What began as a journey toward a first job ended up being a career destination for five women currently working in the collision repair industry. And hands down, they say there’s nowhere else they would rather be.
Read on to learn firsthand how the industry is embracing their expertise in positions of every make and model.
Veering On-course
Gracie Sims graduated high school in May 2023 in her hometown of Bristol, Tennessee. She was drawn to the automotive world through high school courses she took – learning to fix a dent and weld, then non-structural, refinishing, and estimating -- and she had an open mind.
“I actually had done a summer internship [at local Wallace Collision Center] in my junior year, which was great,” Sims says. “I fell in love with painting [there]. And I went back to school and worked on the skillset.”
In her senior year, she got a text. “My boss from the internship asked if I’d come in and talk about my future with Wallace. So I went back there a week after I graduated, and I’ve been painting ever since. I absolutely love it and see it as my career for the rest of my life.”
Like Sims, a number of women in collision repair – including veterans who’ve been in the industry for years -- say they found their careers somewhat by accident.
For Pam Watson, Florida-based area sales manager with LKQ Refinish, she answered an ad in the newspaper coming straight out of high school.
“I stumbled into a delivery driver position with a paint company, and I was lucky enough to have an excellent mentor who encouraged me to take on new challenges every day. And I grew from there,” Watson says. “I’ve been involved with I-CAR as a volunteer my entire career and as a chairperson of a committee since 2018. I’m proud of the work we do to support schools that offer collision repair programs.”
Michelle Sullivan is the CEO of Certified Collision Group, a rapidly growing network of OEM-certified, independently owned and operated collision repair centers.
Sullivan shares, “My background is in organizational behavior, and I was a corporate trainer at VISA after college. I loved working with people and training, but I answered an employment ad in 1994 [for an automotive paint distributor in Baltimore].”
She initially ran the distributor’s HR department and eventually moved into marketing, operations, and sales. “The more I interacted with people – technicians, painters, owners, vendors – the more I knew this is a really great industry,” she adds.
People in the industry eagerly encouraged Sullivan’s aspirations, she found. “Customers and vendors were excited that I was an outsider coming into this industry that wanted to learn. They took me under their wing … I’d ask tons of questions and I had a lot of great mentors … I owe a lot to these people and I don’t forget where I came from.”
Another industry veteran who can’t imagine herself in any other field is Lori Barrington, vice president of delivery and facility and equipment programming at the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair the (I-CAR) and based in Appleton, Wisconsin.
“It was luck of the draw that I got started in the collision repair industry,” Barrington states. After completing an associate's degree, she answered an ad in the newspaper for I-CAR’s technical center, and this move has grown into a three decades-plus career with the organization.
“I was hired as an administrative assistant and I knew nothing about collision repair,” she says. “It’s a wholesome industry with good people, engaging people. And it’s rewarding because our training addresses the importance of repairing vehicles correctly.”
In May 2025, Barrington will celebrate 37 years with I-CAR. “I’m blessed and fortunate to have been along for the ride,” she notes.
I-CAR is apparently blessed, too. According to the organization’s website, Barrington has either led or played a key role in nearly every major initiative connected with I-CAR’s 30,000-square-foot tech center training hub.
Paige Wogahn is an application engineer at 3M Automotive’s Aftermarket Division in St. Paul, Minnesota. Her job in the lab and in the field is aimed at providing the products and resources collision techs need to be successful in their jobs.
Like the four aforementioned women, Wogahn originally had no idea her path would lead to collision repair. During college, a three-month summer internship at 3M led the materials engineering major into a full-time career in the collision repair industry.
“I immediately fell in love with the industry,” Wogahn reports. “I’m learning a lot about how much product development relates to the customer, and how much communication needs to happen between the tech team and the customer to create a viable product for the industry,” she says of her work developing compounds and finishing products.
To get to know customers firsthand, Wogahn gets out of the office often to visit shops, attend trade shows, and travel on business trips domestically and sometimes overseas. And she notes, “I loved being able to see the final product in use, talk to the users, and relate that to a real-life experience.”
Talent and Confidence Take the Wheel
Even though the collision repair industry is historically a male-dominated field, that hasn’t held back these five women. In fact, they report that the collision repair industry is accepting of anyone who’s committed to learning and growing. But they must step forward and take the initiative.
“Women in this industry, don’t be afraid to take up space,” Wogahn advises from her engineering perspective. “There’s a lot of men in this field who think they can do it better than you, but you need to show them. Take the reins and take initiative.”
Wogahn says a number of her co-workers at 3M are women – in all areas, including marketing, engineering, and management. The trades and shops, she finds, are more male-dominated.
“But I see more women there than I expected to see,” she adds.
Whether in corporate roles or at a shop, Wogahn says the keys to success apply universally. “Be confident. Try everything. Keep your expectations open and be open to change. Don’t be afraid to fail,” she says. “Coming out of school, I didn’t think I’d love this, and I do.”
Drawing from her paint distribution background and long history volunteering with I-CAR, Watson says, “Back in the day, the collision repair center was primarily focused on fixing cars. While repairing cars remains a core aspect, the industry has evolved significantly with advancements in technology and the complexities of vehicle and insurance claim processes. This evolution has opened numerous opportunities for women in management, accounting, production, estimating, customer service, [as] technicians, and many other areas, making the collision repair industry a diverse and dynamic field for career growth.”
Observing over years of leadership experience in the industry, Sullivan says, “For people who stay curious, opportunities open up. Don’t sit back and wait for an opportunity, advocate for yourself. Raise your hand. Make sure the people with influence know you want to learn more.”
“Be confident – and aggressive, professionally,” Barrington says she has learned over her three-plus decades at I-CAR. “If there’s something you want to do, go do it. Figure it out. In any part of the industry, women bring an interesting aspect, and it’s easier to start in this industry than ever before.”
For Sims, new to the scene as a painter, she shares this advice for any woman thinking of making a career in a collision repair shop: “Just do it. There’s nothing stopping you other than yourself. It was scary for me in high school to take these classes, and the boys were immature. But in this industry [professionally], with my boss, he’s very good if you’re going to come in, do your best, and get the job done.”
Then, she adds, “Take a leap of faith. Don’t think there will be a problem with a woman working in a body shop. I came in, showed my resume, and I was in and working.”
Seeking out Fellow Travelers
Each of the five women are quick to note that they didn’t find success in the collision repair industry on their own. They have accepted the aid and advice of mentors and have reached out their hand to help others along the journey.
Sullivan says the biggest thing that changed the trajectory of her career was being involved with industry organizations. “Build your network,” she advises. “Find your people. For me, it came through industry involvement. At the end of the day, if you’re challenged with something, you’ll have this army of people to share their experiences or just be a sounding board.”
When Sullivan worked for AkzoNobel, a manufacturer of paints and performance coatings, she paid it forward by helping to start a women’s group there and chairing its North American chapter. “I’ve spent the second half of my career in this industry championing others,” she notes.
“I feel that success has little to do with gender but more with common attributes that lead to success – curiosity, drive, and passion,” Sullivan adds.
Barrington at I-CAR was recently recognized for her leadership and mentorship by the Women’s Industry Network (WIN), a nonprofit that supports women in the collision repair industry. Of her industry involvement, she says, “We have to make sure we have open arms and are reaching out. When I started out, I had no female co-workers at my location for the first five years. Now, it’s good to see women in a variety of roles, whether it’s in the trenches on the shop floor or in leadership positions.”
Watson is also a proponent of WIN. “I am honored to be part of a committee dedicated to providing scholarships for young women, helping them to enter and thrive in the industry,” she notes.
The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) is another organization Watson devotes her time toward, organizing fundraisers and career fairs to connect shops with students.
Watson’s daughter, Taylor Cutshaw, has followed in her footsteps into the industry, taking I-CAR courses in production management and estimating. She works as an administrative coordinator in a collision repair center.
“In just two short years, she has gained knowledge and experience she can take into her future career, whether in the collision repair industry or any other,” Watson adds.
Although young in her career, Sims is striving to help others thrive in the art of painting. “I go back and visit my high school sometimes and help them with things,” she notes. “I had a friend there competing in SkillsUSA. We spray with water-based paint, and I went and helped him with that.”
In the meantime, Sims is busy taking courses and obtaining certifications that expand her personal expertise.
“With Tesla or any manufacturer, you have to have so many painters who are certified within the shop,” Sims explains. “I’m PPG-certified and Rivian-certified, too.”
As time rolls along, the collision repair industry has proven its openness to learning and growing alongside women. And it is recognizing women for their contributions. Watson and Barrington provide two examples of many.
The Collision Repair Education Foundation, which offers scholarships and grants to collision repair schools and students across the United States, awarded Watson its “Fueling the Future” award for helping shape the future of collision repair.Meanwhile, WIN named I-CAR’s Barrington among its 2024 Most Influential Women (MIW) Award recipients, an honor that recognizes career excellence, community commitment, and a demonstrated willingness to mentor other women.
