Chilton Autobody, Crockett’s Premier Autobody and Oakland Autobody have all joined the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s donor Industry Leadership Circle through recent donations that will specifically assist the collision program at Cypress College in Cypress, Calif., as part of the Solera Matching Makeover grant. Through their contribution level, these repair facilities will join a select group of collision industry supporters that are assisting the future members of the collision industry.
“Thirty years ago, most high schools had an auto shop to introduce students to automotive repair," Chilton Autobody owner Mike Chilton said. "Most of these programs have since been eliminated. Now, it’s more important than ever to fund vocational schools for the technicians of the future."
Added Tom Welsh, president of Crockett’s Premier Autobody, “Training and education in our industry is one of our biggest challenges. Vehicles are becoming more technical and sophisticated every year, and the need for training and education is so important today. Our industry really needs to get behind the efforts of the Collision Repair Education Foundation to insure that we have the resources needed to train our employees now and in the future.”
Ron Vincenzi, owner of Oakland Auto Body, said, “With the aging and retiring of the baby boomer generation, I feel the technician shortage is going to intensify. Also, with the ever-changing complexity of the cars being sold today and into the future, we feel it’s imperative to do our part in helping train and educate the technicians of the future. We’re grateful that an organization like the Collision Repair Education Foundation exists to help coordinate these efforts.”
Collision Repair Education Foundation Board of Trustees Chairman Chris Northup said, “I would like to thank Chilton Autobody, Crockett’s Premier Autobody and Oakland Autobody for their support of Cypress College through the Collision Repair Education Foundation. We hope to use this example of repair facilities supporting their local schools’ collision programs, instructors and students as shining examples to others nationwide. As these local collision students will be the entry-level workforce, it’s imperative for the industry to get involved in their technical education as early as possible.”
More information:
Industry members interested in supporting the industry’s future professionals through monetary and/or in-kind product donations should contact Associate Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at [email protected] or (847) 463-5244.
