Building Better Careers: Growing the Next Generation of Technicians

Welcome back to The Collision Vision, driven by Autobody News. I'm your host, Cole Strandberg. On a recent episode of the podcast, I sat down with Juan Carlos Gasga Perez, owner of Premier Auto Body and the technician and educator behind Auto Body Strong. We talked about his journey, the evolution of the modern collision technician, and the role that better training, better tools, and better processes play in performing increasingly complex repairs the right way. But there was another part of that conversation that really stood out: the way Juan is helping make the craft of collision repair visible. The response to our content with Juan was incredible, and it raises a bigger question for an industry that spends a lot of time talking about the technician shortage: Are we doing enough to make collision repair a career people actually aspire to? Joining me today to dig into that are Erin Solis and Sheryl Driggers. We'll talk about what stood out from the Juan conversation, how technicians are learning today, and what shops can do to create better pathways for their people to grow. We'll also get into recruiting, retention, mentorship, social media, and how we can do a better job celebrating the skill and craftsmanship that already exists throughout this industry. Because maybe solving the technician shortage isn't only about finding more people. Maybe it starts with building careers people don't want to leave — and showing the next generation why they should want to be here in the first place. Let's get into it. Connect with Erin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-killcoyne-solis-534470105 https://squareonesystems.com/ Connect with Sheryl: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryldriggers/