I-CAR expands on organizational duties

Editor's note: I-CAR and the I-CAR Education Foundation – basically, they’re the same organization, right? Wrong. They describe themselves as “two organizations working together to ensure the collision inter-industry has a well-educated workforce today and into the future.”

Because of some confusion surrounding the duties of these organizations, they’ve supplied the following article to outline what each does and how each contributes to the collision repair industry.

Some history 

In November 2007, I-CAR and the I-CAR Education Foundation transitioned pre-employment school and instructor support activities from the Education Foundation to the I-CAR organization. This change raised several questions for I-CAR and the Education Foundation’s stake holders in the collision inter-industry.

A key piece of this transition was the transfer of pre-employment curriculum development and sales from the Education Foundation to I-CAR. The transition of curriculum development, marketing, sales and support to I-CAR was made based upon the recommendations of a Task Force comprised of Board Members from both organizations that convened July 2007. These changes, which were approved by both Boards, were designed to increase the efficiency of both organizations and improve the organizational focus, to increase the effectiveness of both organizations’ support to the collision inter-industry.

In addition, during 2008, both I-CAR and the I-CAR Education Foundation secured new staff leadership with the skills necessary to execute the revised missions of both organizations.

I-CAR
Developing, delivering and tracking collision inter-industry training

I-CAR was founded in 1979 by the collision inter-industry as a non-for-profit training organization to delivery continuing education and training to the industry’s existing workforce to achieve a complete and safe repair.

I-CAR creates value for its customers by providing quality training products and related services that are timely, relevant and that are designed to meet their needs.

The I-CAR mission is to be the leader in research, development and delivery of quality, convenient, cost-effective educational programs for the collision industry.  We will fulfill our mission by:
•            Raising the level of knowledge and skills required of individuals involved in the repair process.
•            Preparing individuals for career opportunities and advancement.
•            Administering programs to recognize professional achievement.
•            Improving communication and promoting the value of education throughout the collision repair, insurance, and related industries.
•            Creating public awareness of a complete and safe repair.

I-CAR was created by the inter-industry and the training it delivers is supported by a large network of volunteers and program instructors. “The local network of committees, volunteers and program instructors is at the heart of I-CAR training,” said John Edelen, President and CEO of I-CAR. “At the end of the day, it is our volunteers and program instructors who provide a valuable training experience to the inter-industry.”

I-CAR Education Foundation
Supporting the collision inter-industry by enriching opportunities for students in collision education

The I-CAR Education Foundation was created in 1991 to improve the collision inter-industry’s pre-employment education system and eliminate a growing shortage of entry-level employees.  The Education Foundation’s grant programs are funded through the charitable support of businesses and organizations within the collision inter-industry.

The I-CAR Education Foundation mission is to secure donations that support philanthropic and collision repair education activities that promote and enhance career opportunities in the industry.

The I-CAR Education creates value for its donors by providing the inter-industry with administrative support of grant and scholarship programs to support:

• Curriculum Grants for career and technical schools and colleges.
• Instructor Support Grants to provide training for pre-employment educators.
• Scholarship Grants to directly invest donor funds in the education of the future workforce.
• Tool and Equipment Grants to assure students and schools have the necessary tools and equipment to properly teach the skills of today’s collision inter-industry.
• In-Kind Gift support to get schools and students needed tools, equipment, materials, parts and supplies.
• Activity Grants to support student participation in competitions and attendance at industry events.

“The collision industry hires over 20,000 entry-level technicians every year, yet this number isn't enough to keep up with current worker attrition and future needs,”  said Scott Kruger, Executive Director of the I-CAR Education Foundation. “Furthermore, of these new hires, only half receive any formal collision education and training prior to entering the work force.”

The I-CAR Education Foundation's goals are meant to address the future worker needs of the collision industry in a way that not only helps provide the necessary number of entry-level technicians, but also provides education support that will increase the levels of efficiency, dedication, and productivity in these future collision repair facility employees.

“The money the Education Foundation raises from within and outside the collision repair industry will fund programs that will recruit the next generation of workers into a highly technical, challenging and rewarding career,” continues Kruger. “Donations to the Education Foundation directly support schools, students, and instructors with the financial support needed to receive the best collision trainingand foster an educational system that will ultimately lead to increased profitability within collision repair facilities.”

How have I-CAR and the I-CAR Education Foundation changed?

During 2008, I-CAR:

• Integrated Career & Technical School and College Curriculum Sales and Support formerly handled by the I-CAR Education Foundation.

• Initiated a Customer Outreach program including the launch of Industry Segment Advisory Councils (ISACs) that provide the means for customer driven products and services development and delivery. As part of this effort, I-CAR has linked market research throughout product design, development and delivery to improve the timeliness and relevance of its product and service offerings.

• Launched a comprehensive Service and Product Review based upon the early feedback of the ISACs and other key customers, I-CAR launched a product and service review of its existing training products, services and delivery methods. This work has led the I-CAR management team to propose a redesigned model for developing, delivering and tracking the inter-industry’s training needs. This work is currently being communicated to the ISACs, industry associations, volunteers and key customers.

• Reorganized operations to improve staffing and performance in customer-facing areas, and to manage the overall expense run-rate to align with revenue expectations.

During 2008, the I-CAR Education Foundation:

• Delivered over $100,000 of curriculum and scholarship grants to support the inter-industry’s pre-employment education system and future workforce.

• Developed a comprehensive Case Statement to gain the support of donors and set an annual goal of $2 million in support of the Collision Repair Education Campaign.

• Hired a new Executive Director and professional fundraising and grant programming staff to fulfill their new mission.

Where are the two organizations going and how will they continue to support the collision inter-industry?

I-CAR and the I-CAR Education Foundation, though two separate organizations governed by separate and independent inter-industry boards, share both the I-CAR brand and a common vision that every person in the collision industry, current and future, has the necessary knowledge and skills relevant to their position to achieve a complete and safe repair.

The continued success of both organizations depends upon the support of the inter-industry in the value each organization provides and the synergies that result through the shared vision supported by separate missions and focus.

I-CAR will continue to develop, deliver and track training in support of the inter-industry’s needs as expressed through the work of the ISACs, its Board and the on-going efforts of its dedicated volunteers, instructors and staff.

I-CAR will quantify and communicate the value of the inter-industry’s training investment and the benefits of the Gold Class designation to differentiate performance.

I-CAR will continue to prove its efficiency and the value of the training it provides, executing the work embodied in the Service and Product Review and industry feedback that provides the training the inter-industry needs and wants, when and where they want.

The I-CAR Education Foundation will solicit support from all segments of the inter-industry for its philanthropic activities that improve the inter-industry’s pre-employment education system and future workforce.

The Education Foundation will award grants, providing curriculum to schools, training for instructors, scholarships and other support to students.  The I-CAR Education Foundation will also promote the collision industry as an excellent career in one of the last real trades in the world.