Press Release

Hoffman Estates, IL – August 7, 2015 – AudaExplore, a Solera Company (NYSE: SLH), working together with the Collision Repair Education Foundation, will once again be awarding $25,000 in tool grants that will be to all high school and post-secondary collision repair and refinishing students that competed at the national SkillsUSA contest. By working together with industry companies and their student product discounts, the retail value of these tools will exceed $50,000. The tool grants are meant to recognize the student’s outstanding efforts in qualifying to compete at the national SkillsUSA event and help prepare them for a career within the collision industry.

“This donation aligns very well with our LIFT charitable giving program, which focuses on helping those in need to build sustainable roots for lasting change,” said Rick Tuuri, VP of Industry Relations, AudaExplore. ”Helping people get started in this industry is in our DNA, as our Founder and CEO, Tony Aquila, started as many technicians do; sweeping floors in a body shop. The U.S. Department of Labor projected the employment growth of the automotive body segment to be 13 percent from 2012 to 2022. SkillsUSA and the Collision Repair Education Foundation have done a fantastic job enhancing career opportunities for students to take advantage of this growth and we are proud to be a part of it.”

Collision Repair Education Foundation Executive Director Clark Plucinski noted, “This is the 2nd year that AudaExplore has awarded the collision repair and refinishing students with these tool grants and it’s a great display to these state winners that there is an industry that recognizes their accomplishments and skill. As these students are the potential future members of the industry, I commend AudaExplore on this reward for the ‘best of the best’ students through the SkillsUSA competition.”

For additional information about AudaExplore’s LIFT program, visit http://www.solerainc.com/about-us/lift. Inter-industry organizations and individuals who are interested in supporting the Collision Repair Education Foundation and increase the amount of assistance provided to collision schools and students should contact Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at Brandon.Eckenrode@ed foundation.org / 847.463.5244.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL – August 3, 2015 – National Coatings & Supplies (NCS) has donated $50,000 to the Collision Repair Education Foundation, which was made in part with NCS’s paint manufacture partners (AkzoNobel, Axalta, BASF, and PPG Automotive Refinish), along with customer participation. This donation will assist the Education Foundation’s ability to support high school and college collision school programs across the country.

NCS President and CEO Wayne Lavrack noted, “We recognize and support the work that the Collision Repair Education Foundation is doing to bring awareness to the employment opportunities that exist within the collision repair industry. The industry is facing a need to fill a shortfall of skilled talent. National Coatings & Supplies will continue to support measures to bring new talent to the collision industry. We would like to thank our paint manufacture partners and customers for their contribution to this very important industry fundraiser.”

Collision Repair Education Foundation Executive Director Clark Plucinski noted, “I would like to thank the entire NCS team, their customers, and paint manufactures for their continued commitment of supporting the Education Foundation’s work towards supporting high school and college collision school programs. Their aid in supporting our mission through their fundraising activities and ongoing product donations helps us to improve the performance of the 1100 collision school programs; 66,000 students; and 2000 instructors that depend on us It truly touched me when the NCS team came to us and asked what they can do to help. A special thanks to the NCS team for all of their incredible efforts, kindness and benevolence.”

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

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL – July 15, 2015 – A memorial scholarship was established in the name of Thomas Coleman through the Collision Repair Education Foundation that will benefit southern California area collision school programs and students. Tom, who passed away this past November at the age of 47, was the co-founder, co-owner, and operator of LC Automotive Group, a six center collision repair business located in Inland Empire area of Southern California. LC Automotive will be contributing $5,000 quarterly to this fund and collision industry members are invited to participate as well.

Tom was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in April 2013 and leading up to his passing was very active in raising funds for research targeting neurodegenerative diseases. Tom’s support of the University of Michigan’s Program for Neurology Research & Discovery stem cell research initiative included his undergoing an experimental 7-hour operation in September 2013 in which 2 million stem cells were implanted directly into this spine. While Tom did not personally benefit from this surgery, his willingness to undergo this intrusive operation has contributed to the effort of finding an effective means of treating, and ultimately curing, ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Tom’s entire adult life was spent in the collision industry, starting as a technician helper in Orange County and included other positions like parts and production manager, estimator, center manager and managed California operations for Caliber Collision in the early 2000’s. “Tom was a great person, family man, friend and business partner’, states Bill Lawrence, LC Auto co-founder. “His contributions to LC Auto were significant, but Tom’s more important contribution was his involvement in ALS research, to which he dedicated his time, body and intellect. We are proud to support CREF and Southern California collision school programs on behalf of Tom and the collision repair inter-industry, which actively supported Tom and his fight against ALS.”

Industry members interested in supporting this memorial scholarship fund should contact Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at 847.463.5245 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL – July 16, 2015 – Jim and Mike Ring of Ringbrothers, are scheduled to attend the Collision Repair Education Foundation Cars, Careers, & Celebrities event being held on Friday, September 18th at the Chicagoland Speedway (Joliet, Ill.) to meet with the hundreds of high school and college collision students from over five states. Mike and Jim Ring, whose custom vehicles have been recognized with several prominent awards including the GM Design Award for Best of Show at the 2014 SEMA Show, will be presenting to the students and conducting demonstrations.

“We are thrilled to be joining the folks at the Collision Repair Education Foundation Cars, Careers & Celebrities Expo this year,” Jim Ring said. “We always enjoy talking with people who share our passion for cars and it’s always good to see the next generation be excited about working in the industry.” “We also can’t wait to do body work demonstrations with 3M product for everyone,” Mike Ring added.

Collision Repair Education Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode noted, “We are honored to have Mike and Jim Ring join us and talk to the attending collision students about being passionate about their work and there is no limit to their career opportunities within the collision industry. This message will be heard by quite the group as we anticipate collision students to be attending from not just the greater Chicago land area but also several other surrounding states.”

The career fair, being held in conjunction with the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup taking place that weekend, will bring together hundreds of high school and college collision students, veterans, industry employers, and sponsors. In addition to raising funds for the Collision Repair Education Foundation to invest in high school and college collision repair school programs, this event will include a traditional career fair where attendees will be able to distribute resumes to industry employers, view product demonstrations, hear from special guest speakers, and much more.

Companies interested in participating in the 2015 Cars, Careers, & Celebrities event are asked to contact to the Collision Repair Education Foundation by Friday, August 7th and should contact Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org/ 847-463-5244.

PartsTrader’s additional donation provided travel grants to more recipients than ever before including two Gold Medalists

Hoffman Estates, IL – July 13, 2015 – Eighteen state gold medalists attended the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville this past June with support from contributions from the Troy Holm Memorial Fund. Created by PartsTrader in memory of collision industry member Troy Holm, the fund assists students with travel grants and other forms of assistance needed to attend the national event. The initial donation, which PartsTrader doubled this year due to overwhelming requests, ensures the “best of the best” from around the country are represented at the national contest. The Fund is facilitated by the Collision Repair Education Foundation.

This year’s recipients of the Troy Holm Memorial Fund included National Automotive Refinishing Technology Gold Medalist Amanda Baker and National Collision Repair Gold Medalist Luke Sabey. The 18 student recipients and their schools include:

Chris Alcorta – Wenatchee Valley Tech (Wenatchee, WA)
Tyler Austin – RD Anderson Applied Tech (Moore, SC)
Amanda Baker – Ranken Technical College (St. Louis, MO)
Caleb Brenaman – North Arkansas College (Harrison, AR)
Colton Conner – Texarkana Arkansas Career and Tech (Texarkana, AR)
Seth Darney – Harford Technical High School (Bel Air, MD)
Austin Feavel – Cuesta College (San Luis Obispo, CA)
Pedro Franco -Central Academy of Technology & Arts (Monroe, NC)
Isaias Sanchez Guzman – SECTA (Las Vegas, NV)
Eden Gabrielle Mays – Greenville Tech (Greenville, SC)
Ben Meister – Dunwoody College of Technology (Minneapolis, MN)
Cesar Mercado – Walla Walla Community College (Walla Walla, WA)
Harrison Reget –Dunwoody College of Technology (Minneapolis, MN)
Luke Sabey – Warren Tech (Lakewood, CO)
Angelica Martinez Simon – Walla Walla Community College (Walla Walla, WA)
Hunter Smith – Moberly Area Tech Center (Moberly, MO)
Dustin Vachon – Oxford Hills Tech (Norway, ME)
Samuel Valentin – North Arkansas College (Harrison, AR)

“There is no better way to honor Troy than by encouraging students like this year’s recipients to hone their skills in the SkillsUSA completion and to encourage them to continue on their career path in the industry that Troy was so passionate about,” said Dale Sailer, PartsTrader’s Vice President of Business Development. “He would be extremely gratified that so many young men and women were able to compete this year, especially given that two national gold medalists may not have even been able to participate in the competition without this financial support in his honor.”

All collision industry members are encouraged to contribute to the Troy Holm Memorial Fund to ensure that as many deserving collision and refinishing students can participate in next year’s national championships. A video is available online announcing the memorial fund and an additional video featuring some of the recipients from the 2015 grants. 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 – July 9, 2015 – A record amount of 140 (total) high school and college collision school programs from 33 states applied for the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s 2015 $50,000 Ultimate Collision Education Makeover school grant. A full listing of the Makeover applicant schools is available online. Through their participation with this grant, the Education Foundation will be focused on helping as many of these collision school programs by securing items on their itemized $50,000 collision wish lists. These applications will be reviewed by a committee made up of industry volunteers and the winners will be announced during the Education Foundation’s industry reception the evening of Tuesday, November 3rd during SEMA.

The Collision Repair Education Foundation will be awarding a $50,000 Makeover grant to one high school and one college collision program. The grants will be in the names of Allstate Insurance and State Farm Insurance, honoring those companies for their continued support of the Collision Repair Education Foundation.

2015 Secondary Ultimate Collision Education Makeover Grant made possible by Allstate Insurance
2015 Post-Secondary Ultimate Collision Education Makeover Grant made possible by State Farm Insurance

The industry has the opportunity to help provide additional Makeover school grants this fall by making tax-deductible donations to the Collision Repair Education Foundation. Collision Repair Education Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode noted, “For every 100 industry companies that each donate $500 to the Education Foundation this year, we could provide an additional $50,000 Makeover school grant this fall and help a collision school program with needed tools, equipment, and supplies.”

Collision Repair Education Foundation Director of Grant Programs Melissa Marscin noted, “We are excited to see the record amount of collision school programs participating in the Makeover grant this year and the industry should take note of the increasing amount of schools who are asking for assistance. In order for these programs to graduate qualified and skilled entry-level collision students that the industry is seeking, the industry needs to take an active role within the programs through the Collision Repair Education Foundation. The instructors that took the time to apply should be commended.”

Anyone interested in joining the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s efforts to support 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.