 13, 2015 – The Collision Repair Education Foundation announced their 2015 Board of Trustees and Executive Committee as a result of their March 25, 2015 Board of Trustees Meeting. The Education Foundation is honored to have the following representatives on the Executive Committee:

Chairman Rick Tuuri AudaExplore, a Solera Company
Vice Chairman Tim Adelmann ABRA Auto Body & Glass
Secretary Russ Hoffbauer State Farm Insurance
Treasurer Domenic Brusco PPG Industries, Inc.
Member-At-Large Mary Mahoney Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
Immediate Past Chairman Terry Fortner LKQ Corporation

Sally Downey – East Valley Institute of Technology; Mary Jo Prigge – CCC Information Services Inc.; and James Spears – USAA were elected to the Board of Trustees.

In addition to the Executive Committee and the newly elected Trustees, the Foundation Board of Trustees consists of: Stacy Bartnik – ITW Evercoat; Jerry Beigel – Safelite Solutions; Scott Bridges – The Hertz Corporation; James Fichera; Don Hermanek – Insurance Auto Auctions; Scott Kohl – Liberty Mutual Insurance; Timothy O’Day – Gerber Collision & Glass; Pam Overton – Allstate Insurance Company; Renee Ricciotti – 3M; and Jeanne Silver – CARSTAR Mundelein.

Trustee Emeriti consist of: J. Laurence Costin – CCC Information Services Inc.; Lirel G. Holt; Frank D. McGiboney; Chuck S. Sulkala – Chuck Sulkala Consulting; and the late Russell Verona – East Rockford Collision Center. Chairmen Emeriti consist of: Chris Evans – State Farm Insurance and Doug Webb – Ten Point Complete.

Collision Repair Education Foundation Board of Trustees Chairman and AudaExplore, a Solera Company Vice President of Industry Relations Rick Tuuri noted, “The Foundation has made great strides over the past few years in our quest to serve the industry by supporting collision repair students and the technical schools, thanks to a strong staff and a committed Board. Last year, we were able to provide over $13M worth of support to our future technicians, thanks to the generosity of our donors and sponsors in the industry. It is a privilege for me to serve in this capacity to support the Foundation and the future of our industry. I look forward to an even more successful 2015.”