Petra Schroeder Redefines Grit: Silk Scarves and Soft-Spoken Eloquence
By: Chasidy Rae Sisk
Petra Schroeder is known throughout the collision repair world as the Collisionista, but her legacy cannot be contained in a single title, scarf, language, or boardroom introduction. With nearly six decades connected to the industry, Petra’s story is one of reinvention, curiosity, global influence, cultural fluency, and a kind of leadership that does not need to shout to command the room. Her strength is not packaged in the predictable costume of grit. It arrives polished, elegant, soft-spoken, and absolutely immovable. This Dynasty DisruptHER feature follows Petra’s journey through corporate spaces, industry associations, volunteer leadership, mentorship, and the many connections she…
At first glance, “Collisionista” Petra Schroeder seems almost too elegant for collision repair. Draped in silk scarves with flawless posture and a voice softened by decades of refinement, she carries herself with the sort of effortless sophistication you’d expect to encounter at an art gallery opening or a diplomatic dinner party – not walking the floor of an industry event or in a shop, surrounded by paint fumes, frame racks and body filler dust. But spend five minutes talking to Petra, and it becomes abundantly clear that beneath her polished exterior lives a woman forged from steel.
Like the clear we lay, this Gloss has coats. You've only just begun to scuff the surface!
Already a member? Log in and keep reading.
Not in yet? Become a free member of the Collision DisruptHERs Community to unlock the next coat of Glossed access: more story, more context, and the parts we don't leave sitting on the surface.
Want the full article, complete issues, Impact Report, archives, and subscriber-only extras? That's the Gritty.
In Her Words:
Lowered Voice, Stronger Boundaries
By: Petra Schroeder
Petra Schroeder’s voice may be calm, but her boundaries are anything but weak. In this thoughtful In HER Words column, Petra reflects on respect, cultural differences, harassment, communication, and the quiet authority that comes from consistency. She shares how being believed shaped her, why “no” should never require negotiation, and how speaking up does not always have to mean raising your voice. Polished does not mean passive, and Petra proves that strength can arrive softly and still change the room.
I didn’t come into this conversation expecting to revisit pieces of my life I had long since filed away. That’s the honest truth.
Like the clear we lay, this Gloss has coats. You've only just begun to scuff the surface!
Already a member? Log in and keep reading.
Not in yet? Become a free member of the Collision DisruptHERs Community to unlock the next coat of Glossed access: more story, more context, and the parts we don't leave sitting on the surface.
Want the full article, complete issues, Impact Report, archives, and subscriber-only extras? That's the Gritty.
Unfiltered Font: Mother DisruptHER
By: Chasidy Rae Sisk
Motherhood and career ambition are often treated like two vehicles trying to occupy the same frame rack, and Chasidy Rae Sisk is not here to pretend the industry has figured out how to make that collision pretty. In this deeply personal editor’s note, she reflects on finally stepping into the writing career she had always wanted, only to have life reroute the entire map with pregnancy, caregiving, financial strain, impossible expectations, and the quiet professional penalties mothers are expected to absorb without complaint. This piece does not romanticize burnout or wrap motherhood in soft-focus inspirational nonsense. Instead, it names the… Read More
I used to think the biggest disruption in my life would be landing my dream job. Cute, right? I’d like to formally apologize to that naive version of myself who should have known better; life has never been interested in my expectations!
Rewind to 2007: I was a freshly-minted college grad, fully convinced The New York Times had a full-time, highly-paid writing job with my name already printed on the offer letter. HA! Instead, the universe handed me 17 years of “not quite yet” with a parallel career in a completely different industry and a steady side hustle in writing that kept my dream alive just enough to keep me both hopeful and mildly delusional.
Like the clear we lay, this Gloss has coats. You've only just begun to scuff the surface!
Already a member? Log in and keep reading.
Not in yet? Become a free member of the Collision DisruptHERs Community to unlock the next coat of Glossed access: more story, more context, and the parts we don't leave sitting on the surface.
Want the full article, complete issues, Impact Report, archives, and subscriber-only extras? That's the Gritty.
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.
Welcome back, Collision DisruptHER!
Before the first weld is made, before the first panel is hung, before a vehicle ever rolls onto the shop floor, there is a blueprint. And that blueprint does more than outline what something will become; it determines how it will perform under pressure. It defines where strength is built, where support is needed and whether the structure can withstand what lies ahead.
For generations, collision repair has operated from a blueprint that wasn’t designed with every voice in mind. Yet despite that reality, women have always been here – leading teams, solving problems, building businesses, mentoring the next generation and helping move this industry forward.
The conversation is changing. We’re done asking for a seat at the table. Glossed & Gritty was developed to recognize the women who are already shaping the table, expanding it and redesigning it for those who will come after them.
Leadership doesn’t always come with a title. Sometimes, it looks like creating a culture where people feel valued. Sometimes, it means challenging outdated assumptions. And sometimes, it’s having the courage to build something different when the existing model no longer serves the industry’s future.
Throughout these pages, you’ll hear from leaders who are doing exactly that. They are proving that innovation isn’t limited to technology, processes or equipment – innovation also happens in the way we lead, develop talent and define success! Spoiler: They all agree that diversity in hiring practices is important, but no one (including us!) believes that anyone should be hired solely because they’re a woman; the goal is simply to find the best person for the job, regardless of gender.
We believe the future of collision repair will be built by people willing to think differently, lead boldly and leave the industry stronger than they found it. The women (and men) featured in this issue are doing exactly that… But this issue isn’t only about their stories; it’s also about yours!
Every leader started somewhere. They didn’t inherit a blueprint for the future – they created one by identifying what was missing, challenging what wasn’t working and taking responsibility for building something better.
Our challenge to you is simple: Don’t wait for someone else to draw the plans. Create the culture you wish existed. Mentor the technician who needs guidance. Speak up when a different perspective is needed. Build the team, the shop, the business or the career that reflects the future you want this industry to become.
Blueprints are not reserved for CEOs, owners or executives. Every decision you make leaves a mark on the structure we’re building together. The future of collision repair is not something we’re waiting to see; it’s something we’re creating, together.
So, pick up the pencil. Draw boldly. Build intentionally. The next blueprint starts with you.
Stay Glossed and Stay Gritty!
XOXO,
Chas & Janna
Color match problems and discrimination both have a way of exposing what shops overlook. In this issue of Pro Tips & Precision, women from across the collision industry share the details that can make or break a refinish job, from spray-out cards and spectro prep to lighting, reducer, and viewing angles. Then they get real about handling obvious discrimination, proving that technical skill, confidence, boundaries, and results all belong in the same toolbox.
Like the clear we lay, this Gloss has coats. You've only just begun to scuff the surface!
Already a member? Log in and keep reading.
Not in yet? Become a free member of the Collision DisruptHERs Community to unlock the next coat of Glossed access: more story, more context, and the parts we don't leave sitting on the surface.
Want the full article, complete issues, Impact Report, archives, and subscriber-only extras? That's the Gritty.
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.
Like the clear we lay, this Gloss has coats. You've only just begun to scuff the surface!
Already a member? Log in and keep reading.
Not in yet? Become a free member of the Collision DisruptHERs Community to unlock the next coat of Glossed access: more story, more context, and the parts we don't leave sitting on the surface.
Want the full article, complete issues, Impact Report, archives, and subscriber-only extras? That's the Gritty.
John Helterbrand:
Building Better Technicians – and a Better Industry
John Helterbrand’s influence in collision repair is not built on ego, noise, or performative leadership. It is built on mentorship, consistency, humility, and the belief that people grow best when someone is willing to actually invest in them. As National Program Director for the Collision Engineering Career Alliance, John has helped shape educational pathways, support instructors, strengthen industry partnerships, and create opportunities for future technicians entering a field that desperately needs them. This Anchor feature explores what allyship looks like when it moves beyond slogans and becomes daily action. John speaks openly about the importance of treating women as capable…
Like the clear we lay, this Gloss has coats. You've only just begun to scuff the surface!
Already a member? Log in and keep reading.
Not in yet? Become a free member of the Collision DisruptHERs Community to unlock the next coat of Glossed access: more story, more context, and the parts we don't leave sitting on the surface.
Want the full article, complete issues, Impact Report, archives, and subscriber-only extras? That's the 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.
Like the clear we lay, this Gloss has coats. You've only just begun to scuff the surface!
Already a member? Log in and keep reading.
Not in yet? Become a free member of the Collision DisruptHERs Community to unlock the next coat of Glossed access: more story, more context, and the parts we don't leave sitting on the surface.
Want the full article, complete issues, Impact Report, archives, and subscriber-only extras? That's the Gritty.
