Collision Repair Education Foundation

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Compete “Fore” the CREF Cup 2022 at TopGolf Schaumburg in November; Meet 1,000 Chicagoland Students March 2023!

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (November 9, 2022) –

Join the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) for a memorable night of golf and networking at 6pm on Thursday, November 17 at TopGolf in Schaumburg, IL to support high school and college collision programs and students around the country while competing against local automotive industry professionals for bragging rights…and the inaugural CREF Cup trophy! Companies participating at the TopGolf event also receive a table at the 2023 Chicagoland High School & College Transportation Student Career Fair, scheduled for Friday, March 3 in conjunction with the AutoRama/World of Wheels Student Day Event, which will bring together over 1,000 collision and auto service students from the Chicago and North Indiana markets.

“CREF invites Chicago area professionals to come out for a fun-filled evening as we raise additional funds, support and awareness for high school and college collision school programs and students,” CREF Managing Director Brandon Eckenrode says. “Engage in a little friendly competition, network with other industry professionals and support a worthy cause while engaging in a round of golf. We can’t wait to see you there!”

Companies can purchase a bay ($2,000), which includes six golfers at the TopGolf Schaumburg event, unlimited food and drinks, sponsor recognition and the chance to compete for the 2022 CREF Cup trophy, as well as the complimentary table (valued at $1,500) at the 2023 Chicagoland High School & College Transportation Student Career Fair.

Email info@ed-foundation.org with any questions or to register for the event. The event is nearly sold out, so companies are encouraged to register as soon as possible before you miss this unique opportunity.

Participating companies currently include asTech, Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Illinois (AASPI), BASF, Caliber Collision, CARSTAR, CCC Intelligent Solutions, Collision Equipment Experts, Copart, Elitek Vehicle Services, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, FinishMaster, Gerber Collision & Glass, Hertz, Insurance Auto Auctions, Kent Automotive, Patrick Dealer Group and the Resnick Auto Group.

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.

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

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3M, CREF Host Student Career Fair to Connect Students for Skilled Trades in the Collision Repair Industry

The week of Oct. 3, more than 200 students from across the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area attended a skilled trade career fair event hosted by the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) in partnership with 3M at its global headquarters in St. Paul, MN.

The interactive two-day event was tailored for students seeking insight into the diverse career opportunities available in the collision repair industry along with opportunities to interview with local collision shops for work post-secondary training.

Middle, high school and technical college-level students interested in exploring either skilled trade opportunities or automobile painting and metal work were able to participate in interactive sessions and demos with industry leading professionals. The sessions related to auto body repair included metal work, abrasives and adhesives; the paint sessions allowed students to spray and match colors in a booth and participate in the final stages of buffing and polishing an automobile at 3M headquarters.

For the first time, 3M and CREF extended the event to include a second day focused on promoting career awareness for students unsure of the path they want to take after high school. Working in collaboration with Saint Paul Public Schools, students were invited to the 3M campus to participate in hands-on demonstrations and conversations with 3M employees regarding their personal career paths and trade backgrounds.

“The collision repair industry, like many skilled trades, is experiencing challenges driven by labor shortages. This opportunity to connect students with industry professionals is invaluable and we hope it creates a spark to bring needed attention to what can be a rewarding career with multiple paths in collision repair,” said Dan Wittek, 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division global application engineer director. “We’re proud to be working alongside the Collision Repair Education Foundation to host this interactive career fair event and serve as a conduit between the industry and the bright young talent who aspire to be our transportation industry professionals of the future.”

“CREF is honored to collaborate with 3M in this two-day event. The Transportation Career Fairs provide a chance to connect students and employers,” said Tiffany Bulak, CREF program coordinator. “The addition of the interactive sessions with 3M and the career awareness day is a great example of collaboration and innovation to showcase all the opportunities collision repair industry has to offer.” 

Training and education have always been at the core of 3M; it was a 3M training session at an auto body shop that inspired Richard Drew to invent masking tape in 1925. 3M is committed to investing every day for the training needs of current auto body shops and setting up success for the shops of tomorrow.

Source: 3M

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From CREF Scholarship Recipient to Gerber Apprentice: Olivia Peterson Shines as an Incoming Collision Repair Professional


Hoffman Estates, Ill. (November 30, 2021) –
When Olivia Peterson, a collision repair student at College of Lake County (Grayslake, Ill.) applied for a scholarship through the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) earlier this year, she had no clue how far that simple action would take her in a short span of time. Chosen to receive a $2,500 scholarship from Gerber Collision & Glass, a division of the Boyd Group, Inc., in partnership with CREF, Peterson expressed her gratitude “for the investment in my future that this scholarship provides. By becoming a technician in the auto collision field, I hope that my actions will empower more women to pursue their own careers with cars, and this scholarship will ultimately help me realize this dream.”
Dreams have a funny way of coming true sooner than expected – or at least, that was true in this instance. Peterson applied for an internship at Gerber through their Technician Development Program (TDP) because “I felt that Gerber’s reputable, structured program would provide me with the best education for my new collision repair career.”
“Olivia is a fantastic employee who continues to amaze us,” said Luke Martin, technician development program school liaison for Gerber’s TDP. “Her work ethics are topnotch, and she has been an integral part of the Gerber team since day one. The drive that she shows for this position is something we hope to instill in all our employees.”
Peterson has learned a lot and acquired many new skills since joining Gerber. “The best part of the TDP is the real-world experience. Some aspects of the industry are impossible to accurately replicate in a traditional classroom environment. There is no better way to learn collision repair skills than in the actual environment in which you will be performing the work.”
“Being an apprentice at Gerber has made me feel very confident in my abilities to succeed in this industry,” she continued. “I started out with very little automotive repair experience, and I am amazed by how much program I’ve made and how much I’ve learned in such a short amount of time. I have a very realistic expectation of how the industry functions because I am immersed in it every day as an apprentice. The program teaches a wide variety of repair techniques that reflect the current I-CAR standard procedures, allowing future technicians to be prepared to handle anything that comes their way.”
In honor of National Apprenticeship Month in November, Gerber featured several apprentices, including Peterson, on its social media platforms in recognition of their efforts and successes. “These students are going to be the next workforce and will become an integral part of keeping this industry alive and well,” Martin explained. “The demand for workers in the collision industry is steadily increasing, and the more relationships we can create to better support students, the better we can prepare for this increasing demand.”
The collision repair industry definitely faces its share of demands, but Peterson embraces it all, for better or worse, offering advice for other students and apprentices: “Do not shy away from any challenges! Some repairs can appear quite intimidating, but these are the repairs on which you will experience the most personal growth and which will serve you the most benefit throughout your career.”
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, Director of Development, 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.
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If you would like more information about this topic, please email info@ed-foundation.org.

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12 Days of CREF-mas Winter Giving Campaign

2020 has not been without its challenges, which is why we would like to take this opportunity to celebrate the gifts given to us as well as what and how we have been able to give this past year.

12 Days of CREF-mas

To kick-off, the festivities we announce our 12 Days of CREF-mas Winter Giving Campaign! During this campaign, we will be highlighting 12 of the most impactful ways we are making a difference with high school and college collision programs as well as some of the creative fundraising activities of 2020 (including potential gift ideas).

During these 12 days, we will also be sharing some of the most impactful stories of 2020. The campaign will run from December 12th to December 23rd, with 12 days of giving but also 12 days to hear and share the work we have been doing. 



 

Like many non-profits, we rely heavily on tax-deductible donations, so as you make your Holiday lists consider putting CREF on it, and donate using the form above.

Due to changes implemented as part of the CARES Act, even taxpayers who don’t itemize deductions may take a charitable deduction of up to $300 for cash contributions made in 2020 to qualifying organizations.

On behalf of the high school and college collision programs, students, and instructors we assist nationwide, thank you for your support consideration!

Happy Holidays! 

Sincerely, 

Your CREF Family