Author name: Collision Repair Education Foundation

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (March 2026) – As the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) prepares to kick off its Spring 2026 High School and College Transportation Student Career Fair circuit, local industry leaders are speaking out on the transformative power of school involvement. Dean Benner, Director of Operations for 3D Collision Centers in Pennsylvania, is challenging …

Highlighting Collision Career Diversity: CREF’s 2026 Spring Career Fairs Read More »

February 5, 2026 at 8:00 AM EST CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc. (CCC) announced key findings from its Future of Collision Repair Workforce Study, published in partnership with the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF). The study surveyed 475 high school and college students, technical/vocational students and recent graduates considering careers in collision repair. The study reveals …

CCC, CREF Share Findings from Study on Future Collision Repair Workforce Read More »

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (February 2026) – The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) is excited to celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2026 – a testament to the power of vision, perseverance and collaboration! Over the past three and a half decades, thanks to the unwavering support of countless industry partners, CREF has inspired and impacted thousands …

“Then, Now and the Future”: CREF Celebrates 35 Years and Looks Forward to the Next 35 Read More »

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (January 2026) – “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams Students dreaming of becoming collision repair professionals cannot achieve their aspirations without support from educators and the industry. Instructors striving to educate students will struggle to …

Inspiring the Future of Collision Repair: CREF’s 2026 Benchmark Award Applications Open! Read More »

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (December 18,2025) – Educating the next generation of collision repair professionals is no easy feat! Instructors must keep students engaged with hands-on training that mimics what they’ll experience in the field once they graduate and embark on their journey into a successful collision career. With many schools facing budgetary limitations, collision repair …

Experience and Engagement: Over 1,000 Collision Students Get Hands-On with Current Model Vehicles, Thanks to Ford Donation Through CREF Read More »

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (January 2026) – The collision repair industry boasts great career opportunities for young professionals eager to enter the field, but with advancing technology makes the trade increasingly complex, obtaining an education before entering the workforce is more vital than ever before. While the cost of attending technical school is typically less than …

Funding for Future Collision Repairers: Applications Open for CREF’s 2026 Student Scholarships Read More »

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (December 2025) – The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) envisions “a collision industry with a sufficient number of qualified, properly trained and immediately productive entry-level employees to meet current and future industry needs,” and that begins with ensuring collision schools are adequately equipped with everything they need to educate the next generation …

Championing a Better Future for Collision Students: Crash Champions Proudly Supports CREF’s Vision on Every Level Read More »

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (December 2025) – When Brian Foster first planted his roots in the collision repair industry as a 14-year-old kid in the 1980s, vehicles were different – and so were the skills required to repair them. “You became a body man or a mechanic if you couldn’t do anything else,” he recalls. However, …

From Roots to STEM: Instructor Seeks to Improve Perception of Industry, Promotes Career Potential of Collision Engineering Read More »