PAUL CARROBOURG

Paul Carrobourg’s career in collision repair began accidentally when he was first introduced to the industry at his after-school job at a collision repair centre in rural Saskatchewan. He chose to enter the collision repair apprenticeship program instead of attending university, and this sparked an appreciation for the craft and awareness of the opportunities that lay ahead.

Paul was nominated for 30 Under 40 by his colleague, Gino Gauthier, the national manager of Sales and Distribution at PPG Canada. “Paul has excellent people skills and is a team player,” said Gino. “He has a holistic approach to business decisions and adapts quickly to a rapidly changing business environment.”

Paul began his career as a collision repair technician, and he has held many roles along the way. He earned his Red Seal in Collision Repair & Refinish in 2013, followed by Blue Seal Journeyperson status in 2016. He joined PPG as a territory manager for Saskatchewan in 2018, then took on the British Columbia territory the following year. Today, he is PPG’s regional manager for Western Canada. “Over time, my motivation has evolved with various progressions, from simply gaining employment, a commitment to mastering the craft and now contributing to the industry and the market I serve,” Paul said.

Gino credits Paul’s broad knowledge of the automotive industry to the various positions Paul has held, taking on increased scope and responsibilities with each one. For Paul, achieving Blue Seal journeyperson status was a career moment he’s particularly proud of. “This accomplishment not only recognized the technical expertise but encouraged me to pursue further education in business-related post-secondary studies, complementing my collision repair skills,” Paul said. “Beyond personal achievements, as a leader, some of the most rewarding moments come from seeing the individuals that one manages and mentors succeed and advance in their own careers.”

Paul sees workforce capacity as one of the industry’s biggest hurdles, a challenge that he addresses by leveraging the products, systems and tools that PPG has pioneered. Such examples include “supporting technicians with tools such as PPG’s VisualizID digital colour matching technology or leveraging the PPG Moonwalk as a digital twin to support mixing paint,” he said.

For Paul, growth means maintaining a curious and open mindset. “I believe it’s important to engage not only with content and professionals within the collision repair industry but also to draw insights from diverse fields of business and life,” he elaborated. “Since disruption is a constant factor, understanding what is behind the change—not just isolated events—is key to effectively anticipating and adapting to industry developments.”

Looking ahead, Paul is focused on ongoing digital transformation and automation across all areas of business. “My mission is to play an active role in shaping this future by leveraging the resources and strategies I have developed as both a technician and a business leader to support effective change management,” said Paul. “I am committed to driving forward-looking initiatives and implementing innovative solutions that set us apart and address challenges others may not yet be tackling.”

“Paul has excellent people skills and is a team player. He has a holistic approach to business decisions and adapts quickly to a rapidly changing business environment.” - NOMINATED BY GINO GAUTHIER, COLLEAGUE