Automotive Education Updates

The Sherwin-Williams team worked to design and layout the program’s spray booth, mix room and prep stations, and are supporting the curriculum’s launch by outfitting the facility with Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes industry-leading waterborne basecoat system, Ultra 9K™ and FASTLINE® collision repair products.

Collin College’s Technical Campus consists of a three-story, 340,000-square foot complex offering up to 7,100 traditional, dual credit and continuing education students pursuing high-wage, high-demand careers in construction, health care, information technology, manufacturing and now automotive.

Designed with workforce education as its core function, Collin College features classroom and lab space dedicated to training students in the latest techniques with the newest industry-standard technology.

For the college’s new Automotive Technology program, Business Services Marketing Manager Judy Folk, National Account Manager Harvey Kulkin and Capital Equipment Sales Manager Tim Schmidt from Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes consulted early in the construction phase on the design of the various spaces required for student hands-on education and experience training.

The Sherwin-Williams team provided specifications on the design and layout of the program’s spray booth, mix room and prep station and they facilitated the supply of automotive paint and collision repair products through the local Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes sales team and branch location.

The Automotive Technology program is designed to prepare students for high-skill, high-demand positions in the automotive industry. Students who complete the program will have the opportunity to gain employment in dealerships, large tire, lube and repair chains, as well as independent shops.

https://www.autobodynews.com/index.php/southwestern/item/20909-sherwin-williams-automotive-finishes-collaborates-with-collin-college-on-new-automotive-technogoly-program.html

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TSTC Auto Collision Program in Waco, TX, Provides Women with Skills for the Workforce

…in our industry, details play a huge role. Auto collision requires such specifics, whether it be finding the smallest scratch, choosing the correct tint for paint matching, finding hidden damage, identifying flaws in welds—you name it and it applies to some aspect of this industry.”

Stimmel did not have Rios in classes, but did teach Emma Espinoza, who is scheduled to graduate from the program in December.

“She (Emma) was the top performer in her class, along with another female student that was there at the time,” Stimmel said.

Espinoza grew up in Leander and now lives in Liberty Hill. She is a candidate for graduation at TSTC for an associate of applied science degree in auto collision and management technology—refinishing specialization.

Espinoza took automotive tech classes for three years but wanted to do something using her creative side.

“I had no clue about what I wanted to do,” she said.

She was invited to tour TSTC by her boyfriend, Burke Anderson, who is in TSTC’s automotive technology—Toyota T-Ten specialization program. Once she visited the auto collision and management technology program, she knew what she wanted to do.

“It’s been pretty fun,” Espinoza said. “I stayed quiet at first, but you get used to being around guys.”

Espinoza said she has enjoyed learning about airbrushing and working with vehicle panels. After graduation, Espinoza wants to work in custom repair in the Austin area.

Jobs for automotive body and related repairers are projected to be at 159,000 in 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Workers will be needed to fill positions as people retire or transition into other occupations, according to the agency.

In Texas, there were 11,000 automotive body and related repairers earning an annual mean wage of $45,720 in May 2019, according to the labor statistics agency.

Registration continues for the spring semester. For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu.

Source: Texas State Technical College

TSTC Auto Collision Program in Waco, TX, Provides Women with Skills for the Workforce – Results from #1 (autobodynews.com)

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