Hoffman Estates, Ill. (June 10, 2025) –
Although the collision repair industry offers a multitude of potential career possibilities – as a technician, painter, supplier and so much more – many collision students are unaware of the extent of options available to them as a result of their studies. The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) strives to make students aware of these choices throughout the year by hosting High School and College Transportation Student Career Fairs around the country, but these ambitious events would not be possible without the support of generous industry partners like Axalta.
Axalta sponsored a career fair at West-MEC High School in Phoenix, AZ earlier this school year, allowing nearly 200 auto collision, auto tech and diesel students from local technical schools to interact with employers in the area (and beyond!) seeking their skills. Even more exciting for the industry? Although the event only lasted a single day, students’ talents continue to be cultivated through the connections established as efforts to further their careers have led to job shadowing opportunities and will likely result in many of them securing employment and beginning their collision repair careers.
Keith Bell, Business Director, Distribution and Industry Relations, North America, Axalta, explains why the coatings company finds this initiative particularly worthwhile: “Career fairs are critical in the wider scheme of our support for CREF and its key aim to inspire individuals with drive, dedication and skills in the collision repair industry. For our industry in particular, it is so important to help young people understand the variety of options they’ll have by pursuing a career in the collision repair industry. Having started as a vo-tech student myself, I have a true understanding of where this industry can take you. It offers so many great career paths; the opportunities are truly endless!
“Axalta enlists help from many of its local teams and distribution partners to participate at these well-attended fairs around the country,” Bell adds. “While they are in attendance, our experts answer questions and promote the various career paths that are available in the collision repair industry.”
That ability for students to engage with industry professionals is a major factor that contributes to the success of these events. “Students were very excited to get the one-on-one time with the companies,” recalls West-MEC High School Collision Instructor David Melian. “The industry partners in attendance were very receptive to our students’ opening opportunities for them to shadow at their facilities which we did this spring, and I anticipate that some students will receive employment offers through the connections they made. CREF did an outstanding job of coordinating the job fair and providing our students with more opportunities and possible employment.”
These connections also have a less explicit benefit – when students experience the industry’s interest in their careers firsthand, it has been proven to increase their morale and motivation in pursuing collision careers. “Company participation reinforces what we teach and gives value to students who are given the opportunity to speak directly with the shops,” Melian believes. “Students’ attitudes change when they see opportunity, and it gets them excited when the companies are interested in speaking with them.”
Participating in the Foundation’s career fairs also allows collision industry employers to gain access to “a pipeline for possible employees who will have the entry level expertise they are looking for,” Melian points out, encouraging industry organizations to get involved with their local schools. “It is very important for collision companies to form partnerships with our programs and participate in our advisory committees to provide their invaluable input; with that input, we can improve our program as trends change.”
Promoting professionalism in the classroom by providing uniforms is another way Axalta and CREF help students gain a sense of pride in their chosen profession. Each student who attended the 2024 career fair in Phoenix received a branded technician shirt, sponsored by Axalta.
“Uniforms may seem an unusual area of sponsorship,” Bell acknowledges, “but they are a very deliberate one. Wearing a uniform helps to foster a feeling of team and of unity. In a uniform, you immediately feel more professional and carry yourself with more self-esteem while wearing it with pride. It is a tangible representation of what you are doing and the team of which you are part. CREF research has even shown that it can help to improve the students’ motivation and that uniforms are linked to an increased graduation rate, so Axalta feels this is an incredibly valuable area to support.”
“It was very generous of Axalta to supply all of our students with tech shirts,” Melian expresses gratitude on behalf of recipients. “Our students enjoy wearing them, and we’ve received compliments about how they add a higher level of professionalism to our students.”
Career fairs and uniform sponsorships are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the myriad ways that Axalta supports CREF and the nation’s future collision professionals. As an engaged member of the industry, Axalta has been involved with the Foundation since 2013. “CREF is a very important organization for our industry,” Bell stresses, specifically noting how the Foundation helps address “the increasing need for skilled technicians and numerous career opportunities in the automotive aftermarket.”
In 2024 alone, Axalta donated $30,000 to support CREF’s numerous initiatives. In addition to also sponsoring CREF’s Annual Golf Fundraiser, the donation included a sizeable endowment directed to the Foundation’s General Fund, which is used to ensure collision schools are able to offer enhanced training programs, ensuring students graduate with the skills and confidence necessary to succeed in today’s workforce. These contributions help provide state-of-the-art tools, updated equipment and scholarships, which remove barriers for students pursuing careers in the industry. “These initiatives are invaluable,” according to Bell. “We know of many schools who have received paint supplies and materials from our distribution partners for hands-on learning sessions that simply would not have been able to have taken place otherwise.”
As an instructor whose program has been receiving this support for more than two decades, Melian agrees. “My program and students have benefitted from CREF’s in-kind donations and grant opportunities. It is a huge boost to our program to receive new tools and equipment through the generosity of CREF and the donors who give back to so many programs across the country and provide these opportunities for our students. I encourage others to take the time to fill out the survey and apply for the grants and scholarships.”
Bell urges collision industry employers to get involved as well. “There are many ways to support CREF. For example, the Foundation will take various donations and ensure they get to those who need it, including items such as protective equipment, tools, refinish supplies and so much more. CREF’s Benchmark Awards and Student Scholarships are another way that collision students receive support that will help them thrive in their future careers. CREF is the vital lynchpin between industry and young people, and it is through them we can educate, nurture and develop the next generation of talent to keep our industry at the cutting edge.”
With the rapid increase in automotive technology constantly creating the need for new investments in tools and equipment, instructors face even more pressure to advance their curriculum while contending with limited budgets. “Car manufacturers are truly driving innovation in the collision repair industry – the technology in vehicles today is a million miles away from what it was five or ten years ago – so I can’t overstate the importance of the work that CREF does!” Bell insists. “We should also recognize that these programs in schools are often the first to be dropped with spending cuts, so CREF’s activities are critical. I am very grateful that Axalta is involved with CREF and allows me to dedicate time and commitment to a cause I feel personally and professionally passionate about.”
Bell’s passion for CREF and its endeavors led him to joining the Foundation’s Board of Trustees in 2022, and he is currently a member of the Fundraising Committee. “I realize how very blessed I’ve been to be in this industry and how far it has taken me. I feel it’s important to give back to an industry that has given so much to me. I am passionate about this industry, and I am passionate about introducing young people to it. I want them to realize it is not a just job but truly a career.”
To accomplish that, he plans to “continue to do more wherever I can. Specifically, I would like to get more companies involved with CREF, as well as generally increasing awareness about the career opportunities in collision repair, and lastly to illicit excellent engagement from all parties – to get them as passionate about it as I am!”
Fortunately, Bell’s passion for promoting collision careers is already shared by many in his organization. “While I am the face of Axalta’s involvement as a Board of Trustee member, many Axalta employees are involved in some way or another, at various levels and in different capacities. CREF is certainly something that is close to our hearts.”
Industry members interested in getting involved and supporting the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s efforts to assist high school and college collision repair training programs can Contact Us to learn about the many ways to get involved. Monetary donations can be made online.
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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.CollisionRepairEducationFoundation.org.
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If you would like more information about this topic or any of CREF’s initiatives, please email info@ed-foundation.org.