Aug. 14, 2015—The Collision Repair Education Foundation announced on Friday that it will take a more active role in ensuring that students graduate with the skills that the industry is seeking and connecting students with employment opportunities.
In the announcement, the foundation released an updated mission: “Supporting collision repair education programs, schools, and students to create qualified, entry-level employees and connect them with an array of career opportunities.”
To connect collision students and industry employees, the Education Foundation will be organizing a career fair tour this fall and next spring, which will be available for all industry members to participate in. The cities targeted for the initial career fair tour include: Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix, Seattle, Orlando, Salt Lake City, Chicago, Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, Knoxville, Memphis, and Nashville.
“The collision industry should be proud of the fact that they have provided over $35 million in donations to high school and college collision school programs since 2009 when the Foundation began its philanthropic focus,” said Rick Turri, vice president of industry relations at AudaExplore, a Solera Company, and board of trustees chair of the Collision Repair Education Foundation. “While those donations have made a significant impact on the instructor’s abilities to provide a quality technical education, to help address the industry’s need of properly trained entry-level collision students, the Board of Trustees has approved this new career focus for the organization.”
