More than 600 team members with Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes assembled more than 700 shop supply kits for vocational students during the company’s recent National Sales Meeting, in a teambuilding effort designed to support the next generation of collision repair professionals.
Each kit included more than a dozen practical shop items such as personal protective equipment, tools and a coupon for future equipment or repair needs at any Sherwin-Williams Automotive branch. The supplies were provided in part by vendor partners including 3M, SAS Safety, Motor Guard and FASTLINE.
“This kind of industry-driven team building boosts employee engagement and collaboration while enhancing communication among our own teams,” said T. J. Amabile, vice-president of sales with Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes. “Not to mention, it provides a significant sense of pride and personal achievement in knowing we’re helping the industry’s future talent, today. All these shop supply kits are destined for vocational schools to provide essential tools and supplies to students, helping bridge the gap between education and real professional practice.”
To identify recipient programs and coordinate shipping and distribution, Sherwin-Williams worked with the Collision Repair Education Foundation.
“Our hats off to the professionals at CREF, who helped identify a vocational school in each of the regions that make up our North American sales force,” said Scott Walton, marketing director, associated products, Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes.
Selected automotive and collision repair vocational schools receiving close to 100 kits apiece include Ohio Technical College in Cleveland, Medina County Career Center in Medina, Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Nashville, Ivy Tech Community College in Fort Wayne, New York Automotive & Diesel Institute in Jamaica, Ogden High School in Ogden, Fayetteville Technical Community College in Fayetteville and El Camino College in Torrance.
“Supporting the next generation of collision repair professionals is one of the most meaningful investments we can make as an industry,” Walton said. “By assembling and delivering 700 plus shop supply kits to vocational programs across the country, our team -- and our incredibly generous vendor partners -- are helping students start their careers with the tools and supplies they need to succeed. We are deeply grateful to each supplier who contributed to this initiative. Their commitment to giving back reflects the true spirit of our industry, and together we’re helping empower the future technicians who will keep it strong.”
