Keystone and I-CAR teaming up to present series of North American collision industry train-the-trainer sessions

Addressing a critical need for updated collision industry education, Keystone Automotive Industries is sponsoring five I-CAR regional train-the-trainer sessions. The effort includes an added emphasis on reaching the Canadian body shop marketplace.

I-CAR is also embarking upon a scholarship program along with a salute to the organization’s valued “army of volunteers.”

“Our industry often does not realize the selflessness of the I-CAR volunteers to assist I-CAR in delivering training to the collision industry,” notes Jeff Peevy, I-CAR’s North American field operations manager.

“It is easy to underestimate the positive impact the I-CAR volunteer has had on the collision industry,” he adds. “Volunteer assistance helps keep the industry’s training cost low compared to other industries’ training.”

The series of instructional meetings, which start this weekend in Las Vegas, are “an opportunity to update and inform our volunteer base of upcoming challenges, campaign efforts, programs and projects, as well as to just say ‘thank you’ for their efforts,” Peevy says.

“The conferences take place throughout North America, and they assist in efforts to bring industry professionals valuable resources,” explains Bonnie McCracken, brand manager for Wilkin Guge Marketing, which is involved in producing the events.

In addition to the Las Vegas sessions, other host hotels for the program series are located in Orlando, Fla.; South Padre Island, Texas; Lambertville, N.J.; and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

The I-CAR Canadian National Collision Industry Conference, held March 2-3 at the Delta Ottawa Hotel, is particularly important for north-of-the-border collision repairers, according to Jolinda Ottum, an I-CAR marketing communications specialist. “Our goal is to share the latest information on issues that directly affect the collision industry today and in the future.”

The agenda includes “surviving in today’s business environment, update on the new VOC regulations, industry trends, OEMs — what is in our future — and networking with industry professionals.”

Details about the Canadian sessions can be obtained by contacting Tracey Blouin (pronounced BLU-in) at (800) 422-7456 or (416) 299-4227. She can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].

Further information regarding the American events is available by calling the above I-CAR 800 phone number or clicking onwww.i-car.com.

Starting this month, “I-CAR will use the synergy of its volunteer force to launch an I-CAR Education Foundation Campaign asking collision repair facilities to give $100 toward solving the industry’s need for entry-level technicians,” Peevy reports.

“The $100 donation is tax-deductible and will be used in Phase One of the project to provide ‘I-CAR Live’ curriculum for career and technical schools and colleges throughout the country,” he says.

“Approximately a third of all collision programs have the ‘I-CAR Live’ curriculum,” Peevy continues. “Our goal is that at least half of the schools in the U.S. have the I-CAR Live curriculum in their programs.

“Phase Two of the campaign will move the project to providing scholarships to individuals interested in a career in collision repair. Our goal is to build momentum each year with our ultimate goal to provide over $250,000 each year in scholarships,” says Peevy.

“We need the industry to step up and commit to making a difference in the shortage of entry-level technicians by giving a small donation each year. The I-CAR volunteer has assisted the industry in overcoming many challenges and now will begin to work on the longstanding challenge of a lack of entry-level technicians,” he explains.

According to Keystone Vice President Christopher Northup, “I-CAR does a terrific job creating opportunities for collision repair students and has proven itself to be a great asset to collision industry professionals everywhere.”

The special sessions debut Jan. 19-20 in Las Vegas at the Gold Coast Hotel. This event is geared toward participants from Nevada, California, Hawaii, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico.

Another conference convenes Feb. 2-3 in Lambertville, N.J. — hosted by the Inn at Lambertville Station — covering attendees from Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and West Virginia.

The North- and South-Central regions of the country will assemble Feb. 8-10 at the Radisson Hotel on South Padre Island, Texas. The covered states include Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi and Tennessee.

“Training will continue to be a critical issue for the collision industry as technology and repair methods continue to evolve at an ever-increasing pace,” according to Rick Tuuri, I-CAR’s director of business development and North American operations.

“Thanks to the generous donations and support by committed industry partners like Keystone, we are able to provide industry professionals with the valuable resources they need for success,” he adds.

“I-CAR is dedicated to the research, development and delivery of quality, collision-related training and educational programs,” notes Keystone’s Northup, “and we are pleased to offer our support.”

Says Peevy: “I-CAR volunteers will become more visible to the industry by the I-CAR ‘Blue Shirt’ which they will be given during the meeting. If you see an I-CAR Blue Shirt volunteer, take a moment to say thanks for their work to provide low-cost training to our industry.”