The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair, the Collision Repair Education Foundation, and WrenchWay have formed a collaborative partnership to address the critical need for service professionals.

“Working closely with our colleagues at I-CAR, CREF and WrenchWay, we began a powerful collaboration to address one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: attracting and preparing the next generation of automotive service professionals,” said ASE president and CEO Dave Johnson. “We are committed to a shared goal of building the widest pathway to attract new talent and advance the collision repair field together.”

“This partnership aligns perfectly with CREF’s mission to support collision repair educational programs, students and schools,” said CREF Executive Eirector Brandon Eckenrode. “By combining our resources and industry connections, we can help ensure schools have the tools, equipment and support needed to attract students and prepare them for fulfilling, lifelong careers.”

“At WrenchWay, we’re focused on building stronger connections between schools, students and employers,” said company President and co-founder Jay Goninen. “Collaborating with ASE, I-CAR and CREF allows us to expand those connections and help more students see the incredible opportunities available in today’s modern, technology-driven shops.”

The new partnership is focused on attracting and retaining talent by providing resources and support needed for automotive service professionals to grow and succeed. The plan centers on three initiatives designed to support current and future talent.

First, it will address common misconceptions about the industry and showcase the array of rewarding, high-opportunity career paths available by engaging students, parents and educators with web, social and print media advertising. ASE, CREF, I-CAR and WrenchWay will collaboratively syndicate all media content targeting future technicians through paid and owned channels.

A second area of focus will be providing accessible and affordable entry-level education solutions that drive skill development, support the mentor/protege relationship, and lead to industry-recognized credentials. The partnership will also work to strengthen Career Technical Education schools through scholarships, donations and certifications.  

Finally, the organizations aim to keep talent in the industry by equipping new technicians with the tools and mentorship they need to succeed, while supporting employers in creating a learning culture rooted in skill development, safety and career advancement, a framework central to each of the organization’s training philosophy.

“This partnership expands the work I-CAR has championed through initiatives like the Collision Careers web and social platforms and I-CAR Academy, ensuring that employers, students and schools have clear, structured and affordable entry points into high-demand collision repair careers,” said Dara Goroff, I-CAR’s vice president of planning and industry talent programming.

Key initiatives are under way, including a centralized job board connecting talent with employment opportunities, and I-CAR Academy, a curriculum designed for shops or schools, supporting their ability to educate entry-level technicians with knowledge and skills required to perform modern-day collision repair, which is aligned with ASE credentials and Department of Labor-registered apprenticeship requirements. WrenchWay School Assist and Technician Pay Tool, alongside the CREF Donation Exchange platform, help to provide schools with access to information, equipment and resources through direct connections to local and industry organizations.