Pro-Tips & Precision

by Chasidy Rae SiskACCESS-Archive, ACCESS-Subscriber, Archive, Archived Issue Articles, Issue - Spring 2026, Pro-Tips & PrecisionPosted on No Comments

Welcome to “Pro Tips & Precision,” a space where the technical meets the tactical. At Glossed & Gritty, we know that — while we all share the same dust and drive — no two technicians approach a quarter-panel or a career hurdle in quite the same way. This magazine is built on the foundation of community and mentorship, and this column is designed to bring a wide spectrum of expert voices directly to your workbench. By offering a variety of perspectives, our goal is to provide the kind of guidance that actually resonates with your specific workflow and style.

Whether you’re troubleshooting a stubborn ADAS calibration, navigating shop culture or looking for the best way to lean into a new repair methodology, we’re here to bridge the gap between the problem and the pro. This is your industry-specific Q&A, featuring insights from leaders across the collision repair world. From high-level technical breakdowns to the grit of day-to-day shop life, no question is too small or too complex.

Gear & Glam: Beyond the Clearcoat: Heavy-Duty Pants for Heavy-Duty Repairs

by Jannifer Stimmel-WatkinsACCESS-Archive, ACCESS-Subscriber, Archive, Archived Issue Articles, Gear & Glam, Issue - Spring 2026Posted on No Comments

In the collision industry, “Gloss” is the finished product, but the “Grit” is the repair. As technicians, our bodies are our most valuable tools. We spend our days contorting into trunk cavities, bracing against frame pulls and navigating a minefield of jagged metal and hot sparks.

     If you’ve followed my column “Frame of Mind” or have seen my TikTok intro, you know my neurodivergence is part of my toolkit — but it comes with a catch. I was one of the “not-so-lucky” winners of the sensory sensitivity drawing. For someone like me, who often feels like every fiber of a garment is a restrictive harness, an article of clothing has to be more than just “tough;” it has to pass a rigorous set of qualifications just to prevent me from shredding it by the end of the day.

     I have gathered a list of three specific pairs of pants on a budget tier from affordable to “you get what you pay for.” We all know that when we started out, flagging hours was never a guarantee — and when we did, it was at a reduced rate while apprenticing. But just like our tools, we eventually realize we must spend money to make money. That rule applies to our dresser drawers just as much as the drawers in our toolboxes.

     I’ll admit my bias up front: I am a frugal little beaver, always stashing and building my dam, so I usually reside at the lower end of the budget regardless of the bank account; however, I know many choose to elevate the ensemble for reliability and durability. While I am a Dickies girl through and through, I polled a group of trusted technicians to see what else stood up to the grind.

Cover Story: What is a Collision DisruptHER?

by Chasidy Rae SiskACCESS-Archive, ACCESS-Subscriber, Archive, Archived Issue Articles, Cover Feature, Issue - Spring 2026Posted on No Comments

Less than 5%.
          That’s the percentage of women working in body shops in the United States, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — as of 2024, women made up just 4.9% of that workforce. Let that sink in.
Some broader data suggests women may represent closer to 18% of total career opportunities across the collision ecosystem, but when it comes to the shop floor? The spray booth? The frame rack? The structural pulls and weld tests and post-repair scans? We’re still hovering under 5%.
          And yet, that number is increasing. Slowly. Steadily. Undeniably. In fact, that figure is more than double what it was a decade ago.  
          There’s no question that women belong in collision repair. The real question is: What happens when they stop shrinking, stop blending in, stop apologizing — and start disrupting the status quo?!

          That’s where the Collision DisruptHER comes in!
          So, what IS a Collision DisruptHER? She is someone who changes the face of collision repair simply by being exactly who she is.

Undiminished Value: Women, Wealth and the Power of Financial Literacy By: Rachel James

by Guest ContributorACCESS-Archive, ACCESS-Subscriber, Archive, Archived Issue Articles, Issue - Spring 2026, Undiminished ValuePosted on No Comments

For decades, women were quietly excluded from meaningful financial decision-making — not because we lacked the ability, but because the system wasn’t built with us in mind. Bank accounts required a husband’s signature. Financial conversations happened behind closed doors. Money was something women were expected to manage day-to-day, but not strategically.
That era is over.
Today, women control a growing share of wealth, influencing the majority of household financial decisions, and they are stepping into leadership roles across business and finance. Yet, despite this progress, many women still feel under-educated, under-confident or under-supported when it comes to money. Financial literacy isn’t just about numbers — it’s about power, autonomy and advocacy.

Anchor-Mike Anderson: Stability for the Pull, Space for the Future

by Chasidy Rae SiskACCESS-Archive, ACCESS-Subscriber, Anchor Feature, Archive, Archived Issue Articles, Featured DisruptHER Stories-Magazine, Issue - Spring 2026Posted on No Comments

Mike Anderson has spent decades teaching, challenging, and energizing the collision repair industry, but this feature looks beyond the microphone, the stage, and the reputation. In Glossed & Gritty’s inaugural Anchor feature, Mike is recognized for something deeper than industry fame: his willingness to stand firm, hold the line, and use his platform to make room for women in collision repair.
This article explores how Mike’s approach to hiring was never about tokenism or checking a diversity box. It was about finding the best people for the job, and again and again, he found that women brought the detail, discipline, communication, procedure-following, and quality-focused mindset that made shops stronger. He speaks openly about the powerful women who shaped him, the female leaders inside Collision Advice who helped build his legacy, and the moments when he chose principle over profit by shutting down disrespect toward his team.
But this piece is not just about Mike. It is about what real allyship should look like in this industry. An Anchor does not speak over women, rescue them, or make himself the hero of their story. An Anchor provides stability so women can apply force, reshape the structure, and lead. Mike Anderson shows what happens when support is not performative, but structural.

DisruptHER Dynasty-Kristen Felder: The Take-No-Shit & Offer No Apologies DisruptHER

by Chasidy Rae SiskACCESS-Archive, ACCESS-Subscriber, Archive, Archived Issue Articles, Dynasty DisruptHER, Featured DisruptHER Stories-Magazine, Issue - Spring 2026Posted on No Comments

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 about her love of fighting for what she believes is right, the mentors who helped her channel that fire, and the confidence that comes from knowing you can figure things out even when everything gets messy.
This is not a soft-focus profile of a woman who politely waited her turn. Kristen is rude by her own description, tenacious by nature, and effective by proof. Her story is about disruption, resilience, controversy, consumer advocacy, women in leadership, and what it means to earn the right to challenge an industry that desperately needs to be challenged.

Polished DisruptHER-Cassandra Thibeault: Promoting Positivity and Cultivating a Community for Bodywomen

by Chasidy Rae SiskACCESS-Archive, ACCESS-Subscriber, Archive, Archived Issue Articles, Featured DisruptHER Stories-Magazine, Issue - Spring 2026, Polished DisruptHERPosted on No Comments

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 collision repair, and eventually built a career around structure, safety, creativity, and community.
In this Polished DisruptHER feature, Cassandra talks about becoming a collision technician, finding her love for structural repairs, and taking the responsibility of safe repairs seriously because real lives are riding on the work. She also opens up about Bodywomen, the online community she created to celebrate women in the trade, give them a place to show their work, and remind shop owners that women are not a novelty in this industry. They are capable, skilled, visible, and already doing the damn thing.
Her story also goes deeper than the bay. Cassandra shares how she overcame addiction, abuse, trauma, grief, and untreated bipolar disorder, and how those experiences shaped the woman she is today. This article is about more than one technician’s career. It is about representation, boundaries, shop culture, mentorship, second chances, and what happens when a woman stops trying to fit the mold and starts building something stronger in its place.

Issue 1 – Spring 2026 Flipbook

by Chasidy Rae SiskACCESS-Archive, ACCESS-Subscriber, Archive, Archived Issue Articles, Flipbook, Issue - Spring 2026Posted on No Comments

Glossed & Gritty is more than a magazine – but it IS a magazine too!

Curious what the Revolution is all about? Check out the cover story, “What Is a Collision DisruptHER?” and get to know the co-founders, Chas and Janna, through their Editors’ Messages.

Issue 1 also features three Collision DisruptHER profiles: Gabriella Held (Primed), Cassandra Thibeault (Polished) and Kristen Felder (DisruptHER Dynasty) as well as an interview with our first Anchor, Mike Anderson.

But that’s not all – you won’t want to miss the features on heavy-duty pants for the shop, how VOCs impact women differently or a special contribution on “Women, Wealth and the Power of Financial Literacy” by Rae James of Torque Financial…and more!

Primed DisruptHER Gabby Held: Wallys and Welds: 15-Year-Old Gabriella Held is Built for Speed

by Chasidy Rae SiskACCESS-Archive, ACCESS-Subscriber, Archive, Archived Issue Articles, Featured DisruptHER Stories-Magazine, Issue - Spring 2026, Primed DisruptHERPosted on No Comments

At just 15 years old, Gabriella Held is still too young to hold a driver’s license, but that hasn’t stopped her from steering her future forward!
For nearly three years, Gabby has spent a significant portion of her free time in the body shop, learning to weld, paint and repair vehicles through Trade Up Level Up, a non-profit organization focused on connecting today’s youth with the trades.
Gabby was only 13 years old when she first began her collision journey, learning to weld and mastering the delicate balance between technical precision and creative artistry.
While most teens are just beginning to think about their first car, Gabby is already tearing up the track in hers. As a decorated Junior Dragster driver in NHRA’s Division 1, she spent the 2025 season collecting trophies – including a coveted “Wally” – and earning the title of Junior Dragster Driver of the Year. Whether she is wielding a welder in the shop, spraying in the paint booth or hitting top speeds on the drag strip, Gabby is proving that she has the drive to succeed in any lane she chooses.
Let’s get to know this impressive young lady a little bit better!