One Student, One School, One Industry: CCC Charts the Path to Strengthening the Future Collision Industry

Created for Collision Repair Education Foundation

Making a difference in the lives of collision repair students comes in many forms – from supporting the school programs educating the next generation to directly funding scholarships to help these future collision professionals overcome financial barriers standing in the way of their dreams. As a founding member of the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), CCC Intelligent Solutions has been an avid part of changing the course of collision education since 1991.

“At CCC, we believe the future of the collision repair industry depends on investing in people,” says Andreas Hecht, Senior Vice President of Mobility at CCC Intelligent Solutions. “We recognized early on that the long-term success of the collision repair industry depends on a steady flow of skilled professionals. Through our long-standing partnership with CREF, we’re helping ensure that students and schools have access to the same advanced estimating and repair planning technology used in today’s repair shops. Whether it’s through software donations, scholarships or classroom enhancements, our goal is to help more students enter the workforce with confidence and be prepared for the complexities of modern vehicle repairs.”

This diamond-level sponsor has proven the veracity of their commitment to that broader industry need by supporting just about every initiative CREF has undertaken.

Since the inception of CREF’s Student Scholarships in 2006, CCC has donated nearly $300,000 to over 70 students through its CCC Michael Salvatore Repair Technician Scholarships, which awards funding to students currently enrolled in post-secondary collision repair programs who have demonstrated superior academic achievement. Named in honor of a longtime CCC member and passionate advocate for education in the collision repair industry, the scholarship helps remove financial barriers for students pursuing technical training and careers in collision repair.

“The Michael Salvatore Repair Technician Scholarship was established to honor the legacy of Michael Salvatore, a long-time CCC colleague and a dedicated advocate for education and workforce development in the collision repair industry,” Hecht explains. “Education and training are essential as our industry works to keep pace with increasingly complex vehicles and advanced technology required for better repair outcomes. Financial barriers shouldn’t stand in the way of students pursuing careers in this industry. These scholarships provide direct support to future repair professionals, helping them complete their training and enter the workforce better prepared to succeed from day one. Investing in students today strengthens the industry for the future.”

Receiving tuition assistance through CREF was a game-changer for Abdullah Muayad (Fayetteville Technical Community College; Fayetteville, NC), who was one of three students to receive a $3,000 scholarship funded by CCC in 2024. After deciding to pursue a new career in collision repair in 2022, Muayad ran into some difficulties. “I live in Raleigh, so I was driving back and forth to school every day.” It was already challenging for him to cover the cost of tuition and transportation, but losing his full-time job presented a hurdle that he was uncertain how to overcome – until he was awarded a CCC Michael Salvatore Repair Technician Scholarship. But the scholarship was about more than just the money. “I felt like what I was trying to do was acknowledged, and I felt supported,” he shares, acknowledging how that support has motivated him to continue his pursuit of a collision career and pursue his dream of owning his own shop.

That aspiration was shared by Josh Hudson, a 2012 Student Scholarship recipient, who used the funds to cover tuition and invest in essential tools. He has since realized his dream and is now the proud owner of Hudson Autoworks in Greensboro, NC.

Scotty George received a scholarship in 2017 and notes, “The scholarship has been a blessing in relieving some of my financial obligations while in school so that I can complete my degree. With my apprenticeship throughout the education, I feel that I will be that much farther ahead when graduation comes, and I am able to pursue a full-time job as a technician rather than just a helper. The benefit of learning about the field in school and the exposure to the projects and tools used in the classroom is that then they go with me to work in the afternoon for real world experience. This has really helped solidify the things that I’ve been learning and helping me get ahead and even help teach my classmates from my real-world experience. As awesome as this opportunity has been though, an apprentice type position doesn’t pay much, especially when you only get to work a couple of hours a day. It would have been near impossible to continue my education if I had had to solely pay for it myself.”

“This scholarship gave me the opportunity to be the best that I can be,” contributes Martell Wilson, who received a 2021 CCC Michael Salvatore Repair Technician Scholarship. “I have watched generations in my family build and rebuild automobiles, and I always knew that I wanted to have a career doing the same thing. My grandfather and father were born automotive technicians, and they shared so much of their experiences with me. My father passed away when I was younger, and I lost my best friend. I promised myself and him that his legacy would continue through me.”

2023 Student Scholarship recipient Jose Padilla (Kennedy King College; Chicago, IL) also expressed gratitude to CCC and CREF for the funding that impacted his career aspirations “by alleviating some of the financial burden on my path of higher education with future tuition.  It also grants me the opportunity to invest in new tools for my new profession in auto body reconstruction. This assistance allows me to concentrate on studying and practicing the skills of the trade.”

Of course, students cannot learn those necessary skills unless the schools they attend are properly equipped, and that’s why CREF launched its School Benchmark Awards in 2016. Designed to help educational programs overcome prohibitive budgetary constraints by offering vital funding for those schools to equip their programs with the materials and support necessary for elevating students’ educational experience in accordance with industry standards, the Foundation’s Benchmark Awards would not be possible without the generous donations from industry organizations like CCC.

“Many collision repair programs face budget constraints, making it difficult to provide students with access to up-to-date tools and technology,” Hecht observes. “CCC’s classroom enhancement awards and software donations help bridge this gap by delivering the tools, equipment, and resources schools need to prepare students for real-world roles. It’s one way we help ensure that students so they can graduate career-ready.”

In 2024 alone, CCC funded three CCC Classroom Enhancement Awards, distributing its support between three schools, yet since the inception of the program, CCC has donated over $130,000 to 20 different schools, allowing them to purchase resources that will enhance their collision repair training programs and equip students with the tools they need for a successful career in collision repair. CCC’s Classroom Enhancement Awards are designed to assist schools’ collision repair programs with classroom materials, such as electronics, tools, furniture and other items, to ensure that students pursuing a career in collision repair have access to a professional learning environment and are better prepared to successfully enter the workforce upon graduation.

Ulster BOCES in Port Ewen, NY utilized the $12,000 Classroom Enhancement Award received in 2020 “to purchase laptops and utilize CCC ONE estimating software and the I-CAR PDP-EE program,” according to Collision Repair Instructor David Rosenberg. “By allowing more access to the internet for our student population, these donations have a great impact on our shop/classroom educational capabilities by allowing us access to estimating software for the first time!” He also noted that the donations have a positive impact on student morale: “Our students were blown away, and the shop was filled with smiles. One student mentioned how motivating he finds it to know that industry companies believe in these students enough to donate and invest in our program.”

“Our students get really excited when they come into the shop and find out that our program now has many of the same tools and products they’ve learned to use through training and lectures,” agrees Kenneth McMillian, Collision Repair Instructor at Kennedy-King College (Chicago, IL), another 2020 winner. “It’s important that the collision industry get involved with local schools because it gives them a voice in how their future employees should be trained. Our schools’ programs need that help since the programs teaching the next generation of the collision industry’s workforce face tremendous budgetary problems.”

“This impacted our program in a tremendous way, the students now have access to computers and are able to replicate how technology works in the collision industry,” reports Felipe Maldonado, Collision Repair Instructor at Tarrant County College District (Fort Worth, TX), whose school received vital funding in 2023 from CCC and CREF.

“When students train using the same technology found in today’s shops, they gain hands-on experience that prepares them to contribute from day one,” Hecht adds. “It’s a win for students, schools and the entire industry.”

Recognizing that need for students to receive hands-on experience that will better prepare them for working in shops also led CCC to donate estimating software to schools. In collaboration with CREF, CCC’s software donations include onsite and virtual training and world class technical support services at no cost to the students or schools. CCC’s donation helps to ensure that future collision repair technicians learn on the same software widely used by the repair facilities and insurance industry where they will soon seek employment. CCC is a founding member of CREF. The CCC ONE® Estimating software package donated by CCC includes digital imaging capabilities, access to tire and recall databases, paintless dent repair guidelines, and frame specifications, along with other products and multi-user access. It also grants access to CCC Repair Methods and CCC ONE® Touch, CCC’s mobile estimating solution that allows estimates to be written right at the car.

Since undertaking this initiative, CCC has helped thousands of students from over 500 schools in almost every state through its generous donation of millions of dollars’ worth of software, onsite and virtual training, and world-class technical support services, delivered at no cost to the students or schools. “To help expand access to collision repair education, CCC is committed to donating software to schools that join CREF,” Hecht says. “By providing CCC ONE® Estimating software at no cost, we aim to make it easier for more schools to participate and ensure students gain hands-on experience with the same tools used in the industry.”

CCC also lends its support to other CREF endeavors, such as sponsoring the Annual Golf Fundraiser each year and contributing to the Foundation’s General Fund, which is used to ensure collision schools are able to offer enhanced training programs, ensuring students graduate with the skills and confidence necessary to succeed in today’s workforce. These contributions help provide state-of-the-art tools, updated equipment and scholarships, which remove barriers for students pursuing careers in the industry.

CCC Intelligent Solutions even uses its own platforms to generate money for collision schools and students – during last year’s CCC NXT Conference, attendees raised a generous contribution, and CCC matched those funds.

On a more personal level, CCC employees also support CREF. Hecht has served on the Foundation’s Board of Trustees since 2021. “CCC has supported CREF since its founding, and we‘re proud to give back in meaningful ways,” he explains. “CCC has been a longstanding supporter of CREF and remains committed to helping the industry train and develop its future workforce. We believe that active participation on the Board is an important part of that commitment. CCC has consistently had representation on the Board, regularly rotating members every few years to bring in fresh perspectives while maintaining our long-term support. My role allows me to align CCC’s contributions with CREF’s evolving needs and advocate for broader industry participation.”

“My focus is on expanding the pipeline of qualified technicians by increasing industry involvement, financial support and engagement from key stakeholders,” Hecht offers insight into his goals as a Trustee. “The collision repair workforce shortage is a challenge that requires collaboration across the industry – from repairers to technology providers to automakers. By working together, we can ensure that students not only receive high-quality training but also have clear pathways to careers in this industry.”

“The collision repair industry is facing a critical shortage of skilled technicians, and investing in education is key to closing that gap,” says Hecht. “CREF helps bridge the distance between students and career opportunities in collision repair by ensuring students have access to the latest training, technology and career opportunities. A well-prepared workforce benefits every part of the industry, and it’s up to all of us to ensure students have the resources they need to succeed. The more the industry invests in education, the stronger the workforce will be.”

Hecht encourages “more companies to get involved – whether through donations, technology contributions, partnerships with schools or through Board involvement with CREF. There are many ways companies can support collision repair education, including financial contributions, technology and software donations, and connecting students with career opportunities. Through supporting CREF, the industry helps prepare the workforce of tomorrow, ensuring that students graduate with the skills needed to meet evolving repair demands and keep up with the increasing complexity of modern vehicles. By working together, we can strengthen the workforce, support repair programs and ensure a sustainable future for the industry.”

Industry members interested in getting involved and supporting the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s efforts to assist high school and college 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.CollisionRepairEducationFoundation.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.