CREF, Service King announce new grant in honor of Mario Malacara

Sept. 20, 2017
The Service King Way Grant was created in memory of Malacara’s dedicated service, loyalty to the industry and the indelible impact he had on countless people during his career.

The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) is administering a new grant, called “The Service King Way Grant: In Honor of Mario Malacara” on behalf of Service King Collision Repair Centers.

Malacara was a highly admired and respected 14-year Service King teammate who tragically passed away in December 2016. The Service King Way Grant was created in memory of Malacara’s dedicated service, loyalty to the industry and the indelible impact he had on countless people during his career.

Chief Human Resources Officer at Service King Collision Repair Centers, Sean Huurman, said that Malacara was a “…universally beloved teammate who gave so much to Service King and the collision repair industry as a whole.”

The Foundation administers grants and scholarships to provide educational opportunities to students across the country, with a larger goal of preparing future generations of entry-level collision repair employees to enter the workforce.

Together CREF and the Service King have created the grant to honor Malacara, because, in Huurman’s words, “He embodied the values we have at Service King, referred to as The Service King Way, so we could not think of a better way to memorialize this connection than through a scholarship in his name. Mario fought diligently to ensure talented entrants were provided the opportunities that exist within the industry. It’s our hope that this scholarship extends Mario’s passion to students and families for years to come.”

This year’s recipients of the Service King Way Scholarship, in memory of Mario Malacara ($1,000) include:

  • Asael Medina, UTI (Houston, TX)
  • Justin Maldonado, TSTC (Harlingen, TX)
  • David Noyola, TSTC (Waco, TX)
  • Xavian Henry, UTI (Houston, TX):

During his time at Service King Collision Repair Centers, Malacara was influential in many ways: whether mentoring a co-worker or fighting for legislation change at the State Capitol, he continually strived to be an advocate for the industry.

Huurman said, “We sincerely hope this scholarship honors the legacy of Mario Malacara and his family by transcending his passion for the collision repair industry to future students across the country. Mario’s spirit and love for the industry, and the young people who enter it, will surely continue to impact students and future generations of technicians.

The Collision Repair Education Foundation supports collision repair education programs across the country to help schools and students prepare and create qualified, entry-level employees and connect them with career opportunities. Through in-kind and monetary donations, CREF is able to support high school and college collision programs, instructors, and students in North America.

About the Collision Repair Education Foundation:

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.

ABOUT SERVICE KING COLLISION REPAIR CENTERS

Service King Collision Repair Centers®, with more than 40 years of experience in the automotive repair industry, is a leading national operator of comprehensive, high-quality collision repair facilities. The organization is consistently recognized for its commitment to customer satisfaction, quality workmanship and giving back to the industry through innovative training and recruiting initiatives. Service King traces its roots back to Dallas, Texas and founder Eddie Lennox who opened the very first Service King in 1976. Today, Service King operates locations in 24 states across the U.S. In 2015, Service King was named the No. 1 Best Place to Work by both the Dallas and San Antonio Business Journals. For more information and to find a local Service King, visitwww.ServiceKing.com and follow Service King news on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Author

ABRN Wire Reports

These are press releases approved by our ABRN Editors

Sponsored Recommendations

ADAS Applications: What They Are & What They Do

Learn how ADAS utilizes sensors such as radar, sonar, lidar and cameras to perceive the world around the vehicle, and either provide critical information to the driver or take...

Banking on Bigger Profits with a Heavy-Duty Truck Paint Booth

The addition of a heavy-duty paint booth for oversized trucks & vehicles can open the door to new or expanded service opportunities.

The Autel IA700: Advanced Modular ADAS is Here

The Autel IA700 is a state-of-the-art and versatile wheel alignment pre-check and ADAS calibration system engineered for both in-shop and mobile applications...

Boosting Your Shop's Bottom Line with an Extended Height Paint Booths

Discover how the investment in an extended-height paint booth is a game-changer for most collision shops with this Free Guide.