The leader of the Collision Repair Education Foundation is resigning his position.
In press release issued July 17, CREF confirmed that Brandon Eckenrode has stepped down as executive director. The U.S. charitable foundation did not provide a reason for his departure or identify an interim leader.
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we thank Brandon for his contributions to the Foundation and his dedication to advancing collision repair education and workforce development,” said Brenda Hogen-Cowan, chair of CREF’s board of trustees. “We appreciate his service and wish him continued success in the future.”
Eckenrode joined the U.S. charitable foundation in 2009 and was promoted to executive director in June 2023. He previously served as associate director of development, director of development and managing director.
Hogen-Cowen added CREF’s board of trustees and executive committee are working with staff during the leadership transition.
“Our strategic priorities have not changed, and the work of the Foundation continues uninterrupted,” she said.
According to Hogen-Cowan, CREF programs, fundraising and events will continue as planned. The foundation will provide further information about the leadership transition when it becomes available.
CREF supports high school and college collision repair programs through scholarships, grants, equipment donations, career fairs and other workforce-development programs.
No reason for the departure was addressed in the press release, which did not contain a quote from Eckenrode.
Neither Hogen nor Eckenrode responded to requests for comment from Collision Repair.
In a separate note to CREF supporters, Hogen wrote:
"We are grateful for Brandon's contributions to the Foundation and his dedication to supporting collision repair education and workforce development. We thank him for his service and wish him all the best in his future endeavors."
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"We are confident in the future of the foundation and deeply appreciative of the support and engagement of our entire community."
