CREF Welcomes Josh Cox to Board of Trustees

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (May 2, 2025) – 

The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) is excited to welcome Josh Cox, National Vice President of Sales for WESCO Group, to its Board of Trustees.

“We are honored to welcome Josh Cox to our Board,” shares Brenda Hogen, Chair of CREF’s Board of Trustees. “His extensive experience and dedication to the collision industry will be invaluable as we continue to advance our mission.”

Cox was drawn to the collision repair industry because he always loved cars. After high school, he went to work in a body shop, sweeping floors, and before long, he progressed to washing cars, then to an apprenticeship in refinish. He became a journeyman painter and eventually the shop’s foreman. “I always loved sports, and although those career aspirations didn’t work out, I applied that mentality to my collision career – I treated it like a sport which allowed me to become successful pretty rapidly,” he recalls.

After he left the body shop, he found employment with PPG, working in automotive paint sales, before becoming a distributor with several stores in California. In 2019, he sold his stores to the WESCO Group and stepped into a position overseeing the California market. “Although I enjoyed painting, I found that I excelled in roles which allowed me to utilize my leadership skills and provide a positive influence for the people around me. Due to my quick success in my localized role with WESCO, the company’s leadership saw my value and promoted me to my current position as the National Vice President of Sales.”

Cox also worked as an I-CAR instructor for 10 years and currently teaches leadership classes for WESCO. Because he has “held every position in a body shop, plus worked on the distribution and manufacturing sides,” he has a lot to offer by joining CREF’s Board of Trustees. “Through my industry connections, I have a lot of great resources, and I feel it’s my duty to give back. Since early in my career, I’ve been fortunate enough to meet some generous, successful people who were willing to invest in me – both financially and by giving their time to mentor me in this industry, which has provided an amazing life for me and my family.”

Now, Cox feels, “It’s my turn to pay that forward. My 20-year-old son is an apprentice bodyman, and seeing the influence I’ve had on him inspires me to believe I can encourage students across North America. As a member of CREF’s Board of Trustees, I hope to help connect the Foundation with new resources as we work together to develop the future leaders of the collision repair industry.”

He believes his story can be an inspiration for young people and will encourage them to reach for the stars. “I’m proof that you can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it. No matter where you start, if you work hard and put the effort in, you can become a success story. Never let anyone tell you what your future holds.”

CREF is proud to have Cox join its Board, leveraging his leadership and expertise to drive initiatives that support the next generation of collision repair professionals.

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