Industry Insight with John Yoswick
—John Yoswick is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon who has been writing about the automotive industry since 1988. He is the editor of the weekly CRASH Network (for a free 4-week trial subscription, visit www.CrashNetwork.com). Contact him by email at jyoswick@SpiritOne.com.
CIC Committees Tackle Ongoing Shortage of Collision Repair Technicians
Shop Showcase
It’s not uncommon during discus- said. “No, he was mowing the shop CIC Talent Pool and Education sions within the collision repair in- owner’s yard. When I spoke to the Committee, said too often he hears dustry about the technician shortage owner of the body shop about this, shops and schools pointing to the with Ed Attanasio for body shop representatives to he said, ‘I had to pay my dues. other as the cause of the technician point to what they see as the inad- They’ve got to pay theirs. As long shortage. “There needs to be more conequate entry-level skills of students as the school keeps sending peocompleting auto body training pro- ple, I never have to mow my yard.’ versation. People need to get on the same page,” Center said. grams. To that end, the discussion at Educators and others speaking CIC included panelists sharing ideas at this spring’swith Collision Industry Ed Attanasio about ways to improve the techniConference (CIC), however, offered cian shortage. Oden said collision their own perspectives on the issue. repair and other technical training “We do not have a recruiting programs in her state hold summer problem. We have a retention probcamps that give fifth and sixth grade lem,” Virginia Oden, a trade and instudents some exposure to the differdustrial education program specialist ent programs. During eighth grade, with Oklahoma Career Tech, said at with Ed Attanasio Virginia Oden of Oklahoma Career Tech said students tour technical training prothe meeting held in Oklahoma City. how entry-level technicians are treated when grams in their area. “How we treat our employees is key. they enter the industry impacts whether they “It’s all about planting seeds. If you don’t provide them with opstay in the industry It’s making students and parents and portunity, they will look elsewhere. They will tell you it’s because of My point: Do not assume these kids counselors aware of the opportunities that are out there,” Oden said. the dollar. But people do not leave need to do what you and I did.” with Ed Attanasio a job they love and where they feel Bud Center, chairman of the “At the same time, having done appreciated. They leave because of management, period.” She said she has seen technical education teachers “work hard every day to instill the passion they have for this industrywith into those students, Stacey Phillips and then when they get out into the industry, they are treated terribly. They may leave your shop and go down the street to the next shop. • Delivery to 100 Mile Radius of Naples But if they’re treated terribly at that shop, they will leave industry.Phillips withthe Stacey PARTS HOURS: PARTS DIRECT LINE: “They can get better work and M-F 7am to 6pm better hours, with less hard labor, 239-734-3215 2 3 39 9 734 734 3215 21 Sat 8am to 5pm Fax: 239-591-3051 working at Amazon,” Oden said. “So it’s important once we get them 5665 N. Airport Pulling Rd. / Naples, FL 34109 recruited and passionate about what At Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Naples, we do, we’ve got to treat them with with Stacey Phillips we we’ ee’re ’re re re yyou yoour oneee-stop -sto stop opp ssho hop for for respect. It’s not about ‘kids today.’ It’s every single person who’s breathing. We all want to be treated with respect.” Speaking from the floor at CIC, Dane Rounkles of American Honda said he once went to a collision with Staceyshop Phillips in the Southeast to visit a student interning there while completing the Honda Professional Automotive Career Training program at a local school. “He wasn’t there, and I asked, ‘Did he not show up?’” Rounkles
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this for a while, the industry tends to want the fruit off the tree. They don’t want to help plant the seed to grow the tree. So they’re not involved in those summer camps and eighth grade visits and sophomore showcases. It’s like anything: If that student has seen your face, they become comfortable with you. You’re building that relationship. You’re starting that investment.” Amber Alley, manager of Barsotti’s Body & Fender in San Rafael, CA, has spoken at a number of past industry events about the success her shop has seen from its involvement with a local college taking part in a pilot project funded by the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation. The students in the two-year program rotate spending eight weeks at school, then eight weeks working in a shop. At CIC, Alley said she sees
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30 JULY 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com
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