Collision Repair Education Foundation
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Collision Shop Owner Crosses ‘Tour Jay Leno’s Garage’ Off His Bucket List After Winning CREF Auction
Published in Autobody News BJ Penrod, owner of BJ’s Auto Theft and Collision in Denver, CO, was thrilled to learn that he’d entered the winning bid for a private tour of “Jay Leno‘s Garage.” The auction was held to benefit the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) and its work to support collision repair educational programs, schools and students. “As soon as I heard about the auction, I added ‘tour Jay Leno’s Garage’ to my bucket list,” Penrod stated. “My wife Lisa and I watch the TV show, and we can’t believe we won—she’s even more excited than I am!” “I heard about CREF’s auction from my BASF paint supplier, and since we’re big fans of Jay Leno, Lisa and…
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Combat the Tech Talent Crisis with CREF
Printed in Autobody News With the average technician age approaching 50 years old, shops and other collision repair industry businesses are in desperate need of qualified entry-level staff to fill positions as technicians age out. The industry has a major problem, but by supporting the schools that educate future collision repair employees, the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) offers the solution! CREF is a 503(c)(3) nonprofit organization that facilitates the industry’s generosity by investing in collision repair educational programs around the country, helping equip school shops, and funding student scholarships, among many other endeavors that serve to attract, properly train, and retain more qualified collision professionals. Since 2009, the Foundation…
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What Cars Say: “We Need More Female Technicians!”
Written on behalf of the Collision Repair Education Foundation. Printed in Body Shop Business In recognition of Women’s History Month, author Rachael Alfonso has partnered with the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) to raise funds in support of female collision repair students. When industry supporters purchase a copy of Alfonso’s new book, “What Cars Say,” through the dedicated link, a portion of the sale will be donated to a fund for future female technicians. “This is a great book for any auto enthusiast,” Brandon Eckenrode, Director of Development for CREF, said. “The Foundation is proud to endorse Rachel, a female automotive professional and author, and we’re excited to announce a…
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CREF Helps Student-Turned-Industry-Pro Clear Collision’s Hurdles
Written on behalf of the Collision Repair Education Foundation. Printed in Body Shop Business. Printed in Autobody News. When the Collision Repair Education Foundation erased Destiny Potter’s student debt in 2017, it did not erase every challenge she’d face while pursuing a career in the collision repair industry, but with the support of the Foundation, a solid education, devotion to the industry, and some good old-fashioned determination, Potter is jumping every hurdle in her path – and gaining loads of experience along the way! A mixture of factors sparked Potter’s interest in the collision repair industry. At age five, she helped her father with small repairs on his vehicles. They…
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Collision Repair’s Unsung Hero: How Does CREF Distribute In-Kind Donations to Vo-Tech Schools Around the U.S.?
Published in Autobody News Each year, the Collision Repair Education Foundation receives millions of dollars’ worth of in-kind donations from generous industry companies and professionals eager to support the next generation of collision repair professionals. Donations include tools, equipment and even car parts, which are distributed to the collision repair programs in need at vo-tech schools around the country. With so many large-scale donations and a limited staff, distribution seems an impossible task for CREF to manage alone – and it is! As the Foundation’s efforts to raise awareness of the challenges in collision repair education gained traction, the industry’s generosity caused CREF leaders to ask about schools offering warehouse…
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CREF Scholarships and Support Enable Body Shop Estimator to Move Up the Ladder Faster
Written for the Collision Repair Education Foundation, Printed in Autobody News Hoffman Estates, Ill. (September 16, 2020) – Justin Furman, an estimator at Bill Brown Ford on the fast track to becoming a manager, largely credits his career successes to the support he received from the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) and PPG. “The scholarships I received from the industry enabled me to graduate college with a bachelor’s degree in Technology Management, virtually debt-free,” Furman said. “Unburdened by worries about college debt, I was able to focus my attention on my passion for the automotive industry,” Furman added. “Additionally, my relationship with CREF provided a solid foundation to show the…
