Collision Repair Training | United States
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Current Events/News: E-newsletter: 2003 Archives |
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GM AND I-CAR FORM RELATIONSHIP TO PROVIDE BODY STRUCTURAL AND COLLISION REPAIR TECHNICIAN TRAINING
General Motors and I-CAR have announced a training relationship to begin January 1, 2004. In the mutually beneficial arrangement, I-CAR will conduct all GM body structural repair training within the United States.
For GM, this relationship will greatly increase the availability and convenience of training on the body structural and collision repair of GM vehicles, as I-CAR has approximately 800 training locations and 100 qualification test sites nationwide. Technicians may experience reduced travel expenses and be able to spend less time away from their dealerships and businesses as a greater variety of classes and locations become available.
Through I-CAR, GM training will also be available to technicians at independent businesses that conduct body structural and collision repairs for GM dealerships. These businesses will earn I-CAR Gold Class Professionals points and provide their sponsoring dealers an option to meet their GM Service Training Standards (STS). "We believe that GM technicians, dealers, and independent body shops doing work for our dealers will find this arrangement rewarding with the number of locations I-CAR makes available to its students," says Hershel Burson, manager, training integration, GM Service Technical College (STC). "We are pleased that I-CAR will be able to maintain the flavor of GM content and influence in the program materials offered." As I-CAR students, all GM dealer body structural and collision repair technicians will complete their training by attending I-CAR collision repair programs utilizing I-CAR's existing class delivery system and instructors. With this relationship, GM dealer and dealer-sponsored body structural and collision repair technicians will not only receive the most up-to-date training in collision repair, but the collision industry also will experience an increase in training consistency. "We are very proud to have GM transitioning to the I-CAR training programs," stated Tom McGee, I-CAR executive vice president and CEO. "The relationship between I-CAR and GM in developing and distributing collision repair training will increase the exposure of the GM repair recommendations to not only dealers, but the independent collision repair facilities, insurers, career and technical school and college students, and others that utilize the I-CAR delivery system. We believe that this relationship is not only mutually beneficial, but actually benefits the entire collision industry and, most importantly, the owners of GM vehicles." The I-CAR curriculum is a series of individual, modularized training programs that offer in-depth coverage of collision repair technologies and processes. Gold Class points apply to both the I-CAR Gold Class Professionals and Platinum Individual recognition programs. As of January 2004, GM now accepts the following I-CAR training programs:
For more information about GM body structural and collision repair training available through I-CAR, or for information on the Gold Class Professionals or Platinum Individual programs. You may visit the GM STC site at www.gmstc.com. |
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I-CAR LAUNCHES NEW RECOMMENDED TRAINING PATHS FOR ENTIRE COLLISION INDUSTRY I-CAR is proud to offer new training paths to assist all professionals in the collision industry. The training paths can be used to increase knowledge in your current position or help guide you toward future career opportunities.
Along with the printable PDF version online, copies of the training paths can be found in the Enhanced Delivery brochure and in the I-CAR Training Catalog, available online and through I-CAR customer care. To order a larger "wall reference" version of the training paths, call I-CAR customer care at 800.422.7872. This free 17" X 22" document provides your training paths information at a glance in a size large enough to display at your business.
Organized by collision repair task areas, the training paths organize all available I-CAR Enhanced Delivery training into one document, assisting individuals to determine their training based on their chosen task area in the collision industry. The new training paths task areas include: Non-Structural; Structural; Refinishing; Mechanical; and Estimating, Management, Appraisal. The training paths also contain Core Training Programs, which offer a broad understanding of different aspects of the collision industry and many of the concepts, methods, and procedures found in these programs provide the foundation for more advanced concepts in the I-CAR Enhanced Delivery curriculum. I-CAR recommends that all students have a thorough understanding of the material found in the Core Training Programs before beginning any Non-Structural; Structural; Refinishing; Mechanical; or Estimating, Management, Appraisal programs. Each task area is then divided into four sequential groups. The program names, which have been changed to be more descriptive, will give you a good idea of what each program covers. (A chart of new training program names compared to old program names is available for reference.) You should also read the program descriptions – simply select a program name online to find out the material covered in the program. Program descriptions can also be found in the I-CAR Training Catalog. When selecting which task area group is most appropriate for you, keep in mind that a good training program teaches you new information while also reviewing some material you already know and use. To help keep your training up-to-date, I-CAR will send you a report, called a transcript that looks just like the training paths and indicates with a checkbox which programs you have completed. Your new "training paths transcript" shows you which programs are logical to take next by following your chosen path. You will automatically receive a transcript after completing any Enhanced Delivery program. The back of the transcript lists all I-CAR Traditional courses, qualification tests, and Enhanced Delivery programs completed and their associated Gold Class points with any applicable expiration dates. When you successfully complete a task area group in the training paths, you will receive a Certificate Of Professional Development Through Training to signify your accomplishment. For all certificates available through I-CAR training, refer to the certificate listing. Please allow four to six weeks delivery time for I-CAR certificates. You can also request a replacement transcript or certificate at any time by calling I-CAR customer care at 800.422.7872. To read more details on how to apply the training paths to your career, or to watch an explanatory video, visit the new recommended training paths section of the I-CAR web site.
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WWW.I-CAR.COM HAS A NEW LOOK AND ADDED FEATURES FOR YOUR BENEFIT The I-CAR web site has been given a fresh new look and features added to make your online experience faster and easier.
Features now available in each section:
I-CAR 2004 International Annual Meeting 25th Anniversary Celebration
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LONG-TERM RECOGNITION ADDED TO I-CAR ONLINE GOLD CLASS BUSINESS DIRECTORYI-CAR would like to recognize and thank the long-term members of the Gold Class Professionals program. I-CAR is proud of the many businesses that have taken on the challenge of becoming Gold Class and looks forward to seeing the number continue to expand.
Businesses who have maintained their Gold Class designation for at least five years are denoted with rings next to their name in the search results. When a user clicks on the business name, a special "Gold Class Professionals" logo will appear, indicating whether the business has maintained the designation for five or ten consecutive years.
I-CAR is grateful for the dedication shown by all of its Gold Class businesses, and looks to a future where every person in the collision industry has the technical knowledge and skills necessary to ensure complete and safe repairs. For questions regarding the Gold Class Business Directory, contact Marketing Specialist Krista Flanagan at 800.422.7872, Ext. 243. |
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NACE 2003 COMPLETED WITH SUCCESSFUL RESULTS FOR I-CARNearly 24,000 collision industry attendees and 1,700 exhibitor booths were on hand for the NACE 2003 exposition that occurred from December 5 - 7, 2003 in Orlando, Florida.I-CAR highlights from NACE 2003 include: Automated Claims Processing Town Hall On Friday, December 5, I-CAR Executive Vice President & CEO Tom McGee moderated the Automated Claims Processing Town Hall. A panel of industry experts and representatives from companies with products and services directly related to claims processing were invited to answer questions and address concerns of the audience. Nearly 200 attendees were able to discuss areas of importance and concern with this 18-member panel. Town Hall Luncheon
On Saturday, December 6, I-CAR Director of Business Development and Field Operations Rick Tuuri participated in a panel discussion with eight other industry experts at the NACE Town Hall Luncheon. The panel addressed a number of challenging issues that the collision repair industry faces including training, the technician shortage, the image of the industry, fraud, recent legislation, and insurance-owned collision repair facilities. Aluminum Car Showcase The exposition included three all new aluminum constructed vehicles from BMW, Aston Martin and Jaguar. Jaguar North America provided attendees with brochures "The All-New XJ: A Professional's Guide to Aluminum Body Construction and Collision Repair," which included information on the aluminum construction, network certification requirements and FAQ's. Structural collision repair training for Jaguar's aluminum-bodied XJ continues to take place at the I-CAR Tech Centre in Appleton, Wisconsin. Various images from the "The New XJ Structural Repair & Panel Replacement" training course taught by I-CAR was featured in the video that was continuously played in the Aluminum Showcase area. For more information about this vehicle-specific training read the May 12, 2003 I-CAR press release and future issues of the e-newsletter. I-CAR Booth
I-CAR Training Programs During NACE
Looking Ahead To Next Year NACE 2004 will be held November 3 - 6, 2004 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, in Las Vegas, Nevada. This show will coincide with Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW). For additional information, please visit www.naceexpo.com, and see you next year in Las Vegas! |
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CONGRATULATIONS TO TIFFANY CHADGES, TOP WINNER OF THE I-CAR EDUCATION FOUNDATION AND AKZO NOBEL'S "THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN OF THE COLLISION REPAIR INDUSTRY" SCHOLARSHIPS The I-CAR Education Foundation, in conjunction with Akzo Nobel Coatings Inc. and "The Most Influential Women of the Collision Repair Industry," is proud to honor Tiffany Chadges, a senior at Lake County Technical High School in Grayslake, Illinois as the top scholarship winner.
A total of 249 high schools that are ASE-certified to the NATEF standards in collision repair and refinishing received a letter and student scholarship application. Both the female student applicant and instructor were asked to write a short essay explaining why the student should be awarded the scholarship. Greg Brink, the collision repair instructor at Lake County Technical High School states, "It is a pleasure to have a student like Tiffany in my class. She is so focused on her career goals, and comes to class each day eager to learn." Lake County Technical High School is also a member of the I-CAR Industry Training Alliance. Chadges, a senior at Lake County Technical High School, was introduced to the industry by her father and enjoyed going to auto shows at a young age. "Knowing that I can make it in this world doing something I have shared my father's love for makes me want to pursue this career even more. Getting into the field of collision repair is only the beginning of what was once a childhood fantasy." Akzo Nobel Coatings Inc., who established the "Most Influential Women of the Collision Repair Industry" program, made this scholarship possible. This program annually recognizes the leadership contributions that are made by a unique group of individuals that have dedicated themselves to the betterment of this industry and their communities. In addition to Chadges, eight runner-up scholarships have been awarded to the following students from schools around the United States: Nova DiBartolo from Western Center for Technical Studies, Limerick, Pennsylvania; Tiffanie Haggerty from Columbiana County Career & Technical Center, Lisbon, Ohio; Emily Janeczek from Upper Valley JVS, Piqua, Ohio; Michelle Jorgensen from Careerline Tech Center, Holland, Michigan; Keri Noland from West Campus Technical Center, Fayetteville, Arkansas; Rachel Pangburn from RG Drage Career Technical Center, Massillon, Ohio; Erica Sweet from Capital Region Career & Technical School, Albany, New York; and Stephanie Truitt from Sussex Tech High School, Georgetown, Delaware. Ron Ray, Executive Director of the Education Foundation added, "It is a pleasure to administer this scholarship program for Akzo Nobel and reward these talented, future collision industry female employees. These students have attended collision repair classes at some of the best high schools in the United States." The Executive Committee of the Education Foundation's Board of Trustees made the final selection of winners. The Executive Committee consists of:
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I-CAR EDUCATION FOUNDATION RECOGNIZES 2003 CRIN INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR The Collision Repair Instructors Network (CRIN) and the I-CAR Education Foundation are proud to announce the 2003 Instructor of the Year! The honoree is Robert Porazzo, a collision repair instructor from Blue Hills Regional Technical School in Canton, Massachusetts.
Porazzo attended Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School in Eastern Massachusetts. After high school he went into the United States Army where he was trained as a mechanic. After ten years, he went to work for a local dealership and worked his way up to a general manager. He began his teaching career in 1997 because he enjoyed working with youth and wanted to give back to the industry. "By being an instructor, I get to mold today's youth from a generation that perceives students as lazy. I believe students are not lazy; they need to be challenged. I enjoy watching my students exceed and excel in this industry," said Porazzo. CRIN is sponsored by the I-CAR Education Foundation and is designed to facilitate the exchange of technical and professional information among collision repair instructors, school administrators, and industry partners. The choice of Mr. Porazzo was made from a list of several other quality candidates. The Executive Committee of the Education Foundation's Board of Trustees made the final selection. Please see previous article for listing of Executive Committee members. In addition to serving as a collision repair instructor for a program that is ASE certified to the NATEF standards, Mr. Porazzo is a very active I-CAR instructor in the northeast region. "Bob Porazzo has been an asset to the Education Foundation and his fellow collision repair instructors through his participation in the pilot of the PACE+ST3 pilots, and other I-CAR related activities. In less than two years he has become one of the most active northeast region I-CAR instructors, and now also is trained to facilitate Instructor Qualification Workshops (IQWs). He is focused on improving the communication between CRIN members and increasing their shared benefits," said Ron Ray, Executive Director of the I-CAR Education Foundation. |
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UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE (UTI) SETS BAR FOR I-CAR INDUSTRY TRAINING ALLIANCE I-CAR developed the Industry Training Alliance program to position Gold Class as an inclusive and universally recognized industry training standard. The Alliance eliminates training redundancy and reduces the time and expense of technical training. It also enables training organizations and career and technical schools and colleges to work together to provide the collision industry with a coordinated and comprehensive training curriculum.
Rick Jazwin, Director of Industry Development at UTI says, "With the increased awareness of the need for I-CAR training that is occurring in our industry, graduates of UTI's CRRT program will have an extra tool in their tool box as they embark on their new career. Bringing 24 Gold Class prepaid points to their new employer certainly increases their value to both the employer and the industry." The Alliance recognizes training programs from training providers and career and technical schools and colleges participating in the program. Gold Class points can now be awarded to those students who receive technical training from Alliance members. These points apply to both the Gold Class Professionals and Platinum Individual programs. |
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM I-CARDue to the upcoming holiday season, the next I-CAR e-newsletter will be sent out Monday, January 5, 2004. The e-newsletter will resume its usual bi-weekly schedule after the New Year. I-CAR wishes you and your family a great and safe holiday season! |
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ENHANCED DELIVERY STATUSAs we introduce new Enhanced Delivery training programs, we will continue to update you on recently completed programs, as well as those in development. For a list of the latest Enhanced Delivery programs available, you can view or download the PDF below. Available programs are highlighted in red. You can also search our online class schedules to find an Enhanced Delivery program near you.
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Some businesses have achieved and maintained the Gold Class status for five consecutive years while a select group has actually been Gold Class for ten or more years in a row. In recognition of these achievements and as a special thank you, I-CAR has modified its 
Users of the directory can easily locate Gold Class businesses in their area, as well as receive directions from MapQuest. All current Gold Class businesses are listed in the directory at no charge. I-CAR also provides a free link to the Gold Class business' web site and/or email address if requested by the business. 
NACE attendees stopped by the I-CAR booth to meet various staff from the I-CAR home office, Tech Centre and field managers. Visitors also picked up copies of the latest I-CAR literature, including information on the new GM and I-CAR relationship and the new I-CAR Recommended Training Paths, and received live demonstrations of the newly enhanced I-CAR web site.
Nearly 300 students attended the seven I-CAR Enhanced Delivery training programs that were held at NACE that took place on 