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

The shortage of qualified talent in the automotive and collision industries isn’t exactly classified information, but rather than withdraw into the trenches and accept defeat, dozens of industry leaders have partnered with the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), BASF and KTL Restorations to highlight the wonderful career opportunities available within this field through Operative Talent!

The first vehicle being restored through this initiative is “Talent,” a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro, that will be raffled off at SEMA 2023, and as the new year approaches, Operative Talent partners are engaging in a little friendly competition to see who can sell the most raffle tickets between now and the end of 2022. KTL Restorations, Ringbrothers, Classic Car Studio, Cato’s Custom Upholstery, Auto Metal Direct (AMD) and KC HiLiTes are all competing and encouraging the industry – and those outside the industry! – to help them emerge victorious amongst their allies.

Simply go to OperativeTalent.com, click the banner at the top to purchase raffle tickets, and enter the code associated with your favorite competitor (provided below) during the checkout process!

• KTL: KTL
• Ringbrothers: RINGS
• Classic Car Studio: CCS
• Cato’s Custom Uphostery: CATO
• AMD: AMD
• KC HiLiTes: KCH

Your contributions will help arm Operative Talent partners in their efforts to demonstrate exactly what amazing opportunities await students who pursue a collision and automotive repair career! Funds raised through raffle sales and sponsorships will be used to promote the industry to the general public through public service announcements and a public-facing website.

Students between the ages of 16-23 can also get involved by applying to participate in the rebuild for some fun, hands-on experience. Opportunities for students exist through the dozens of Operative Talent partners across the country. For a complete list of current partners, to purchase raffle tickets, apply as a student or simply learn more about this unique endeavor, visit 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.

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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. (December 8, 2022) –

The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) is excited to announce that 27 secondary and post-secondary schools in the United States will benefit from Benchmark grants funded through the efforts of ten devoted I-CAR Committees. Various fundraising methods were employed, generating $163,000 in funds that will aid the industry’s future generation in becoming prepared for a career in collision repair.

“Our volunteers and committees do a masterful job at fundraising for their local schools,” said Terry Ticel, Director, Field Sales, Career & Technical Education, I-CAR. “Most of our volunteers are from the industry, so they understand and recognize the need for school and student support. Their influence in the industry promotes incredible sponsor support from manufacturers, suppliers and local businesses in their markets. We appreciate the time, talent and efforts of all our volunteers, which make these fundraising events a huge success.”

“The funding raised by these local volunteer I-CAR committees for their local collision programs is crucial for these programs to afford the needed tools, equipment, and supplies which their budgets don’t always allow for,” Brandon Eckenrode, Managing Director of the Foundation, shared. “Thank you to all the committees who have been active at the local level organizing these fundraisers with CREF! The local collision students seeing and meeting the industry members in their market is essential to keeping the students motivated to stay within the industry. We look forward to collaborating with even more I-CAR committees in 2023.”

The ten I-CAR Committees and the grants they bestowed include:

Atlanta I-CAR Committee

• Athens Technical College (Athens, GA): $10,000
• Etowah High School (Woodstock, GA): $15,000
• Maxwell High School of Technology (Lawrenceville, GA): $5,000
• North Georgia Technical College (Clarkesville, GA): $10,000
• Paulding County High School (Dallas, GA): $15,000

Broward County I-CAR Committee:

• Atlantic Technical College (Coconut Creek, FL): $5,000
• McFatter Technical College (Davie, FL): $5,000
• Sheridan Technical College (Hollywood, FL): $5,000

Columbus Collision Education Group

• Miami Valley Career and Technology Center (Englewood, OH): $2,500

Greater Philadelphia I-CAR Committee

• Berks Career & Technology Center (Oley, PA): $3,000
• Central Montco Technical High School (Plymouth Meeting, PA): $4,000
• Lebanon County Career & Technology Center (Lebanon, PA): $1,500
• Pennsylvania College of Technology (Williamsport, PA): $4,000

Indianapolis I-CAR Committee

• Central Nine Career Center (Greenwood, IN): $5,000
• Walker Career Center (Indianapolis, IN): $5,000

Knoxville I-CAR Committee

• TCAT (Knoxville, TN): $5,000
• TCAT (Morristown, TN): $5,000
• Greene Technical Center (Greeneville, TN): $2,500

Nashville I-CAR Committee

• Lincoln College of Technology (Nashville, TN): $5,000
• Northwest High School (Clarksville, TN): $13,000

Palm Beach I-CAR Committee

• South Tech Academy (Boynton Beach, FL): $5,000

Phoenix I-CAR Committee

• East Valley Institute of Technology (Mesa, AZ): $10,000
• Gateway Community College Central City Campus (Phoenix, AZ): $10,000
• West-MEC (Phoenix, AZ): $5,000

 

St. Louis I-CAR Committee

• Lewis and Clark Career Center (St. Charles, MO): $2,500
• North Technical High School (Florissant, MO): $2,500
• South Technical High School (Sunset Hills, MO): $2,500

Eligibility for these awards was achieved by applying for the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s 2022 Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark Grant. The Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark Grants recognize schools that excel at educating students in collision repair, but due to strained school budgets, the programs require additional financial assistance. Recipient schools use these funds to provide the tools, equipment and supplies necessary to enhance their students’ learning experience and elevate the caliber of their graduates, ensuring that graduates are prepared to successfully enter the workforce upon graduation. Applications for the 2023 Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark Grants will be available online in Spring 2023.

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. (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.

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

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