The Collision Engineering Career Alliance (Collision Engineering) announced a $100,000 grant from the GEICO Philanthropic Foundation (GPF), GEICO’s charitable arm. The funding will give partner colleges standardized tools to attract students, engage employers and strengthen the pipeline of skilled collision repair technicians nationwide.
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The Collision Engineering Career Alliance announced a $100,000 grant from the GEICO Philanthropic Foundation, GEICO’s charitable arm. The funding will give partner colleges standardized tools to attract students, engage employers and strengthen the pipeline of skilled collision repair technicians nationwide.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 14,600 annual openings for collision repair technicians through 2034, yet training programs supply only 42% of that demand, according to the TechForce Foundation 2026 Technician Supply, Demand & Opportunity Report. Through a two-year associate degree and paid, hands-on apprenticeships, Collision Engineering helps students turn an interest in vehicle repair into a career. The GPF grant will help partner colleges share that opportunity with more students.
“By donating to Collision Engineering, we’re opening doors for the next generation of technicians and helping address a workforce shortage that affects drivers, repair shops and insurers alike,” said Alan Durand, GEICO Philanthropic Foundation board member and head of associate experience at GEICO. “We’re proud to stand with Collision Engineering, educators and our industry partners to build a stronger workforce for the future.”
GPF’s contribution will support national infrastructure for student recruitment and employer engagement, including:
- A standardized recruitment framework and training for college recruiters, college staff and high school counselors
- A national employer marketing kit
- Quarterly webinars and ongoing education
- Scalable campus event models
- A repeatable approach to student recruitment, employer engagement and placement
Together, these resources will help partner colleges reach more students, connect them with employers and expand the Collision Engineering model across the country.
“This donation gives Collision Engineering the national backbone every partner college needs to recruit more effectively, engage more employers and grow with confidence,” said Mary Mahoney, president of the Collision Engineering Career Alliance. “When industry, education and employers come together like this, we can offer more students in more communities hands-on training, paid apprenticeships and meaningful careers.”
Collision Engineering unites employers, colleges, industry partners and workforce leaders to build a stronger, more connected talent pipeline. The program combines a two-year associate degree with paid, hands-on apprenticeships at qualified collision repair facilities, and it is recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor as the standard for training collision engineering technicians. Students gain real-world experience, and employers gain access to a stronger pipeline of skilled talent.
“The collision repair industry talks a lot about the technician shortage, but solving it requires more than recognition,” said Laura Lozano, professor of collision repair technology and chair of the Automotive Department at Contra Costa College. “We need to introduce more young people to these careers and, just as importantly, connect them with employers willing to train and mentor them. GPF’s donation will help build those connections and give schools like ours the resources to reach more students and industry partners.”
The Collision Engineering program is active at partner schools across the country, including College of Lake County in Grayslake, Illinois; Contra Costa College in San Pablo, California; Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois; Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, Nebraska; Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst, North Carolina; North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, North Dakota; and El Camino College in Torrance, California.
“Through Collision Engineering, I graduated with a degree, real experience and a clear path forward,” said Karina Badillo, a Collision Engineering graduate from the College of Lake County. “This industry is moving fast, and Collision Engineering prepared me to move with it. Donations like the one made possible by the GEICO Philanthropic Foundation will help more people get that same start.”
Employers, educators and others interested in helping students explore collision repair careers can learn about the program and ways to get involved at beacollisionengineer.com.
About the Collision Engineering Career Alliance
Launched with foundational support provided by the Enterprise Mobility Foundation, the Collision Engineering Career Alliance is an industry catalyst for addressing the ongoing technician shortage in collision repair. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization works to unite industry and education, remove barriers and foster sustainable pathways to rewarding collision repair careers. Through philanthropic contributions and an innovative, holistic training approach, the Collision Engineering Career Alliance empowers schools across the U.S. to recruit, support and equip students for the future of vehicle repair through industry-defined courses, certifications and hands-on training that enables them to build their knowledge while accelerating their careers.
About GEICO and the GEICO Philanthropic Foundation
GEICO, a member of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies, constantly strives to make lives better by protecting people against unexpected events while saving them money and providing an outstanding customer experience. Along with personal auto insurance, commercial auto and personal umbrella coverages are also available. Homeowners, renters, condo, flood, identity theft, term life and more coverages are written through non-affiliated insurance companies and are secured through the GEICO Insurance Agency, LLC. Visit GEICO.com for a quote or to learn more.
The GEICO Philanthropic Foundation supports nonprofit organizations working to strengthen communities where GEICO associates live and work. Through charitable giving, community partnerships and associate engagement, the Foundation contributes to programs that expand opportunity, support community resilience and create positive change.
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