WIN Awards 39 North American Collision Repair Students Scholarships and Shop Tool Sets
More than $50,000 in scholarship funding and full tool kits were awarded to 39 new recipients for the 2026 WIN Student Scholarship Awards recently announced by The Women’s Industry Network (WIN). The winners were chosen from over 100 submitted student applications, where the selected recipients will receive extensive tool kits and/or scholarship funds.
Three levels of scholarships (Champions, Trailblazers and Legends) are presented annually to deserving students enrolled in post-secondary collision repair technology programs. Plus, a new level, the ‘Northern Star’ for Canadian recipients, was also awarded.
CREF (Collision Repair Education Foundation) again partnered with WIN this year to expand its reach to those looking for a career in collision repair.
All award recipients and applicants will be eligible to partake in WIN’s mentoring program, where they participate in student engagement group calls and share best practices with collision industry professionals as well as their peers. These networking groups will support new female entrants to the collision repair field and hopefully create lifetime friendships that further WIN goals for longer term career advancement and retention.
View the full list of winners at WIN’s scholarship page.
Caliber Appoints Jason Monaco as Chief Financial Officer
The Caliber family of automotive repair and service brands, including Caliber Collision and Caliber Auto Glass, announced the appointment of Jason Monaco as chief financial officer (CFO), effective May 4. In this role, Monaco will oversee Caliber’s financial strategy and operations, supporting the company’s continued growth and strategic investment.
Monaco brings more than two decades of financial leadership experience across complex, high-scale organizations.
David Simmons, chief executive officer of Caliber, said, “Caliber has built a strong foundation and is well positioned for continued growth. Jason brings the financial leadership and global perspective to help us scale with discipline, invest strategically, and continue delivering value for our customers and partners. We’re excited to welcome him to the team as we build for the future.”
NABC Recycled Rides Presents Vehicles to Veterans, Mothers in Need
The National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides® program presented nine refurbished vehicles to recipients in Oklahoma, Arizona, and Colorado during the last week of April and first week of May.
On April 29, Army veteran James Haywood received a refurbished 2016 Chevrolet Malibu at Bill Knight Collision Repair in Tulsa, OK. The vehicle was donated by Farmers Insurance and refurbished by Bill Knight Collision, a member of the OpenRoad Collision network.
On May 5, four Tucson-area women received refurbished vehicles during the Women's Industry Network Conference at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort in Tucson, AZ:
- Gabriella Vasquez (2017 Toyota Camry, donated by Allstate, refurbished by Chapman Tucson Speedway)
- Violet Sallison (2016 Toyota Camry LE, donated by GEICO, refurbished by Caliber Collision)
- Adriana Smythe (2017 Kia Cadenza, donated by Allstate, refurbished by Fix Auto USA)
- Ana Easterbrooks, a veteran widow (2022 Dodge Charger SXT, donated by GEICO, refurbished by Gerber Collision & Glass).
Four Denver-area veterans received refurbished vehicles May 6 and 7 as part of the United Recyclers Group Training Conference in Denver:
- Tiffany Robinson (2016 Mazda CX-3, donated by GEICO, refurbished by CARSTAR Autosport Collision)
- Ben Maxie (2022 Volkswagen Tiguan, donated by Allstate, refurbished by Abra Auto Body) Matthew Elliott(2019 Toyota Camry, donated by GEICO, refurbished by Crash Champions)
- Loyd Anderson (2021 Ford Bronco, donated by GEICO, refurbished by Gerber Collision & Glass).
AASP/NJ Announces 19th Annual Lou Scoras Memorial Golf Outing
The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey announced its 19th Annual Lou Scoras Memorial Golf Outing, scheduled for Sept. 15 at Knob Hill Golf Club in Manalapan, NJ. The event begins with lunch at 11:30 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 1 p.m. and a dinner with cash bar at 6 p.m. A portion of proceeds benefits a collision industry scholarship fund. Registration is open.
Auto Care Association Launches Vehicle Service Experts Community
The Auto Care Association unveiled the Vehicle Service Experts community on May 6, replacing the former Car Care Professionals Network.
The rebranded community is designed to represent independent repair shop owners and is accompanied by the launch of the Vehicle Service Experts Resource Hub, a digital platform offering educational content, industry insights and peer-driven resources.
Feldman Automotive Acquires Firelands Auto Group
Michigan-based Feldman Automotive Group acquired Firelands Auto Group on May 5, adding four dealership locations in northern Ohio. The acquisition is Feldman's largest to date and adds Honda and Toyota to its brand portfolio for the first time.
The acquired locations, Firelands Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Firelands Toyota and Firelands Honda in Sandusky, and Firelands Chevrolet in Vermilion, will retain the Firelands name and current staff.
Feldman now owns and operates 25 car and RV/Airstream dealerships across Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.
BYK-Gardner USA Introduces auto-match Color Matching System
BYK-Gardner USA has introduced the auto-match system, a color matching and data analysis platform designed for retail paint environments. The system includes two instruments: the match2go, a portable device that enables direct color measurement at the point of use, and the auto-match 5, a compact benchtop instrument designed for paint counters.
Both instruments use BYK LED technology and are paired with color formulation software that generates formulas within seconds. Additional features include custom color matching, competitive fan deck lookup, correction tools, and cloud-based updates. The software can integrate with retail management systems to track performance indicators including sales, uptime and color usage.
Axalta Introduces Spies Hecker Speed-TEC Fast Cure System in the U.S.
Axalta has launched the Spies Hecker Speed-TEC Fast Cure Low Energy Repair System in the United States. The system, built on patented Fast Cure Low Energy technology, uses a combination of temperature and ambient humidity to accelerate drying. It includes HS Speed Surfacer 5560 and HS Speed Clearcoat 8820, and is designed to reduce energy consumption by up to 49% and cut cycle times by as much as 50% compared to conventional systems.
When combined with Spies Hecker Hi-TEC single-visit application basecoat, Axalta says a complete refinish process can be completed in as little as 30 minutes. The system was previously available in Europe.
Hunter Engineering Releases Semi-Annual WinAlign Database Update
Hunter Engineering has released its semi-annual WinAlign vehicle information database update, effective May 4. The update includes 536 new records – among them the 2026 Ford Mustang, 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA and 2027 Kia Telluride – and 2,338 OEM updates to existing records.
The release also includes updates to ADAS calibration procedures, TPMS specifications and reset procedures, VIN recall support, and adjustment assistance. The next update is scheduled for November.
