Cover Story: What is a Collision DisruptHER?

by Chasidy Rae SiskCover Story, DisruptHER Articles, Magazine Staples, The Gritty Subscribers OnlyPosted 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 ContributorMagazine Staples, The Gritty Subscribers Only, 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.

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

by Chasidy Rae SiskDisruptHER Articles, Primed Feature, The Gritty Subscribers OnlyPosted 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!