Shows
Your Business Your Life106. Addressing the Talent Gap in Collision Repair with Brandon EckenrodeAttracting and retaining talent is a persistent challenge in the collision repair industry, and industry engagement plays a critical role in overcoming this issue.The struggle to find skilled technicians and support technical education programs leaves many shop owners feeling overwhelmed and unsure of how to bridge the workforce gap. Without a steady pipeline of trained professionals, the industry's future is at risk.Join Matt Di Francesco and Brandon Eckenrode, Executive Director of the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), as they discuss the power of local industry involvement, offering practical strategies for shop owners to...
2025-03-2024 min
The Lost Art Of the Skilled TradesCareer Paths in Collision Repair: Brandon Eckenrode on School Programs and Entrepreneurial DreamsIn this episode Brandon Eckenrode from the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) dives into reopening collision school programs, the importance of industry support, and changing perceptions of vocational education. Learn about SkillsUSA, scholarships, and the growing role of females in the trade. 00:00 Car repair industry faces staffing shortage, affecting customers.05:16 CREF supports collision repair programs, donates new vehicles.09:27 Support for students and schools through grants.10:41 Visit website for local collision school programs.16:15 Students have entrepreneurial spirit, aspire to paint.19:18 Early family connection sparks interest, networking opportunities.
2024-07-2445 min
Everything They Don't Tell YouDriving Impact: Journey in Closing the Skills Gap w/ CREF Executive Director Brandon EckenrodeBlue Is The New White: Episode #157  👉👉 Buy a raffle ticket to win the completely restored '69 Camaro we spoke about last year. To be completed in a couple months: Check out www.operativetalent.com The foundation website itself at https://www.collisioneducationfoundation.org/ And be sure to vote for CREF at the LKQ Community Foundation Holiday Fundraiser once per day, per device! https://bit.ly/3FIbfY6 Mr Brandon Eckenrode now the Executive Director of the Collision Repair Education Foundation, CREF for short, returns to talk all about what they've been up...
2023-12-0140 min
The Autobody Source PodcastCollision Repair Training Advocacy with CREFSend us a textCollision Repair Education Foundation Executive Director Brandon Eckenrode discusses the importance of businesses getting involved with local high school/post-secondary collision school programs & students to help foster the next generation of industry professionals. Thanks for listening! Follow us for more inspiring content on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
2023-11-2012 min
The Collision VisionEp. 10 - Solving the Technician Shortage with Brandon Eckenrode of CREF On this episode, we discuss why Brandon Eckenrode has dedicated his career to bettering the collision repair industry, the CREF mission, exactly what CREF does for collision repairers, and how collision repairers can help CREF in solving the technician shortage and creating an even greater collision repair industry. Learn more about the Collision Repair Education Foundation here: https://www.collisioneducationfoundation.org/.  We thank US Autocure for sponsoring this episode. Have you considered infrared curing? US Autocure designs the world's most advanced gas-catalytic, medium wave, infrared curing systems available today. Shortened cure time...
2023-03-2834 min
Inside The TradesEP 41: Brandon Eckenrode - Collision Repair Education Charity MastermindWhen it comes to creative thinking and big ideas the name Brandon Eckenrode should be near the top of the list. Dubbing himself The Facilitator of Generosity on his LinkedIn account, Brandon has helped to generate and distribute millions of dollars and various resources to collision repair programs across the country. His passion for the trades and providing opportunities for kids to succeed in the collision repair industry are on full display in this episode and we think you'll learn a lot from him and how his work could help your community.Also, if anyone is friendly wi...
2023-03-0858 min
BodyShop Business: The PodcastFixing the Auto Body Tech Shortage: Part 1In the latest episode of BodyShop Business: The Podcast, Jason Stahl and Brandon Eckenrode, managing director of the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), discuss the technician shortage. Topics they discuss include: Why is there a technician shortage in the collision repair industry? What is CREF's role in helping relieve some of the stress on shops that the technician shortage has created? Did COVID have an impact on collision repair instruction at schools? What role can collision repairers play in making sure quality students are coming out of their local schools? What opportunities does rapidly advancing vehicle technology give the industry...
2023-02-0928 min
The Auto Body Podcast Presented by ClarityCoatStarting Off With A Clean Slate | Ft. Destiny Potter |New Podcast Episode with Destiny Potter, Nissan Certified Collision Estimator of Andy Mohr Collision Center in Indianapolis, IN.A mixture of factors sparked Potter’s interest in the collision repair industry. At age five, she helped her father with small repairs on his vehicles. They watched automotive TV shows together, and he helped her begin a Hot Wheels collection. When her dad passed away, she started to look up to her Grandpa, who works at a GM plant, and her Uncle, who owned his own shop for motorcycles, scooters and ATVs. And, Destiny also stated that without he...
2023-02-081h 06BodyShop Business: The PodcastFixing the Auto Body Tech Shortage: Part 2Jason Stahl and Brandon Eckenrode, managing director of the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), discuss the technician shortage and recent activities CREF has been involved with to help bring more talent into the collision industry.bodyshopbusiness.com
2023-02-0408 minThe Auto Body Podcast Presented by ClarityCoatFixing A National Crisis | Ft. Brandon EckenrodeFor today's episode, we had a great chat with amazing Brandon Eckenrode who is known as a Facilitator of Generosity within the Collision Industry.Brandon has been in the collision industry for over 20 years, initially with I-CAR from 2002-2009 serving in their marketing department to then joining the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) in 2009 when it became the philanthropic organization it is today supporting US high school and college collision programs, students, and instructors. Brandon was the organization’s lead fundraiser in helping to raise over $400 million for the collision programs since 2009 and helped showcase CR...
2022-12-211h 02
Everything They Don't Tell YouBlue is the New White #137 - Brandon Eckenrode, Collision Repair Education FoundationToday Brandon Eckenrode joins me on the show to talk about something near and dear to my heart, as you already know. Brandon works with the Collision Repair Education Foundation, an incredible organization that is doing unbelievable things to lift up their sector of the skilled trades. Brandon took the traditional route, earning a college degree for English and Journalism, but it wasn't long before he found himself working construction to pay down his student loans. Imagine that! Anyways, he found himself working for I-CAR the standard of excellence in the collision industry. Not long...
2022-12-1647 minInside The TradesEP 25(Part 2): Building a Job Board Just for the Skilled Trades: Filling up the Skill Stadium with Keith WilliamsFilling up the Skill Stadium with Keith WilliamsEpisode 25 Part 2 When you think about the jobs our society glorifies, what first runs through your mind? Maybe a doctor, investment banker, or architect — all careers require years of expensive college tuition and, sometimes, a small pool of jobs available. Why, then, are we not promoting the in-demand skilled trades? After decades of saturating the job market with white-collar workers, it’s harder than ever to find a great paying job in the field you studied. People are struggling to fin...
2022-10-1237 min
Skill StadiumBrandon Eckenrode is helping solve a multi million dollar problem in the Auto Collision and Repair industryBrandon Eckenrode has 20 years experience in the automotive industry and works as a managing director at Collision Repair Foundation. Brandon works hard to promote opportunities and careers in the automotive collision industry. Â
Collision Education Foundation Links
https://www.collisioneducationfoundation.org/
https://www.facebook.com/CollisionRepairEducationFoundation
https://www.instagram.com/collisioneducationfoundation/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEUE5JFUoslOJl6TNXF9vFA
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collision-repair-education-foundation/
ABOUT PODCAST
Skill Stadium podcast is the voice of the skilled trades. Â Ev...
2022-08-0235 min
Wrench Nation#256 Automotive Scholarships Making Huge Strides For Skilled Trades
Automotive Scholarships Making Huge Strides For Skilled Trades
One of the greatest needs in the automotive community is the fundraising & charitable donations that quietly contribute to many up and coming automotive students, giving them not only the opportunity to succeed, however, in many occasions, a major MAJOR life de stressor.. as costs can pile up.
Collision Repair Education Foundation’s Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode & Philanthropist retired collision industry veteran Tim Adelmann are our special guests this week, as we dive in to this critical area of the industry !
Join us as we discuss :
Are we mak...
2022-05-2254 min
WingDing MEDIA™ SUPREME Audio PodcastsGet Out N Drive - Collision Repair Education FoundationCollision repair education foundation. Brandon Eckenrode driven to fuel the future of collision industry
2022-05-1035 min
Get Out N Drive PodcastCollision Repair Education Foundation, Brandon Eckenrode - Driven To Fuel The Future Of The Collision IndustrySend a textRide along with Jason OldeCarrGuy Carr and John CustomCarNerd Meyer as they talk with Brandon Eckenrode, Managing Director of the Collision Repair Education Foundation. As part of our #WhatDrivesYOUth series, the guys talk with Brandon about his work at the Collision Repair Education Foundation to support collision repair educational programs, schools, and students to create qualified, entry-level employees and connect them with an array of career opportunities. Be sure to visit the Collision Repair Education Foundation, to learn more about how you can support their mission or how the #CREF can h...
2022-04-0735 min
Mind Wrench PodcastEpisode #79 - Interview w/ Brandon Eckenrode from CREFSend us a textEpisode Notes: Has the rate of veteran technicians retiring or leaving this industry massively outpacing the availability and intake of new techs, have you scratching your head?Does this situation feel like it’s getting worse by the day, and it seems like nobody can do anything about it? Are you thinking you’d like to be “part of the solution”, but don’t know what you COULD do, or where to even start? Join us this week, as we talk with Brandon...
2022-04-0454 min
Body Bangin'Ep #28: Talking Parts & People!!! with Dave LuehrTwo of the biggest pain points in the collision industry are PARTS and PEOPLE and today we are discussing both with the ever-popular Dave Luehr!Dave shares insights into how we can deal with the parts shortages plaguing us. He talks about how you can schedule properly by following the formula in the video (Elite Scheduling Secrets) and using tools such as ADAS CoPilot with Frank Terlep. (Link to the episode I did with Frank is below)We also talk about how to deal with the lack of qualified people/workers in our industry...
2021-12-1339 minBody Bangin'Ep #27: Labor Shortage Solutions! with Andrew Batenhorst and Steve Olson (Flashback)This labor shortage has gotten worse and everyone is dealing with it. On today's episode we flash back to earlier in 2021 where we talk about the "War on Talent" on Episode #19 with Andrew Batenhorst. He discusses how it's affecting him and his shop and gives some tips to those employees thinking about making a move. We also talked with Steve Olson in Episode #4. Steve's flash back is a small piece of his excellent episode where he talked about the importance of investing in your people.For EVERYONE watching or listening to this I recommend getting involved in...
2021-11-3030 minBody Bangin'Ep #25: A Student's Perspective with Kenneth Stuart & Abe SellsBody shops are looking for techs and painters and we have some great ones being developed in our local trade schools. We've talked with instructors about how to get involved with schools and "woo" these students to their shops but now's the time to talk directly with a student. In this episode with talk with high school student, Kenneth Stuart, to hear what his take on our industry is and how his experience has been in his trade school and with a local shop he did a co-op with. We also talk with his instructor, Abe Sells, who...
2021-11-0133 minBody Bangin'Ep #20: The Hidden Turbine That's Driving Success in Our Schools - with Brandon Eckenrode of CREFWe are all quick to complain about the lack of talent in our industry but where does most of that new talent come from? SCHOOLS! Why are we forgetting about these schools and instructors who are educating and training the up-and-comers to an industry that desperately needs them? Most of these schools and programs are severely underfunded and can't afford to provide the tools, supplies, safety equipment, etc they so desperately need.Then along comes CREF - the Collision Repair Education Foundation - a foundation where 90 cents of every dollar goes towards industry needs. CREF has...
2021-07-0532 minWrench Nation#225 Good Guys Rod & Customs Journalist Damon Lee
The Goodguys Rod & Custom Association hosts an incredible series of classic cars shows across the country each year bringing car enthusiasts and builders of a variety of muscle cars, vintage vehicles and classic rides for a weekend of good times .We dive in to the legendary history & the one of a kind car show experience with special guest Good Guys Good Times Gazette Journalist Damon Lee
In addition Brandon Eckenrode of Collision Repair Education Foundation, along with Author Rachel Alfonso of the kids automotive book sensation What Cars Say announce a partnership where a portion...
2021-04-1955 min
CoatingsPro Interview SeriesCoatings and Collision Repair Worlds CollideBrandon Eckenrode, director of development of Collision Repair Education Foundation, joins CoatingsPro to discuss the foundation’s goals, as well as overlaps within the coatings community. The organization works to support school programs across the United States, in this instance bringing coatings to help improve appearances and safety of the repair shops.Â
For more information, visit www.collisioneducationfoundation.org.
2021-02-2530 minWrench Nation#182 Education & Training for Collision Repair Technicians
My Car Crashed. Now What?
How many of us actually think about the details of a repair after a collision? Do we realize the intense process of skilled craftsmanship and technology challenges that technicians overcome while quietly nursing back to health your ride after a fender bender? You notice the airbags where horrific, the body damage was pretty nasty and it seems that every instrument cluster light is on.
For the most part we don’t and quite frankly that is understandable, after all, you have better things to worry about. We tow the vehicle into our chosen collision repair sho...
2019-12-0850 min
This Past Weekend w/ Theo VonTrick Lung Mickey's One Year Transplantaversary Extravaganza | This Past Weekend #197Today’s episode is exclusively brought to you by Ridge Wallet. Visit https://ridgewallet.com/hitter and use code HITTER for 10% off Trick Lung Mickey is in studio to talk about living most of his life with cystic fibrosis, nearly dying, and where he’s at one year removed from his lung transplant. Find Theo Website: https://theovon.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/theovon Facebook: https://facebook.com/theovon Facebook Group: https://facebook.com/groups/thispastweekend Twitter: https://twitter.com/theovon YouTube: https://youtube.com/theovon Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiEKV_MOhwZ7OEcgFyLKilw Producer Nick https://instagram.com...
2019-05-091h 24
This Past Weekend w/ Theo VonDane Cook | This Past Weekend #178Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts http://bit.ly/ThisPastWeekend_ Sitting down with Dane Cook. This episode brought to you by… SkillShare https://skillshare.com/theovon Get 2 months of Skillshare for free Grey Block Pizza 1811 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, CA http://bit.ly/GreyBlock Music “Shine” - Bishop Gunn http://bit.ly/MakinIt_BishopGunn Gunt Book Gunt Squad www.patreon.com/theovon Aaron Jones Aaron Rasche Aaron Stein Adam White Adriana Hernandez Aidan Duffy Alaskan Rock Vodka Alex Hitchins Alex Person Alex Petralia Alex Sideris Alexander Contreras Amanda Sherman Amelia Andrea Gagliani Andrew Valish Andy Mac Angelo Raygun Angie Angele...
2019-02-281h 37
This Past Weekend w/ Theo VonValentine's Day Special: Bobby Lee & Khalyla | This Past Weekend #174Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts http://bit.ly/ThisPastWeekend_ Bobby Lee and Khalyla sit down with Theo Von to talk about their relationship & the Slept Kingdom pledging allegiance to Chris D'Elia, as well as to give listener's advice on their own relationships. This episode brought to you by… Mercari Download Mercari in any app store or at https://mercari.com Ridge Wallet https://www.ridgewallet.com/theo Use code “theo” for 10% off your order SkillShare https://skillshare.com/theovon Get 2 months of Skillshare for free Grey Block Pizza 1811 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, CA http://bit.ly/GreyBlock Music “Shine”...
2019-02-151h 37