Collision Repair Education Foundation

08/28/2026

Applications to serve on the CREF Board of Trustees are open!

The Board of Trustees for CREF is seeking qualified candidates from all industry segments to join the Board for 2027. This provides an opportunity for industry leaders to offer strategic oversight and leadership and help shape the education and training of the next generation of repair professionals.

Applications should be submitted via email by September 24, 2026.

Learn more and download the application: https://loom.ly/8TZ2b9Y

08/27/2026

Proudly supporting some of the industry's best young talent! 🥇

Scholarship recipients Madison Warren and Isabella Roll each brought home hardware from SkillsUSA nationals in Atlanta this June.

Read about their journeys to collision repair and success at SkillsUSA: https://loom.ly/k7RpUpo

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (August 2026) –

08/26/2026

"Will allow me to focus all my time and effort on developing the skills that will make a good refinishing technician"

Diego left a full-time job to pursue collision repair at College of Lake County and is making the most of every opportunity! He's working as an apprentice while in school and dreams of becoming a refinishing technician when he graduates next year. CREF is proud to provide a scholarship to support Diego on his journey into the industry!

08/25/2026

Open Call for Board Candidates!

CREF is seeking applicants from collision repairers, OEMs, insurance providers, educational programs, and related industry services to serve alongside other collision industry leaders on our Board of Trustees. Applications are due by September 24, 2026.

Full Details: https://loom.ly/WHKOqwA

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (August 25, 2026) –

08/18/2026

CREF is proud to share that our 24th Annual Golf Fundraiser raised more than $145,000 to support collision education!

Thanks to the generosity of companies and individuals from across the industry, especially our Co-Host Sponsor PPG, this year's event was the most successful on record! We're grateful for everyone who joined us at Seven Bridges Golf Club, and we look forward to celebrating our 25th Annual Golf Fundraiser with you next year.

Read more 👉 https://loom.ly/IVZZmCM

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (August 2026) –

08/13/2026

Highlighting career opportunities throughout collision repair!

Many CREF scholarship recipients go on to become technicians while others pursue opportunities in different areas of the collision industry. CREF is proud to share the stories of four recent scholarship recipients now working in body repair, refinishing, custom restoration, and product development.

Read more: https://loom.ly/rBreza0

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (August 2026) –

08/11/2026

CREF is proud to welcome Amanda Valmonte, Business Development Manager at PPG, to the Board of Trustees.

Amanda Valmonte has spent more than 16 years building connections across nearly every corner of the collision industry. From dealership operations and vehicle auctions to global manufacturing, she's worked alongside repair businesses, distributors, OEM partners and industry organizations to drive strategic growth, advance innovative solutions across the evolving collision repair landscape and help transform relationships into long-term opportunities for growth.

Amanda is passionate about cultivating industry talent. She's also active with WIN - Women's Industry Network, promoting mentorship and representation and creating more leadership opportunities for women in collision repair.

Read more: https://loom.ly/wtnI6gI

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (August 2026) –

08/07/2026

Calling all Music City Collision Conference attendees!

The Tennessee Collision Repairers Association will be hosting a TopGolf event benefitting CREF the Thursday before the conference and time is running out to register! Get a full bay for your team or register on your own and network with those around you. Every swing makes the difference in the lives of future technicians.

📍500 Cowan St, Nashville, TN
📅 Thursday, August 13
🕒 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Register Now: https://loom.ly/sX72iNU

Music City Collision Conference - Top Golf Fundraiser Registration 2026 “Building Better Techs—One Swing at a Time”

08/06/2026

Nominations for the Second Annual Jeff Wilson Award for Selfless Education are now open!

This annual award, in memory of long-time Kingwood Park High School collision repair Jeff Wilson, honors one instructor each year who best lives out Jeff's commitment to going above and beyond their responsibilities in service of their students.

Sound like somebody you know? Nominate an instructor today!

🔗 https://loom.ly/l91eYOc

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08/04/2026

"Makes the learning process better simulate a shop experience"

Through their Benchmark Award sponsored by the Atlanta I-CAR Committee, Athens Technical College received eight heavy-duty mobile work tables, along with a variety of modern tools. These upgrades even impressed Athens' advisory council during a recent walkthrough and are giving students hands-on experience with the tools they'll encounter in the workforce.