Accident to Academics: Amy Bogner Teaches the Next Generation to Keep Showing Up
By: Chasidy Rae Sisk
A wrecked car sent Amy Bogner into collision repair. Two decades in the industry gave her skills, perspective and a few lessons she refuses to let the next generation learn the hard way. Now an instructor and workbook author, Amy talks about finding a new challenge, preparing students for real shop life and making sure the young women following her know someone has their backs.
We call female collision repair instructors “Frame Changers” because they’re helping reshape the industry at its foundation. Drawing on their own experience in the field, they’re passing along far more than technical skills – they’re teaching students how to problem-solve, persevere and build careers of their own. As educators, mentors and visible examples of what’s possible, Frame Changers are opening doors for the next generation while helping shape the culture and workforce those students will eventually enter. Their influence begins in the classroom, but its impact reaches far beyond it!
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Good Company. Bold Moves. All G&G.
Highlights from WIN’s Virtual Conference & the Texas Auto Body Tradeshow
What happens when women share their expertise, own their worth, and show up for each other? From WIN’s 2026 Virtual Conference to the Texas Auto Body Trade Show, we’re catching up with the people moving collision repair forward. Get the highlights on career growth, repair technology, and connections that could open unexpected doors. Then follow G&G onto the show floor, where magazines changed hands and two kangaroos shamelessly stole the spotlight. There’s wisdom to pocket, grit to appreciate, and a networking plan that didn’t account for stroller duty.
September E-News Features:
- Survey: Sound Off DisruptHERs: Call for Submissions
- Pro-Tips & Precision
- Frame of Mind:
- Impact Report FEATURE Article (Subscriber Access Required)
Sound Off, DisruptHERs!
-Call for Submissions–
Want to Have your Tips published in G&G?
Your favorite shop-floor shortcut, a wellness habit that keeps the chaos from chewing through your last nerve, the tool you would absolutely rescue from a burning toolbox—we want the advice women in collision repair actually use.
Share what you know for a chance to be featured in an issue of Glossed & Gritty or on our social channels. The strongest lessons in this industry usually come from somebody who already learned them the hard way.
Building What’s Next: Women, Work and the Future of Collision Repair
WIN 2026 Virtual Conference Recap
The future of collision repair won’t build itself—and the women at WIN’s 2026 Virtual Conference aren’t waiting around for someone else to handle it. From holding boundaries and owning your worth to glue pull repair, AI, and the science behind the shine, these sessions delivered plenty to put to work. Leaders tackled mentorship, career growth, and what it takes to keep talent moving forward. Familiar DisruptHERs shared lessons on stronger associations and smarter shop growth. Catch the highlights, hard-earned wisdom, and practical takeaways helping women shape what comes next.
This two-part follow-up continues that conversation, beginning with a closer look at workplace culture, diversity and the responsibility leaders have to create environments where talent can actually thrive.
Frame of Mind:
Hopping Off the Page & Onto the Floor: G&G at the Texas Auto Body Tradeshow
G&G headed to the Texas Auto Body Trade Show with magazines, loot, and a networking plan—but two kangaroos had their own agenda. Between familiar industry faces, a ladies’ mixer, and stops at the Big Shots Competition, there was plenty worth sharing. One conversation even opened a possible door for a former student, proving that instructor hat still won’t come off. Rusty handled public relations while Patina clocked out early. Catch the connections, laughs, and stroller stops that made this weekend distinctly Glossed & Gritty.
Class is in Session
Issue 3 is here with more conversations about confidence, leadership, shop culture and women claiming space in an industry that still has some catching up to do.
Until then: ask the question, start the conversation, introduce yourself to the person who knows something you want to learn—and stop waiting for permission to belong in rooms you already earned your way into.
STILL WORTH THE READ…
Issue 2 Did Not Expire When the Calendar Flipped
Missed Issue 2: Summer 2026?
Start with the Glossed Preview for a look at the women, careers and conversations driving the movement.
Fair warning: one article has a habit of becoming six open tabs.
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Forward this edition to a woman in collision repair who should be in this community.
Great work deserves visibility—and useful information should not be hoarded like the only functioning scan tool.
Member & Subscriber Features: September 2026
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Frame of Mind: Class is in Session…So is Your Reputation
What Collision Students Need to Know Before Their First Day, First Week and First Tool-truck Temptation
By Jannifer Stimmel-Watkins, Technical Editor
Glossed & Gritty’s Technical Editor draws on her years of experience as a collision repair instructor in her “New Grad” series, dedicated to helping the newest generation of DisruptHERs navigate the “real world” hurdles that a syllabus can’t prepare you for!
Your collision career begins long before your first professional repair order. It begins with how you show up, accept feedback, handle mistakes, protect yourself and treat the people learning beside you. Janna offers an instructor’s unfiltered guide to surviving your first weeks of collision school—from safety and respirator requirements to tool-truck temptation, communication and building a support system. You are not expected to know everything. You are expected to be ready to learn.
Last month, we talked about choosing the collision education path that fits your goals, finances and actual life – not the suspiciously organized fantasy presented in college brochures. Now, you have chosen. You are enrolled. The financial-aid forms have extracted their required portion of your soul, and your first semester is approaching. Before you walk into that classroom or lab, understand this:
You are not expected to arrive already knowing how to repair a vehicle. You ARE expected to arrive ready to learn how. Those are two very different things.
As a former collision repair instructor, I never judged first-semester students by how much they already knew. Some arrived with shop experience. Some had worked on vehicles with family members. Others could barely identify the tools in their new toolbox. None of that automatically determined who would succeed. In fact, students who entered the program convinced they knew everything often had the hardest adjustment. Confidence is useful; confidence with no interest in guidance is just an exhaust leak with opinions.
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Trade-show survival requires more strategy than throwing half your life into a bag and hoping your feet forgive you. Collision DisruptHERs share their must-have event essentials, including comfortable broken-in shoes, hands-free phone cases, portable chargers, hydration, snacks and a tiny traveling pharmacy. Pack lighter, move easier and save your energy for the conversations and opportunities you actually came to experience.
Gear & Glam: Pack Smart. Walk Far. Regret Less
By: Jannifer Stimmel-Watkins
Like the clear we lay, this Gloss has coats. You've only just begun to scuff the surface!
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By: Jannifer Stimmel-Watkins
The most valuable thing you bring home from an industry event may be a new connection, renewed confidence or the reminder that you are not navigating this career alone. Collision professionals share how networking, preparation and intentional rest make conferences more useful and less overwhelming. Learn how to protect your energy, plan your priorities and return home with fresh momentum—not merely the heaviest tote bag on the show floor.
Like the clear we lay, this Gloss has coats. You've only just begun to scuff the surface!
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Grab a subscription for as low as $8.99 mo., to find out how she responded and unlock subscriber-only features such as: full access to issues (Digital w/Surface Tension Level) or Digital + Print (High Gloss Level or Above), archives, premium guides, roundtables, and the full Gritty behind the bay door. Subscriptions start at ONLY $8.99 mo.
The Collision DisruptHER’s Guide to SPF, Sparks and Skin Survival
By: Jannifer Stimmel-Watkins
Collision repair is brutal on skin, and pretending otherwise is how you end up looking like the shop won custody of your face. In this Recalibration: Mind & Body article, Jannifer Stimmel-Watkins takes on the grime, UV exposure, fiberglass itch, cracked hands, mystery chemicals, welding light, sanding dust, and general shop-floor nonsense that Collision DisruptHERs deal with every day. The point is not vanity. It is protection. This article reframes skincare as maintenance, because that is exactly what it is. Technicians are trained to protect panels, prep surfaces, apply coatings, prevent corrosion, and avoid contamination, yet too many are expected…
Collision repair is not exactly a spa day with better lighting! Between sanding dust, solvents, primer, sweat, welding sparks, adhesive residue, respirator lines, nitrile gloves, fiberglass particles, metal shavings, mystery shop grime and whatever sticky substance is on the door handle that nobody wants to investigate, your skin goes through a full obstacle course before lunch. And somehow, skincare in this industry still gets treated like a luxury – as if it’s something soft and extra or designed for people who do not spend their day crawling around bumper covers or trying to remove a hidden clip designed by a goblin with an engineering degree.
Like the clear we lay, this Gloss has coats. You've only just begun to scuff the surface!
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Unleashing the Future
Welcome to the shop floor. Wipe your boots, grab a grinder, and leave your fragile ego at the door.
Current Issue
Cover:
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On the Cover: People Over Process: Leadership Without the Power Trip
Leadership in collision repair is getting a long-overdue repair plan, and spoiler alert: yelling louder is not a management strategy. This cover feature digs into what happens when shops stop confusing authority with leadership and start building cultures rooted in trust, communication, mentorship, flexibility and actual human decency. Through Dawn Engel, Drew Bryant and Amber Alley, the article explores why…
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Welcome Back, Collision DisruptHER!
Welcome back, Collision DisruptHER. This issue starts with a blueprint, not just for a vehicle, but for the future of collision repair. Chas and Janna challenge readers to stop waiting for permission, stop accepting outdated structures, and start building the culture this industry actually needs. From leadership to mentorship to bold career moves, this opening letter sets the tone for an issue centered on intentional change, stronger teams, and the women already redesigning the frame of the industry.
Notes from The Editors:
Unfiltered Font: Mother DisruptHER!
Frame of Mind: Class Dismissed; The Bay Is Yours!
Featured DisruptHERs
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Dynasty DisruptHER: Kristen Felder: The Take-No-Shit & Offer No Apologies DisruptHER
Kristen Felder was not introduced to collision repair later in life. She was practically born into it, with a childhood spent in the body shop and a work ethic shaped by sanding, repairing, arguing, learning, and refusing to back down. In this Dynasty DisruptHER feature, Glossed & Gritty spotlights one of the most recognizable, respected, and controversial women in the collision repair industry. Kristen’s story travels from her family’s shop to insurance claims, from dreams of civil rights law to the creation of Collision Hub, and from being underestimated to bringing the whole damn table with her. She talks candidly…
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Polished DisruptHER-Cassandra Thibeault: Promoting Positivity and Cultivating a Community for Bodywomen
Cassandra Thibeault’s path into collision repair did not start with a perfect plan, a polished resume, or a neat little “how I found my purpose” bow tied around it. It started with a woman who once dreamed of fashion design, found out sewing was absolutely not her love language, left retail management behind, stepped into…
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Primed DisruptHER: Jaelyn Walker
Jaelyn Walker grew up around mechanics, JDM culture, loud engines, and Puerto Rican pride, but she found her lane in the cosmetic side of the industry. Now working as a non-structural body technician while training toward structural repair, Jaelyn is building skill, confidence, and a future that does not fit anyone’s outdated assumptions. In this Primed DisruptHER feature, she talks about mentors, family support, career goals, shop…
In Her Words:
Featured Anchor:
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Anchor: John Shoemaker
After more than 50 years in collision repair, John Shoemaker’s most important lesson fits into one word: listen. His career has taken him from sanding panels and serving in Air Force vehicle maintenance to coaching shops across the country. Along the way, he learned why complete disassembly, OEM procedures, accurate repair planning and meaningful communication matter. John shares the mistakes, mentors and stubborn “we’ve always done it this way” moments that shaped his mission to leave collision better than he found it.
Glossed & Gritty Article Sections:
Gear and Glam: Pretty Tough from the Ground Up
Pro Tips and Precision
Recalibration~Mind and Body: SPF, Sparks and Skin Survival
Undiminished Value: Is Your Shop Truly Female Friendly?
Newsletters: The Riveter (Member) & Impact Report
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Accident to Academics: Amy Bogner Teaches the Next Generation to Keep Showing Up
Frame of Mind: Class Dismissed; the Bay is Yours
A Future Collision DisruptHER’s Guide to Owning the Shop Floor Without Shrinking, Spiraling or Setting Anything Expensive on Fire
By Jannifer Stimmel-Watkins, Technical Editor
Glossed & Gritty’s Technical Editor draws on her years of experience as a collision repair instructor in her “New Grad” series, dedicated to helping the newest generation of DisruptHERs navigate the “real world” hurdles that a syllabus can’t prepare you for!
Stepping out of the classroom and into the collision industry can feel like being handed a repair order written in another language while everyone pretends you should already know where every tool lives. In this Frame of Mind editorial, Jannifer Stimmel-Watkins speaks directly to the newest generation of Collision DisruptHERs, especially the students and entry-level technicians preparing to leave training behind and claim their place in the bay. Drawing from her experience as a former collision repair instructor, Jannifer breaks down what young women actually need to hear before they enter the shop: that mistakes are not identity flaws, confidence…
Whether you’re currently tossing a graduation cap, transitioning from a part-time apprenticeship to a full-time stall or standing on the outside looking in – wondering if you have the grit to trade a traditional desk for a frame rack – welcome to the launchpad. The collision industry is often misunderstood as a dead-end road paved with repetitive tasks, busted knuckles and suspicious vending machine lunches…but for the modern Collision DisruptHER, this trade is not some dusty backup plan. It’s a high-tech frontier of physics, chemistry, craftsmanship, digital diagnostics and the very specific ability to remain calm while a dashboard lights up like it is auditioning for a casino residency.
Stepping into a live production facility for the first time is a full-body, adrenaline-fueled culture shock. The noise is louder, the pace is faster, expectations are higher, and the coffee is usually suspect. But this is where everything also starts to get real. And that requires a shift in mindset from being a student of the trade to being a strategist of your own career. You are not simply looking for a paycheck; you are auditing shops, vetting mentors, studying work cultures and deciding where to invest your unique technical talents before some poorly managed shop tries to convince you that “paying your dues” means tolerating BS in fluorescent lighting.
From the refined artistry of the paint booth to the surgical precision of ADAS calibrations, the path you choose today defines the legacy you build tomorrow. (Explore just a few of the possibilities by checking out my recent message in Impact Report or The Riveter, the monthly e-newsletters from Glossed & Gritty.
Now take a breath, square your shoulders, and understand this clearly: You are not entering collision repair to quietly take up space, you are here to own your bay!
From “Hot Mess” to Mastery: Navigating the Learning Curve
To every graduate stepping onto a commercial shop floor for the first time this year: I need you to brace yourself for an emotional reality check. No matter how strong your technical school program was, no matter how many perfect lab scores you earned, no matter how many times your instructor said, “Nice weld”…
Your first six months in a live production shop will likely humble you to the same extent as that random day you got your period after deciding to wear white/light colored shorts – and of course you were in front of a ton of people while desperately trying to find an exit strategy. You know exactly what I’m talking about!
The speed, the noise, the pressure of flat-rate logistics and the sheer volume of different vehicle makes and models will create moments where you feel completely in over your head. Parts are delayed, supplements are weird, clips are hidden, and the deadlines are real. At least once, you will stare at something and think, “I have no idea what this thing wants from me” while cursing the engineer who designed that part.
Congratulations – you are learning!
You will make mistakes. Let me say that louder for the perfectionists like me in the back, clutching their 4.0 GPA like a sacred document: You are going to mess up.
You might sand off that styleline you worked so hard to preserve and burn through clear right before delivery, causing the painter’s soul to briefly leave his body. You may mix a body filler ratio wrong, resulting in a substance that has the structural consistency of soft cream cheese. You could break an expensive interior trim panel because some engineer hid a clip behind three layers of plastic, two lies and a blood oath. You might misread a procedure, grab the wrong grit, forget a step, overthink a task, underthink a task or spend twenty minutes looking for a tool that is somehow in your own hand.
When these moments happen, self-doubt will hit – hard. You may feel like a total hot mess. Good! Not because mistakes are fun; they are not. They are annoying little gremlins with invoices attached. But mistakes are part of the learning curve.
They are not proof that you don’t belong. Many young female technicians fall into the trap of internalizing these technical errors as validation of their worst fears, of seeing them as evidence that the old-school skeptics were right about them, as a neon sign from the universe saying, “Exit trade now and never return.”
That is absolute bullshit!
Every single master technician you admire started as a beginner who made mistakes – the guys with fifty thousand dollars worth of tools who can turn eighty flat-rate hours a week without blinking did not emerge from the womb holding a DA sander and a perfect repair plan. They started out as a total hot mess.
They have all warped panels, broken parts, ruined expensive paint jobs, misdiagnosed electrical failures, sanded too far, used the wrong clip, forgot something important and lived through days where their confidence was held together with caffeine and sheer stubbornness.
The difference between a master and someone who quits is not the absence of failures; it’s how they process those failures, whether they learn from it and how they choose to proceed.
When a mistake happens – and again, it will! – do not spiral. Do not hide it or pretend the broken clip was “already like that.” The shop gods see all, and they are petty little trolls – take a deep breath and follow what I like to call “the technical error protocol:”
- Step 1: Own the mistake immediately. Do not hide a broken clip or an edge burn.
- Step 2: Cleanly assess the failure. Figure out exactly why the material or metal reacted the way it did. Determine what caused the problem. Was it angle, speed, temperature, material selection, pressure, procedure, timing or plain old rushing?
- Step 3: Ask for technical input. Find a lead technician, mentor, instructor or trusted teammate, and ask how to correct it.
- Step 4: Fix it and adjust. Execute the correction, change the technique, and log the lesson into your brain under “expensive but useful.”
Treat every error as a neutral, technical calibration. A bad weld, a run in the clear or a failed calibration isn’t a reflection of your worth or your intelligence; it is simply raw data. Annoying data, yes, but still data. Your angle, your speed or your process needs adjustment – not your identity. Own the mistake immediately, ask an experienced tech for a tip on how to resolve it, clean up your workspace, and “Carry on my wayward son hun”. (Look, adjustment was needed there, and I’m southern, so problem solved.)
My advanced collision instructor was a total boy-genius who apparently made it his sacred, daily vow to tease me relentlessly throughout my courses. I am a proudly neurotic perfectionist, a trait that secured me straight A’s across the entire program – until his class in the final semester handed me my first, soul-crushing B.
Naturally, I was calm, mature and completely reasonable about it. Okay, okay (in my best Maury Povich voice): “That was a lie.” Perplexed, deeply offended and spiritually inconvenienced, I went to him for an explanation. I was fully prepared to present my case like a tiny academic attorney with body filler dust on her boots. Instead, he dropped a piece of wisdom on me that permanently rewired my brain (and if he ever sees this, I will deny saying it because his head is already overinflated):
“Stop being afraid to make mistakes. You are going to make mistakes. Your greatest challenge is that you need constant confirmation that you are doing everything right, but there is not a perfect answer for everything. Make the mistakes, and learn from them. Don’t avoid doing the job because you are afraid you will mess up.”
Rude! Accurate, unfortunately…and dare I say, one of the best pieces of advice I ever received. Perfectionism can look impressive from the outside, but inside the bay, it can become paralysis wearing a cute little honor-roll outfit. You cannot become skilled by avoiding the work that might expose your weak spots. You become skilled by doing the work, finding the weak spots, correcting them and showing up again. That is mastery. It’s not magic or natural talent. It’s not even being born with a sanding block in your hand. Mastery is repetition, correction, humility, stubbornness and the willingness to look a mistake dead in the eye and say – perhaps through those clenched teeth – “Fine, teach me something.”
Commanding the Shop Floor Without Shrinking Yourself
The collision industry requires physical grit, but your mental focus is what will ultimately define your longevity. Working in a male-dominated trade means you will inevitably encounter outdated mindsets still lingering around the shop like bad primer fumes. You might walk into a shop where people use patronizing language or quietly watch you from a distance like you’re the subject of an exotic wildlife documentary, waiting to see if you will fail under pressure. Let them wait! You have work to do.
Hear me clearly: YOU do not need to shrink to fit into their outdated molds.
You do not need to alter your personality, act overly aggressive to blend in with “the guys,” laugh at every lazy, pigheaded joke or quietly ask permission to occupy your bay. You have invested your time, your money, your focus and your intellectual energy into gaining an education. You are trained, you are qualified, and you hold the credentials. You aren’t stepping onto that shop floor to blend into the background like beige wallpaper with safety shoes. We aren’t politely asking for a seat at the table anymore; we are bringing the whole damn table with us – and maybe a pulling ram just in case.
Let your high-gloss precision, your unshakeable work ethic, your repair knowledge and your absolute commitment to safe, proper OEM repair standards serve as your loudest microphone. When you produce clean, efficient work where your procedures are researched, your documentation is solid and it passes every quality-control check, you control the narrative. I’m going to be honest with you – not everyone will love that. It’s tragic, but proceed anyway, grasshopper. Any time I’ve come into contact with that kind of outdated prejudice, a cocky smirk spreads across my face with the same muscle memory I use when blocking a panel. I try to restrain it. Truly, I do. Restraint has never been one of my natural strengths. So with a wink and just enough sweetness to make it sting, I usually let one phrase roll out: “My dear, if you don’t like what’s going on in front, you can always kiss the back.”
Simultaneously, you must protect your physical and mental well-being from day one like it is part of your toolbox. Do not let old-school, careless habits or shop peer pressure convince you to cut corners on safety. If the older technicians around you refuse to wear their respirators while spraying primer, let them enjoy whatever personal relationship they are building with lung damage. (Remember: Some of them come from an era when they were spraying with one hand, while puffing on a Pall Mall with the other.) Continue to wear yours anyway.
If they skip safety glasses when running a cut-off wheel because they think sparks build character, protect your eyes anyway – having matching eyeballs is a great look. Use proper lifting mechanics when moving heavy bumper assemblies, grill guards or core supports, doors, hoods and anything else that looks manageable right before it disrespects and wrecks your spine.
Your body is the literal instrument of your trade; treating it with respect is a sign of true professionalism, not weakness.
Daily Legacy Protections
- Physical: Dual-cartridge respirator, ANSI Z87.1 safety glasses, hearing protection, ergonomic lifting. Stretch, hydrate and stop acting like your knees are renewable resources.
- Mental: Disconnect from shop gossip; focus entirely on stall efficiency, technical growth and becoming too good to ignore!
- Community: Stay connected to women who understand this trade, this pressure and this particular brand of shop-floor chaos. (What a coincidence that you can find a whole batch of these badass women in the Collision DisruptHER community!)
Build a solid circle of support outside of your immediate workspace early. Stay in touch with your tech school instructors, reach out to former classmates who are navigating their own apprenticeships, and plug into professional communities of female technicians already working in the industry who understand the unique triumphs and challenges of the shop. Ask questions, share wins, vent when needed…and believe me hunnie, you will need it. Celebrate progress that nobody outside the trade understands. Trust me, I have seen the glazed over eyes the second that anything collision-related stumbles from my mouth.
Community matters. Because some days, you will need someone who knows exactly why a broken tab can send you into a tiny emotional weather event. Having a community to lean on keeps you anchored when the shop gets loud, the learning curve gets steep and isolation tries to convince you that you are the only one figuring it out as you go. You are not.
To the graduating class and the rising seniors standing at the edge of this incredible trade: look in the mirror and recognize the power you carry. You are not just entering a workforce; you are mobilizing a revolution in repair. The modern collision repair landscape desperately needs your intelligence, your focus, your patience, your curiosity, your dedication to safety and your unmatched eye for detail.
It is completely okay to love the artistic elegance of a flawless paint finish while simultaneously wielding the raw industrial strength needed to pull a frame rail back into alignment. It’s okay to understand color theory and structural integrity. It is even okay to be soft-spoken and technically lethal. It is okay to be Glossed and Gritty!
Take a deep, steady breath as you step out onto that shop floor for your very first full-time shift. Let the noise hit, let the pressure exist, and let the learning curve do what it came to do. Then get to work. Lean into the heavy tasks, ask the smart questions, research the procedures, own your mistakes, protect your body, build your community, and enjoy the absolute thrill of fixing complex machines with your own two hands. And never let anyone convince you that you don’t belong. Last but definitely not least, stop apologizing for taking up space in an industry that needs exactly what you bring.
You are entering a workforce that is being rebuilt by your intelligence and your hands. Lean into the experience, embrace the “hot mess” moments as the technical data they are, and never, ever shrink yourself to fit into a shop culture that hasn’t caught up to your caliber.
Go sign the authorization on your career, step into your bay, and show this industry exactly what a Collision DisruptHER is made of!
Want to dive deeper into not only surviving but navigating your first year on the shop floor, negotiating your first tool allowance, handling complex shop culture, building confidence after mistakes, and figuring out which career lane actually fits you? This installment is just a portion of the blueprint in your career-building kit. We are sticking with the newcomers for the long haul this summer because a strong career needs more than enthusiasm to ensure your foundation is built from structural-grade steel. Stay tuned, DisruptHER, the bay is just getting gritty.
Gear & Glam: Pretty Tough from the Ground Up
By: Jannifer Stimmel-Watkins
A bad pair of work boots can turn an entire shift into a hostage situation conducted by your own feet. In this Gear & Glam feature, Glossed & Gritty takes on one of the most overlooked pieces of PPE in the shop: the boots carrying Collision DisruptHERs through concrete floors, long hours, ladders, frame machines, paint departments, parts runs, and every “quick job” that somehow becomes a full-body negotiation. This article is not about cute boots pretending to be work boots. It is about real options that balance safety, comfort, durability, support, and style without treating women like an afterthought.… Read More
Bad shop footwear can ruin your whole personality before the first repair order even starts acting suspicious. You can be skilled, caffeinated, mentally prepared to fight a that stubborn rail and wearing mascara that deserves hazard pay, but if your boots are pinching your toes, rubbing your heels or making your arches scream like they just opened a supplement at 4:58pm, the day is already circling the drain.
For women in collision repair, work boots are not just “shoes for work.” They are PPE, survival gear and part of the daily uniform that carries us across concrete, through dust, around parts carts, into the lot, under vehicles, through calibrations, across production chaos and occasionally straight into the grocery store still wearing shop grime like contour.
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Too Glossed to Care, Too Gritty to Quit:
To the Future Collision DisruptHERs
By Jannifer Stimmel-Watkins, Technical Editor
If you knew how much the concept of “frame of mind” affects me from the bottom of my soul, you would probably be surprised. I have been in the Graduation season is officially here, which means another wave of brilliant, vibrant minds is preparing to trade peaceful school labs for the fast-paced jungle of a live production facility. As a former instructor, I always loved this time of year – mostly because it was so rewarding to watch the hesitant, unsure students who first entered my lab transform into absolute powerhouses ready to launch into their futures. Whether my apprenticeship students were transitioning to full-time hours or my standard-track students were stepping into a commercial shop for the first time, the shift from classroom theory to real-world production is unmatched. Congratulations to all of you! Your hard work and dedication has prepared you for this next terrifying and exhilarating step.
This installment of Frame of Mind is dedicated entirely to the next generation of Collision DisruptHERs. Whether you are currently weighing your educational options, entering the workforce as a new apprentice or throwing your cap in the air this semester, you are on the cusp of an amazing new chapter. Take a deep breath and stop stressing – this is the launchpad you’ve been working toward, so you might as well embrace the excitement!
Let’s be real: the collision industry requires significant dedication and hard work, but for those who actually want to be here, it is a phenomenally rewarding career path. If you’ve evaluated your future and felt the magnetic pull toward this field, I dare you to take the leap. One of the best perks of this industry is the low-risk test drive; you can get your hands dirty and see if you love it without draining a massive bank account on a four-year degree first. I wish I had started in this industry, or any trade for that matter. If I had, I may not have to check from time to time to see what my kidney will go for on the black market. Student loans are not something to take out lightly; trust me, I would know.
If your graduation is still a year away, don’t just sit there… Go tour your local technical school. Better yet, demand a hands-on preview. In my teaching days, we used to host a special interactive day for young ladies to come in, grab the tools and crush some real repair objectives. While people like me get easily distracted and excited just by staring at a shiny layout of brand-new spray guns, a lot of future pros need that physical, hands-on experience to realize they actually love the rhythm of the trade.
A quick note to the tech schools/instructors out there: if you aren’t actively offering these try-out days for young women, you are completely missing the boat – and losing your next generation of rockstar students to an industry that doesn’t appreciate their drive as much as we do.
For those of you who are ready to make the leap or who are transitioning into full-time roles right now, taking your education into the workforce as a woman requires a distinct strategy. It means looking at the industry through a lens of high-gloss precision and absolute self-worth. Here is the unfiltered advice I used to bark from the front of my classroom or lab on how to navigate this male-dominated trade, command respect, and map out your legacy.
Choosing Your Career Path Blueprint
When you step past the threshold of an educational institution, the architecture of your career changes overnight – in a technical school lab, the goals are cleanly outlined on a syllabus, and your instructor is there to act as a safety net, but once you enter the real-world workforce, the metrics shift toward flat-rate hours, production speed, key performance indicators (KPIs) and cycle times. For a female technician entering this intense ecosystem, this transition requires an assertive, tactical approach. You cannot afford to passively wait for an opportunity to fall into your lap; you must actively construct your own path.
The baseline of this strategy begins with your first employment decision – finding the right workplace is just as critical as finding the right training program!
Not all shops are created equal. It is an unfortunate reality that structural and cultural quality varies wildly from shop to shop. Some businesses are light-years ahead, operating with clean, well-lit bays, advanced tooling and progressive leadership; others are still anchored to a bygone era, where safety protocols are ignored, and a female technician is viewed with an outdated sense of skepticism. They are still structurally anchored to 1985, where the safety protocols consist of “just don’t breathe too hard” and the shop floor looks like a crime scene littered with broken clips and ancient beef jerky wrappers.
This is why you must approach the job hunt with a selective mindset: you are interviewing them just as much as they are interviewing you.
When you tour a potential shop, apply a rigorous cultural and technical filter. Look past the polished front office where customers wait, drinking complimentary coffee that tastes remarkably like battery acid, and demand to see the back of the house. Step into the production bays and observe. How are the vehicles flowing through the stalls? Are the technicians working in a state of chaotic frustration, throwing wrenches at the drywall…or is there a rhythmic, collaborative flow? Are tools scattered haphazardly across body filler caked floors like an obstacle course…or does the shop implement an organized system that respects its assets?
The “Surface Tension” Facility Filter
- Operational Safety: Are local exhaust systems, eye-wash stations and structural safety gear fully operational and regularly checked, or are they holding up old calendars?
- Infrastructure Investment: Does the shop utilize modern measuring systems, clean downdraft spray booths and advanced spot welders?
- Team Communication: Do the estimators, parts managers and technicians speak to one another with professional clarity, or is it mostly grunting and pointing?
Crucially, evaluate their commitment to industry evolution. A shop that refuses to invest in modern frame machinery, aluminum repair spaces or advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) calibration tooling is a shop that is slowly dying. If a facility is unwilling to invest in its own technical infrastructure, it certainly will not invest in your continuing education or career advancement.
Be direct with shop owners and production managers during your tours. Ask them how they handle the apprenticeship path: Do they have a clear, documented timeline for moving an apprentice from an initial teardown or prep role into a flat-rate stall, or do they simply use cheap entry-level labor to haul scrap and sweep floors indefinitely? Ask how they handle continuous training through organizations like I-CAR or specific vehicle OEM certifications.
Pay close attention to how they respond to your presence. If a shop owner seems overly fixated on your gender, drops condescending remarks under the guise of humor (like asking if you need a pink toolbox), or acts as if hiring you is a public-relations stunt rather than a strategic business decision based on your technical merit, walk away. While you’re walking the floor, do a thorough vibe check on the technicians currently in the stalls. There is a massive strategic advantage to doing this.
For starters, miserable techs are like a glowing check engine light—if they hate the shop, they will practically trip over themselves to dump their diagnostic codes on you. Your job is to filter the raw data: are they exposing legitimate operational bottlenecks (like broken equipment and parts delays), or are they just chronic grumblers who hate their lives and the flat-rate system in general?
Secondly, this interaction gives you an immediate preview of how they’ll treat you on a random Tuesday. If a tech decides to fly his caveman flag right in front of you during a tour, consider it a gift. It’s a live-action demo of how management operates under pressure. Does the boss shut that behavior down immediately, or do they give you the classic, spineless shrug: “Oh, that’s just Old-School Bob, he doesn’t mean anything by it”?
If the manager plays zookeeper instead of a leader, you have all the data you need. Decide right then and there whether a facility is worth your time, or if you should take your talents to a shop that actually operates in the current century.
Your skills are an economic asset! Never give your time, talent, physical labor, or sanity to a business that treats your presence as an anomaly rather than an upgrade to their production line. Ladies, let’s be entirely honest here: I’ve already warned you that this industry is hard work. Because of that, you need to look at your first industry job the exact same way you look at a first husband. Specifically, let’s try really hard not to let our first shop choice become our bitter ex-husband.
You know the type—the one that absolutely stole your youth. Think back to when we still possessed pristine lower backs, fully functioning knee cartilage, and the physiological ability to drop it like it’s hot out on the dance floor, only to effortlessly roll into work the next morning like we hadn’t been dancing all night long. Yeah, if you let it, a bad shop will drain you of that exact same vitality, leave you with nothing but a toolbox full of regret, and expect a thank-you note. Your time is money! Every second of every day represents your personal economic value, and you have way too much intelligence to waste it in a workspace that doesn’t appreciate you.
The Interview: Shattering the Desk-Job Bias
While the trade is definitely modernizing, let’s be real: there are still plenty of knuckle-dragging neanderthals roaming the shop floors who completely missed the memo on human evolution. You are inevitably going to run into a few fossils whose technical certifications are up-to-date, but whose internal social diagnostics are pulling nothing but error codes. When a young woman walks into a body shop with an application, many traditional managers will instinctively assume she is applying for a customer service role, a front-desk position or an entry-level estimating job. They might look at you and see someone who should be answering phones and coddling DRP reps rather than sectioning frame rails. There is absolutely nothing wrong with those vital career paths, but if your goal is to spend your days in a paint booth or welding a quarter panel, you must shatter that front-office expectation before a single question is asked.
Your interview strategy should be a masterclass in professional execution and immediate readiness. You want to arrive looking sharp and put-together, signaling that you treat the business opportunity with complete seriousness; however, your appearance must also be backed by functionality. Do not show up in delicate office attire or high heels that make walking across a live production floor look like a high-wire balancing act. Instead, wear durable, clean work trousers and a professional polo or branded collared shirt.
Most importantly, carry your tool or gear bag right along with you. Inside that bag should be your broken-in steel-toed work boots, your safety glasses and your respirator. This simple visual cue completely alters the dynamic of the meeting. It lets the hiring manager know immediately that you do not fear the grit of collision repair – the noise, the dust and the physical demands of the shop floor.
When the conversation shifts to your technical abilities, don’t rely solely on verbal descriptions of your school lab projects… Bring the evidence. Hand them an organized portfolio containing photographs of your work. One recommendation that I always made to my students was to somehow organize photos in a drive or a file that could be shared or emailed to the manager. Show them clean, sectioning weld tests that you have passed. Show them high-resolution images of complex plastic tab repairs you have executed, or panels you prepped, blocked and sprayed. If you have kept track of your diagnostic scanner work or structural measurement printouts from your school lab, present them.
Your Mobile Interview Rig:
- A clean, organized digital or physical technical portfolio
- Certified safety glasses with side shields
- Steel-toed work boots (clean, but clearly broken-in)
- A properly fitted NIOSH-approved respirator
If you sense any underlying skepticism from the interviewer regarding your repair competence or your willingness to jump into the fray, call their bluff with calm confidence.
Look the manager in the eye and say: “I have my boots and safety gear in my bag. If you have an open stall or a senior technician available right now, I am completely ready to go out to the floor and execute a live weld test or perform a tear-down objective, so you can see my efficiency first-hand.”
This level of professional assertiveness changes the entire power dynamic. It transforms you from a passive applicant hoping for a chance into a confident professional offering to prove your economic production capability on the spot. Even if they decline the live test, the message is received loud and clear: you are a technician, you are here to build, and you know exactly how to handle the tools of the trade.
The Finish Line is Just the Starting Block
Class of 2026, the transition from the classroom to the shop floor is the ultimate glow-up. By vetting your future shop with a critical eye and walking into interviews with your gear bag in hand, you aren’t just looking for a job – you’re staging a takeover. You’ve proven you’re “too Glossed to care” about the outdated stereotypes and “too Gritty to quit” when the work gets tough. These are your first high-velocity steps toward a legendary career!
But don’t shift into park just yet. This is only the beginning of my “New Grad” series. I’m dedicating the next few installments of this column to helping you navigate the “real world” hurdles that a syllabus can’t prepare you for:
- June e-News: Tune in for tactical tips on negotiating a tool allowance (don’t leave money on the table!) and survival strategies for navigating your first year on the shop floor.
- Issue 2, coming in June: Make sure to subscribe for this deep dive. I’ll be talking about taking command of your career path options and the essential skills for confronting bias in the workplace without losing your cool or your momentum.
Remember, Collision DisruptHERs: The industry is waiting for your impact. Let’s get to work!
The Pipeline Just Got Stronger:
Collision Engineering Earns National Recognition
The future of collision repair just got a major co-sign from the federal government – and honestly, it’s well deserved.
The Collision Engineering Career Alliance (CECA) was recently awarded National Guidelines for Apprenticeship Standards (NGS) recognition by the U.S. Department of Labor, officially validating its apprenticeship model as a national framework for training and certifying collision engineering technicians.
Translation? The industry’s ongoing workforce conversation is finally turning into real, scalable action!
For years, collision repair leaders have sounded the alarm about technician shortages, evolving vehicle technology and the urgent need for stronger talent pipelines. Collision Engineering didn’t just acknowledge the problem – it built an entirely different roadmap.
The program combines classroom education with paid, real-world apprenticeships, allowing students to rotate every eight weeks between college instruction and hands-on shop experience. Graduates leave with a two-year associate degree, industry experience and employer connections… and now, it’s all tied to a nationally-recognized credential from the Department of Labor.
That matters – not just because it elevates the credibility of collision repair education, but also because it helps reshape how young people (and their parents, counselors and communities) view careers in this industry. Collision repair is no longer being positioned as a backup plan; it’s being recognized as a highly technical, high-skill career path deserving of structured workforce investment.
And that shift? That’s a Collision DisruptHER-level move!
“The Department of Labor’s approval of our National Guidelines for Apprenticeship Standards is a defining moment for Collision Engineering,” said John Helterbrand, national program director. “It validates the work we have done to align education and industry, and it ensures students and employers alike can access a pathway that is nationally recognized and sustainable for the future.”
At Glossed & Gritty, we talk often about the importance of building the future of collision repair intentionally – not reactively. Programs like Collision Engineering are doing exactly that by connecting schools, shops and industry leaders in ways that create long-term sustainability instead of short-term staffing fixes.
Collision Engineering President Mary Mahoney emphasized that the program’s success is rooted in collaboration across the industry, with partner schools and repair facilities working together to create stronger opportunities for students entering the trade.
And perhaps one of the most important pieces of this entire initiative is accessibility. Students aren’t expected to choose between education and earning a paycheck. They’re able to learn while actively working in the industry, reducing barriers that often prevent talented young people from pursuing technical careers in the first place.
That’s not just workforce development – that’s workforce evolution.
Collision Engineering currently partners with schools across the country, including College of Lake County, Contra Costa College, Parkland College, Metropolitan Community College, Sandhills Community College, North Dakota State College of Science and El Camino College – creating a growing national network focused on producing career-ready technicians equipped for modern collision repair.
As vehicles continue advancing, the industry needs technicians trained not only to repair cars, but to understand the increasingly complex engineering behind them. Collision Engineering is proving that future-ready training isn’t optional anymore; it’s essential.
And now, it’s federally recognized.
From Classroom to Collision Career: WIN Supports 39 Rising DisruptHERs
More than 39 future Collision DisruptHERS are stepping into the industry with a little extra support behind them.
The Women’s Industry Network (WIN) recently awarded more than $50,000 in scholarships, mentorship opportunities and professional shop tool sets to collision repair students across North America through its 2026 WIN Student Scholarship Program.
Selected from more than 100 applicants, this year’s recipients represent the next generation of technicians, painters, leaders and changemakers helping reshape the future of collision repair.
Through its Champions, Trailblazers and Legends levels – as well as its new Northern Star scholarships for Canadian students – WIN continues investing directly into the industry’s talent pipeline, proving that supporting women in collision repair isn’t just a conversation; it’s actionable. Beyond financial support, recipients also gain access to mentorship, networking opportunities, student engagement calls and industry connections designed to help create long-term career growth and retention within collision repair.
In other words: these students aren’t just receiving scholarships – they’re gaining a community.
“WIN’s commitment to driving the future of the industry is anchored by our investment in women aspiring to work in collision repair,” said Tracy Bracht, 2026 Chair of the WIN Student Relations Committee. “Student membership provides access to valuable resources and opportunities that support them throughout their journey. There is no cost for student memberships, thanks to the generous support of our generous sponsors and members!”
The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) again partnered with WIN this year to help expand the program’s reach and connect more students with opportunities to launch successful careers in the industry.
From toolboxes to tuition assistance, the program helps remove barriers many students face while entering the trade – especially aspiring technicians balancing education costs alongside the expense of building professional-grade tool collections.
The 10 young women who were named 2026 Champions received a $2,500 scholarship, mentorship, shop tools, WIN merchandise and a WIN Conference virtual pass. Congratulations to:
- Angelica Briones – Tennessee College of Applied Technology (Chattanooga, TN)
- Leah Clarke – Wilkes Community College (Wilkesboro, NC)
- Alice Cook – Collin College (Lewisville, TX)
- Jennifer Cruz – El Camino College (Hawthorne, CA)
- Courteney Lafrenz – Southeast Technical College (Larchwood, IA)
- Izzy Malloy – Pennsylvania College of Technology (Carlisle, PA)
- Emerald Manuel – Northeast Community College (Norfolk, NE)
- Jacqueline Nguyen – Portland Community College (Hillsboro, OR)
- Rachel Santafemia – North Georgia Technical College (Gainesville, GA)
- Addison Zick – Pennsylvania College of Technology (Norristown, PA)
Nine Trailblazers were awarded a $500 scholarship, entrance into WIN’s mentorship program and a WIN Conference virtual pass.
- Josephine Barbour – Wake Tech Community College (Creedmoor, NC)
- Elizabeth Caspers – Rock Valley College (Belvidere, IL)
- Tausha French – American River College (Sacramento, CA)
- Katelyn Jenkins – Palomar College (Temecula, CA)
- Electra Lucero – Madison Area Technical College (Madison, WI)
- Kennedy McDaniel – Des Moines Area Community College (Des Moines, IA)
- Alyssa Meadows – St. Cloud Technical & Community College (East Bethel, MN)
- Lisa Sanchez – Bellingham Technical (Ferndale, VT)
- Madison Warren – Unaka High School (Elizabethton, TN)
This year’s Legends received shop tools, WIN merchandise, mentorship opportunities and a WIN Conference virtual pass.
- Alexis Arjon – South Plains College (Levelland, TX)
- Autumn Burrows – Puget Sound Skills Center (Kent, WA)
- Emily Carroll, Hennepin Technical College (Roseville, MN)
- Gabriella De Leon Humes – Lincoln College of Technology (Fort Thomas, KY)
- Olivia Dellinger – Wilkes Community College (Hays, NC)
- Jolie Keigley – Des Moines Area Community College (Ames, IA)
- Tory Matthews – Metropolitan Community College (Omaha, NE)
- Jocelyn Pandolfo – Pennsylvania College of Technology (Clark, NJ)
- Tia Wolffe – Kennedy King College (Homewood, IL)
- Taralynn Wright – Tulsa Tech (Broken Arrow, OK)
New in 2026, WIN awarded Northern Star scholarships to Canadian students in two levels. Recipients of $1,000 scholarships included:
- Sophia Branco-Silva – Centennial College (Whitby, Ontario)
- Amelia Desbiens – Central Memorial High School (Calgary, Alberta)
- Kianna Edison – St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Kenora, Ontario)
- Aleisha Smith – Okanagan College (Kelowna, British Columbia)
- Teila Wandowich – Red River Polytech (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
The following students were awarded $500 scholarships:
- Torrie Crowe – Southern Alberta, Institute of Technology (Calgary, Alberta)
- Shanika Dick – Centennial College (Toronto, Ontario)
- Cassandra Foy – Red River Polytech (St. Andrews, Manitoba)
- Jordan Pomanski – Red River Polytech (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
- Evelyn Torres – Centennial College (Toronto, Ontario)
Learn more about WIN’s Scholarship Program.
(Winners pictured above from left to right: Olivia Dellinger, Leah Clark, Jolie Keigley, & Jacqueline Nguyen)
These Girls Got Skills – and the Medals to Prove It!
Every year, the best of the best trade students battle it out at the SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conferences for a shot at the national spotlight – but in 2026, the girls didn’t just show up; they dominated!
Throughout the nation, female competitors racked up medals for Automotive Refinishing Technology, Collision Repair Technology and Collision Damage Appraisal in a way that turned heads, shattered expectations and proved the next generation of skilled tradeswomen isn’t coming in quietly… They’re in it to win it!
“SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization that partners students, instructors, and industry to ensure America has a skilled workforce,” explains Sarah Stillahn, Vice Chair of the Nebraska Auto Body Association (NABA), who helped organize the Nebraska State Collision Competition. “Through hands-on competitions like this, students are evaluated on real-world industry standards, helping bridge the gap between the classroom and the shop.”
While the student competitors are the stars of the show, Sarah points out, “The success of this event depends heavily on the involvement of industry professionals, local shops and vendor partners. From donating time and equipment to judging, mentoring and sponsoring, their support ensures students are evaluated to current industry standards while also building meaningful connections within the trade. These partnerships are critical to developing the next generation of collision repair professionals.”
She applauds the local organizations and individuals who stepped up: “Levanders in Grand Island generously provided the facility – including a paint booth – for the Collision Repair and Refinishing competitions. Volunteers supplemented the space by bringing in additional equipment, creating a true real-world shop environment and delivering a meaningful, hands-on experience for students. In past years, volunteers faced challenges creating this type of environment due to limited facilities, so Levanders’ willingness to step in and open their doors has been a significant and appreciated addition to the program!”
Overall participation was fairly strong with 46 competitors representing five high schools and three colleges; however, Sarah would have liked to see more participation in the Collision Damage Appraisal Competition. “Increasing awareness and involvement in this category is important, as it plays a critical role in the repair process and offers strong career opportunities within the industry. We encourage instructors and students to explore this path and get involved in future competitions.”
In fact, she would love to see more involvement in every collision competition. Sarah observes that only three colleges participated in the Nebraska State Competition and expresses concern that “one of those programs is scheduled to close after the next school year – highlighting the ongoing need to support and grow collision repair education in Nebraska.” She urges industry professionals to get involved with their local programs to ensure they remain viable.
NABA also encourages schools and students to reach out to the association “if travel or resources are a barrier to participation. Our goal is to support student involvement however we can and help ensure that those who want to compete have the opportunity to do so!
“SkillsUSA provides an important platform for young professionals to demonstrate their skills, build confidence and experience a sense of accomplishment,” Sarah adds. “Many students enter the competition already having secured positions or sponsorships with industry companies, while others often leave with job offers, especially at the national level, thanks to the exposure and connections these events provide.”
While female competitors brought serious talent to every corner of the SkillsUSA Nebraska State Collision Competition, the real takeover happened in college-level Automotive Refinishing, where the women swept the podium and claimed all three medals. The booth was packed with tenacity, precision and unapologetic DisruptHER energy – proving the future of refinishing is looking a whole lot more female.
Congratulations to Gold medalist Emma Uhler (Southeast Community College – Milford; Milford, NE), Silver medal winner Callie Nickerson (Metropolitan Community College; Omaha, NE) and Bronze winner Miranda Vanek (Northeast Community College; Norfolk, NE)!
Nebraska wasn’t the only state where young women took over the Automotive Refinishing Technology scene. Across the country, female competitors proved their eye for color, detail and precision is next-level – turning heads, stacking medals and bringing the “Gloss” to SkillsUSA at the state level! The “Grit” was definitely part of the equation too, with plenty of women earning medals in Collision Damage Appraisal and Collision Repair Technology.
Glossed & Gritty proudly celebrates every student competitor – women and men alike – but our mission is spotlighting the women kicking ass, breaking barriers and making waves in the skilled trades, so we’re highlighting the ladies* who brought home medals in states across the country…over six dozen medals!
(*Editors’ note: We did our best to identify female competitors based on the names provided in the results lists and subsequent research. If anyone was unintentionally missed or incorrectly identified, we sincerely apologize; the goal is to celebrate and recognize the incredible talent and accomplishments of the young women making their mark in collision repair.)
Automotive Refinishing Technology
Gold:
- Allonna Vidrine (Terrebonne Career and Technical High School; Houma, LA) – High School
- Bridget Dunfee (WyoTech; Laramie, WY) – College
- Brookelyn Meents (Lake Career and Technical Center; Camdenton, MO) – High School
- Chesey Johnson (Madison County Career Technology Center; Huntsville, AL) – High School
- Ella Parsons (Northeast State Community College; Blountville, TN) – College
- Elizabeth Rolen (Washington County Career & Tech Ed Center; Abingdon, VA) – High School
- Isabella Roll (North Dakota State College of Science; Wahpeton, ND) – College
- Jasmine Hansen (Southwestern Community College; Creston, IA) – College
- Kaelyn Brilliant (Capital Area Technical Center; Augusta, ME) – High School
- Katie Dobrinski (Morgan Community College; Fort Morgan, CO) – High School
- Megan Pierret (Aims Community College – Windsor; Greeley, CO) – College
- Olivia Dillinger (Wilkes Community College; Wilkesboro, NC) – High School
Silver:
- Brenna Leuty (Washburn Tech; Topeka, KS) – High School
- Dana Chick (Cape Fear Community College; Wilmington, NC) – College
- Evangeline Utley (Bingham H/S; South Jordan, UT) – High School
- Isabelle Mayberry (Orange Technical College – South Campus; Orlando, FL) – College
- Makayla Ball (Autry Technology Center; Enid, OK) – College
- Mariana Millan (Hutchinson Career & Technical Academy; Hutchinson, KS) – College
- Nicole Fejfar (West-MEC NE Campus; Phoenix, AZ) – High School
- Olivia Rhodes (Maxwell High School of Technology; Lawrenceville, GA) – High School
- Sydney Stiarwalt (Lewis and Clark Career Center; Saint Charles, MO) – High School
Bronze:
- Allison Dyke (Bismarck State College; Bismarck, ND) – College
- Annabelle Weaver (Northern Neck Technical Center; Warsaw, VA) – High School
- Aiyana Herrera (Pickens Technical College; Aurora, CO) – College
- Dalia Alcala (Yakima Valley Skill Center; Yakima, WA) – High School
- Daylan Dooley (Athens Technical College; Athens, GA) – College
- Emily DeBeaubien (Iredell-Statesville Career Academy & Tech School; Troutman, NC) – High School
- Kierra Hamilton (Tennessee College of Applied Tech-Knoxville; Knoxville, TN) College
- Leah Clarke (Wilkes Community College; Wilkesboro, NC) – College
- Joselyn Marquez (Granger H/S; West Valley City, UT) – High School
- Savannah Pepcorn-Maybon (MSU Billings-COT; Billings, MT) – College
- Savannah Martin (Paul M. Hodgson Vo-Tech; Newark, DE) – High School
- Sindel Mendez De La Cruz (Salt Lake Community College; Salt Lake City, UT) – College
Collision Damage Appraisal
Gold:
- Ashley Salas (Dr. Kirk Lewis Career and Technology High School; Houston, TX) – High School
- Cloud Kline (Aims Community College – Windsor; Greeley, CO) – College
- Deanna Lewis (Lanier Technical College; Gainesville, GA) College
- Elsie O’Neill (Center of Applied Tech North; Severn, MD) – High School
- Emmalee Johnson (Northeast State Community College; Blountville, TN) – College
- Guadalupe Ayala-Segura (Delcastle Technical High School; Wilmington, DE) – High School
- Isabell Schmidt (South Central College; MN) – College
- Madison Warren (Unaka High School; Elizabethton, TN) – High School
- Paige Reynolds (Francis Tuttle Technology Center; Oklahoma City, OK) – College
- Samantha Rhea (Russell County Career & Tech Center; Lebanon, VA) – High School
- Tania Lugo (Manatee Tech College; Bradenton, FL) – College
Silver:
- Abbigail C. Hypes (Academy of Careers & Technology; Beckley, WV) – High School
- Angelica Vargas (Granger High School; West Valley City, UT) – High School
- Autumn Loper (Paul M. Hodgson Vo-Tech; Newark, DE) – High School
- Diana Perry (Aims Community College – Windsor; Greeley, CO) – College
- Hali Ramos (Gordon Cooper Technology Center; Shawnee, OK) – College
- Kallie O’Neill (Washington County Career & Tech Ed Center; Abingdon, VA) – High School
- Rachel Becker (Southwestern Community College; Creston, IA) – College
Bronze:
- Bronwyn Aloi (Delcastle Technical High School; Wilmington, DE) – High School
- Gabriella Cioffi (Canadian Valley Tech Center; El Reno, OK) – High School
- Kytalynn Huber (Moore Norman Technology Center; Norman, OK) – College
- Merianne Yakaitis (Franklin Technology Center; Joplin, MO) – High School
Collision Repair Technology
Gold:
- Alexis Skowronski (Manatee Tech College; Bradenton, FL) – College
- Ariel Owens (Polytech High School; Woodside, DE) – High School
- Avery Mitchell (East Valley Institute of TEchnology; Mesa, AZ) – College
- Kaelan Merlowe (Lanier Technical College; Gainesville, GA) – College
- Evelin Spiece (Oakland Schools Technical Campus NW; Clarkston, MI) – High School
- Layla Wilson (Washington County Career & Tech Ed Center; Abingdon, VA) – High School
- Tolulope Adegoke (Thomas Edison High School of Technology; Silver Spring, MD) – High School
Silver:
- Miranda Eckhardt (Aims Community College – Windsor; Greeley, CO) – High School
Bronze:
- Ellie Ream (Eden Area ROP; Hayward, CA) – High School
- Emma Fitzgerald (Technology, Exploration & Career Center West; Lewisville, TX) – High School
- Jacqueline Alvarez Rios (Delcastle Technical High School; Wilmington, DE) – High School
- Kasadee Burden (Warrensburg Area Career Center; Warrensburg, MO) – High School
- Keisha Caynor (Randolph Technical Center; Elkins, WV) – High School
- Kimberly Alcala (Yakima Valley Skill Center; Yakima, WA) – High School
- Madison LaTour (Center for Instruction, Technology & Innovation; Mexico, NY) – High School
- Nina Poplawski (HH Ellis Technical High School; Danielson, CT) – High School
- Olivia Chivers (Aims Community College – Windsor; Greeley, CO) – College
Gold medalists now have the opportunity to advance to the National SkillsUSA Leadership & Skills Conference and Championships in Atlanta this June, where they’ll compete against the best student talent in the country. Glossed & Gritty is cheering on every one of these Primed DisruptHERs as they take their skills to the national stage and continue reshaping the future of collision repair.
ATTN: State winners – All 2026 state medal winners are invited to receive a complimentary three-month membership upgrade to Surface Tension. Simply sign up for a free membership first, then email Jannifer@glossedandgritty.com to request your upgrade.
We’d also love to highlight the ladies who will be competing at Nationals, and we invite you to share any updates by tagging @GlossedandGritty on your favorite social media platform so we can broadcast your accomplishments!
Nebraska SkillsUSA Competition
FRAMECHANGER
From Earning a Gown to Engineering Careers:
Laura Lozano’s Mission to Support Future Technicians
We call female collision repair instructors “Frame Changers” because they’re helping reshape the industry at its foundation. By educating, mentoring and empowering the next generation of technicians and leaders, they’re changing perceptions, opening doors and influencing the future of collision repair long before students ever step into a professional shop. Their impact doesn’t stop with the students they teach – it carries into the culture, workforce and future direction of the industry itself.
Collision repair wasn’t a path Laura Lozano deliberately mapped out from the beginning – it was something she grew into through family influence, hands-on experience and a series of pivotal moments that gradually made the industry feel like home.
Her father has been a technician her entire life and remains active in the industry today. Growing up, she knew he worked on cars, but she didn’t fully understand collision repair or the scope of the industry behind it. It was simply “Dad’s work” – familiar but not truly defined.
That changed her senior year when Laura asked her dad for money for a prom dress. Instead of simply giving her the money, he offered a different path: come work with him for a week and earn it. At the time, he was working in a BMW-certified collision repair shop. It was a facility that immediately stood out – clean, highly organized and operating with a level of precision that made everything feel intentional.
That first day, Laura wasn’t focused on the technical work; she was observing. But something shifted when she began paying attention to what was actually happening around her – the process, the flow, the problem-solving and the craftsmanship involved in returning vehicles to pre-loss condition was fascinating. By the end of that week, Laura had earned her prom dress… and she had also gained a new perspective. She wanted to come back.
Like many students approaching the end of high school, Laura had started thinking about what came next, and now she had a pretty clear idea of what she wanted to do. As she spent the summer after graduation working in the shop, she quickly realized she couldn’t get enough – that she had discovered her path.
Around that time, she began learning about different educational pathways in collision repair. Her family didn’t have the resources to support a traditional four-year college experience, so when she learned about Contra Costa College, a local community college with a collision repair program just 30 minutes from her home, she knew she’d found the solution; it was affordable, practical and accessible.
Laura earned her associate degree while continuing to work part-time and during summers as her father’s apprentice. That combination of classroom learning and real-world application became the foundation of her development in the industry.
After graduation, she transitioned into full-time work at the shop. Working under her father created a unique learning environment built on trust and familiarity. Mistakes weren’t punished – they were worked through. If something broke, they fixed it together. That dynamic allowed her to grow quickly and confidently, developing skills without the fear of being pushed out for learning.
As time went on, she and her father became co-owners of their own collision repair shop and operated it together for seven years. That period became a formative chapter in her career. She gained exposure to every aspect of the business: refinishing, estimating, insurance relations, parts coordination, administrative operations and customer communication. More than anything, she developed a deep understanding of how all the moving pieces of a collision repair facility connect.
During this time, her mentor at Contra Costa College – Peter Lock – was preparing to retire. That moment prompted reflection on the future of the program and her own long-term goals. Laura had always imagined teaching someday…but not until much later in life. When Peter encouraged her to apply for an instructional role, it was initially framed as a learning exercise to understand the process.
What followed was a six-month hiring journey involving multiple interviews and steps. When the job offer finally arrived, it was unexpected. She hadn’t gone into the process expecting to be selected, but she was ready to take on the challenge. She committed fully, stepping away from the shop temporarily to focus on the opportunity. Her father supported the decision wholeheartedly, and she continued assisting with shop operations on weekends.
On her first day in the classroom, something immediately resonated. After teaching her first class, she knew this was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. It felt like the right environment, the right energy and the right evolution of everything she had experienced before.
After that semester, Laura transitioned fully into education. Her father eventually made the decision to sell the shop. Since that day – a decade ago – she has remained in education, and it continues to resonate just as deeply as ever.
Today, she reflects on that journey as one built on adaptability, trust and continuous growth. Teaching collision repair keeps her connected to the industry that shaped her while challenging her in new ways every day. It continues to push her outside her comfort zone in ways that feel both meaningful and necessary.
Find out how Laura answered responded in her Q&A!
Read the rest on the Impact Report Newsletter Page (Subscribers Only).
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Impact Report
Read more: The Riveter- May 2026Read Laura’s Q&A!!
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Frame of Mind: Why I Am Done Being Complicit
I didn’t see the glass ceiling because I was too busy fighting the wall
By Jannifer Stimmel-Watkins, Technical Editor
If you knew how much the concept of “frame of mind” affects me from the bottom of my soul, you would probably be surprised. I have been in the collision industry for almost nine years, counting my time as a student. Throughout that time, I have been interviewed numerous times, and there is always that staple question:
For a long time, I never quite understood the question. I wanted everyone to know that I was just fine. I told interviewers the “struggle” was a myth. I often left those conversations feeling as if I had let them down by not sharing a hero’s saga about rising from the ashes like a phoenix.
The Blind Spot
It took Chas — my long-time friend, mentor, and now my business partner and co-founder — to gradually wear down my guard. It wasn’t the first time I’d been interviewed for an article, and it seems like, no matter how different the articles are, every journalist asks one question in common: “How does it feel to be a female technician in the collision industry?”
I never really understood why this kept coming up. I have always been proud of the fact that I was just fine, because I always had been, or so I thought. I went as far as to counteract the argument that women struggle in the collision industry. In my mind, the struggle was a myth. (But please don’t think that I’m callous; I have a high level of empathy, and it will make a lot more sense once y’all get to know me better. For now, I’ll focus on this story specifically.)
When I gave Chas my answer — that I was fine and that the struggles were overhyped — she didn’t accept that. She started questioning me further, and when I got defensive, she moved on to the next question. But she kept subtly coming back to the subject, sharing stories of the hurdles other women had faced. I was resistant and started making excuses for why they might have had those experiences. Chas was relentless though, and after going back and forth for over two hours, I started to recognize times that I HAD noticed sexism but had dismissed it. I felt nauseous. And then I got angry, not only at the system but also at myself.
After the call, I kept thinking about the conversation and as I realized that I had nearly started down the path of victim-blaming, my knee-jerk response shocked me; before entering this industry, I worked in healthcare with patients that could not access medications and care due to socioeconomic factors by day and with victims of sexual assault and domestic violence at night. Advocacy was close to my heart because of my own history, so I really started to evaluate why I struggled so much to see what was happening, and I realized that because I had spent my entire life proving that I WAS NOT a victim of ANYTHING, I allowed that mindset to bleed into my professional life. I refused to accept that hurdles were placed in front of me — which led to refusing to see them in front of anyone else.
The Unfair Advantage of a Combative Mind
My hard-headedness is more than a personality trait; it is a byproduct of my neurodivergence. Two years ago, I was diagnosed with autism. Growing up, it was engrained into my psyche that I simply had to work ten times harder than everyone else just to be accepted. I came to the understanding that it would forever be a part of who I am and that I could settle and have limitations…or I could overcome it and thrive. Of course, being the stubborn mule that I am, I embraced the latter.
I now realize my autism gave me an unfair advantage: I was often blind to the discrimination happening to me, and my natural combativeness made me thrive on the friction I did feel.
Because I often missed social cues and “hidden” barriers, I simply didn’t recognize when I was being sidelined. I didn’t accept “no” as an answer because I didn’t realize that “no” was meant to hold me back. More than that, I love challenges. I am naturally combative. If I felt someone pushing against me, I didn’t feel like a victim — I felt
like I was in a fight…and I intended to win. I still refuse to see myself as a victim. I control my destiny. Characterizing myself as a victim gives them control, and I refuse to allow someone else to determine my future — or the future of the women that come after me if I can help it.
While this helped me survive and fueled me even further, I cannot equate my struggle to the struggles of other women. They were aware of the weight being placed on them. They saw the “Keep Out” signs that I was blissfully unaware of. Because I didn’t recognize the discrimination, I had the advantage of not being throttled by it.
The Cost of Silence
I share this as an apology to these young ladies. I was complicit because I pushed them to be tougher, using my own combative survival as the benchmark. I didn’t see that I was asking them to ignore a reality that my own brain wasn’t even processing.
The cost of that silence is seen in the talented women who are no longer working by our side in the collision repair industry:
- The Former Student: I spoke to a female student of mine recently. She is incredibly talented, but at the shops where she worked, she was never given the opportunity to actually use her skills. She is now working in healthcare.
- The Former Co-worker: I worked with a woman who was at the top of her class, yet at our shop, she was moved to every department except the one that would make her a technician. Despite my efforts to speak on her behalf, her value remained unseen. She left for mechanical engineering and told me I needed to let go of her becoming a technician, just as she had.
I have pleaded with both of these women to return, but the damage was already done. I am upset with myself that I didn’t see it sooner. I was pushing them to crawl through mud that I didn’t even realize was there.
A New Mission: Changing the Space
I recently read a comment from Kristen Felder about how she enjoys “ruffling feathers” at the shop. I agree — it’s a sport to me, too. But she also mentioned that other women should not have to be as tough as she is, and that really resonated with me.
I am combative, and I like the fight — but I want differently for other women. A career shouldn’t require emotional armor beneath our PPE, just to survive the day.
Chas and I may have different views on how to approach the topic, but we both have the same end goal. Women deserve a place in this industry.
As an instructor for five years, I saw far too few female students graduate to the repair side. This is unacceptable. We have to stop accepting the way things are and change the industry to fit them rather than expecting them to fit into the industry. Those of us who are already here, who are already “tough,” should use that strength to change the space.
Through this magazine, we hope to give women a voice, greater visibility and a supportive community. We are dedicated to highlighting every achievement and advocating for growth. There is room for us in this space, and it is time we shared that with the newer generations.
Are you all with me? I am so excited about this journey, and I know that together, we can make a difference.
Because we are stronger together. And because less than 5% is not the end of the story — it’s the beginning.
We are the Collision DisruptHERs. And we’re just getting started.