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BODYWORX
PUBLISHER’S PAGE
THE VOICE OF COLLISION REPAIR TECHS & PAINTERS
PROFESSIONAL
CLAIM YOUR STAKE Hold onto your dreams—this could one day be you
PUBLISHER Darryl Simmons publisher@collisionrepairmag.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Orest Tkaczuk | orest@mediamatters.ca EDITOR Allison Rogers | allison@mediamatters.ca
BY DARRYL SIMMONS
W
hat makes a technician tick in 2020? According to SkillsTrader founder and CEO Fadi Smaidi, high-paying wages are no longer the ticket to securing top talent. Instead, industry professionals, such as yourself, are seeking careers that will propel them toward their future career goals. And it’s
STAFF WRITERS
the level of appreciation for those behind-thescenes in the bodyshop, but also be abundantly clear about all the exciting paths a career in collision repair can lead you. This issue’s cover star is a great example of the recruitment opportunities out there; prior to working in a dealership, Southpointe Toyota’s Tim Hopwood had never considered
If pay grades really lack the same weight they once had, everyone need to start promoting a ‘this could be YOU!’ mindset in the collision repair industry. After all, some of the industry’s top players began working in bodyshops just like you.
Julia Lloyd | julia@mediamatters.ca Kenzie Letman | kenzie@mediamatters.ca Max Reid | max@mediamatters.ca Maddy Kylie | maddy@mediamatters.ca Sophie Price | sophie@mediamatters.ca ART DIRECTOR Yvonne Corvers | yvonne@mediamatters.ca VP OF INDUSTRY RELATIONS & ADVERTISING Gloria Mann 647.998.5677 | gd.mann@rogers.com DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS SOLUTIONS Ellen Smith 416.312.7446 | ellen@mediamatters.ca INDUSTRY RELATIONS ASSISTANT Wanja Mann (647) 998-5677 wanjamann1@gmail.com DIGITAL OPERATIONS MANAGER Cassie Doyle | cassie@mediamatters.ca CONTRIBUTORS Aidan Labbossiere, Ben Hart, Stefano Liessi, SUBSCRIPTION One-year $25 / Student Discount is 10%
Bodyworx Professional ™ is published quarterly, and is
up to you to get that message out to owners and managers. During the Canadian Collision Industry Forum (CCIF) virtual event in October, Smaidi said the industry needs to get a whole lot better at recruiting top talent. With the average age of Canadian technicians closing in on 49-yearsold, the collision repair workforce will see a total revamp in the years to come. To understand the audience pool of today, collision repair facilities need to refocus their recruitment efforts to narrow in on aspects of the job that will drive candidates closer to their respective goals. It’s time for you to speak up and show your enthusiasm by asking questions, by taking courses and by job shadowing your mentors. If your goal is to manage or own your own shop, let your manager know. While wages still play a role, I’m sure you are seeking opportunities to propel yourself closer to your respective career goals. The industry, as a whole, needs to not only raise
a career in collision repair. But once he picked up the spray gun and mastered his technique, he couldn’t be stopped. Now, he’s a mentor for other painters and is on a path to great success. If pay grades really lack the same weight they once had, everyone need to start promoting a ‘this could be YOU!’ mindset in the collision repair industry. After all, some of the industry’s top players began working in bodyshops just like you. The readers of Bodyworx Professional— painters, technicians and the whole lot of behind-the-scenes workers—are what make this industry tick. Never forget how important your role is and shout it from the rooftops.
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dedicated to serving the professionals of the collision repair industry. It is published by Media Matters Inc. Material in Bodyworx Professional ™ may not be reproduced in any form without written consent from the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising and disclaims all responsibilities for claims or statements made by its advertisers or independent columnists. All facts, opinions, statements appearing in this publication are those of the writers and editors themselves, and are in no way to be construed as statements, positions or endorsements by the publisher. PRINTED IN CANADA ISSN 1707-6072 CANADA POST CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAIL SALES PRODUCT AGREEMENT No. 40841632 RETURN POSTAGE GUARANTEED Send change of address notices and undeliverable copies to: 317 Reid St., Peterborough ON K9J 3R2
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