I-CAR Collision Reporter : simplebooklet.com

PANEL DISCUSSIONWe can learn a lot by listening to the voices of emerging talent (another important customer to I-CAR), and specifically a group of rising female students attending the Dennis Technical Education Center (DTEC) in Boise, Idaho. I-CAR’s Collision Reporter recently caught up with second and third-year students to get their take on the barriers and opportunities they see ahead. And this special Driving the Conversation roundtable is led by DTEC alumna, Samantha Spencer, who graduated from DTEC in 2019 and is now a paint technician/prepper with Cope Collision Center of Meridian, Idaho.Emerging Women Leaders in Collision Repair20I-CAR COLLISION REPORTER

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DRIVING THE CONVERSATION“My dad works on cars a lot and I started to fall in love with cars through him. I’ve since gotten into the classic cars. I never thought that back when I was a 10-year-old I’d want to go into this field!” – Feleep Johnson “I first was very interested in welding, but that class was full, so my next choice was auto body and I actually really enjoy it! I fell in love with collision repair because of my teachers. They create a really safe and great environment and it’s always happy and fun. It’s different every day.” – Tatum Wilson “The first time I walked into the shop, it felt normal and no one was judgmental. It felt natural here. And when you messed up, no one made fun of you or put you down. Everyone helped you and lifted you back up and said, ‘Yeah, you got this.’ I like this environment a lot.” – Eklyne McKinney “I fell in love with cars from my dad. My dad worked on cars and I’d hang out at the shop with him. As a kid I’d go into his automotive shop and just see how he and his friends got along. They helped each other out and it was just a nice place to be in. Everyone was super kind to each other. I didn’t think that this might be something I pursue until I saw the class and signed up. Now here, with everyone else, it’s even more enjoyable.” – Jade Norman-Jolley “My uncle does a lot of car work in his garage, and once I took an auto body class, I found some amazing people. I thought it was a really cool thing to do. In freshman year when I walked in and saw all the cars, I felt like a kid in a candy shop! That was the moment I fell in love with cars.” – KayJah Vuong“I don’t see many disadvantages, as I’m treated the same as anyone else. I’m always greeted by a bunch of really cool people and they’re willing to show you new ideas and ways of working. The only real disadvantage is that I’m a little weak in grip strength, so it’s hard to punch holes.” – Feleep Johnson ADVANTAGES OR DISADVANTAGES OF BEING FEMALE IN THIS INDUSTRYWHAT MADE YOU FALL IN LOVE…WITH AUTO BODY REPAIR?22I-CAR COLLISION REPORTER

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“Not many disadvantages, but sometimes guys might say, ‘You seem weak, just go off to the side and do the easy work.’ This can get annoying, so you have to show who’s the boss here! Sometimes I have to show them and do the work, and it’s really fun.” – Valeria Bu Ramirez “If I ever need help with lifting doors or anything, guys are always there to help me. That is definitely really nice. But, I have gotten some muscle being in a shop!” – Samantha Spencer “A big advantage is that over time, the people you meet in the shop start to open up and you become part of a big family – you look forward to seeing them!” – Jade Norman-Jolley “I don’t feel like there are disadvantages being a woman in collision repair. I feel like, as women, we understand better and focus on what needs to be fixed. Mr. Markham always says that we listen better. We don’t mess around. We get our stuff done. I just feel that women are way more determined than men.” – Eklyne McKinney “One disadvantage is that it takes longer to gain respect from the guys, but once you get it, you’re part of their family. It just takes a while for them to think you’re actually going to stay, because many females come into the shop and then leave within weeks because they can’t handle it or it’s too much for them. Owners of shops really want females because we can see colors better. Our attention to detail is high, and our organizational skills are a lot better than guys I’ve seen. I like to think that while we’re not bossy, we try to push people to be better.” – Samantha Spencer“My dad was very supportive and said ‘That means we can have a lot of time together working on the 1985 Camaro in our garage,’ while my mom said, ‘It will be dangerous, it will be tough.’ So, when I first went into class, while I had a little of what my mom said in my head, I was like, ‘Oh my, this is the best thing ever!’ It’s not intimidating whatsoever. There are so many really nice people in this industry.” – Feleep Johnson “My mom was worried that I’d get cuts, bruises, or worse, since I’d be using sharp tools. My dad was really supportive. The guys in my class have been great, and they’ll help with the heavy lifting when I need it.” – Valeria Bu Ramirez “It wasn’t scary to me. My dad said, ‘You have to be the best you can be,’ so that just made me more motivated to succeed.” – Eklyne McKinneyHOW YOUR FAMILY REACTED TO A CAREER IN AUTO BODY REPAIRCONTINUED ON PAGE 24 >23THE CUSTOMER ISSUE

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DRIVING THE CONVERSATION“It was a little intimidating in class at first, but the teachers made me feel more comfortable. If I messed up, I quickly learned that most anything can be fixed as long as it’s not too damaged.” – Haley Griswold “It might be scary when you don’t know anyone at first, but it’s really a small group that you’re working in. And as the weeks go on, you’re building great relationships with everyone, so it becomes very comfortable.” – KayJah Vuong “It was a little intimidating because I knew the room would be filled with guys, and I was the only female in this class. So, I definitely learned to stand up for myself from day one, and show that I could do things just like any other person in the shop.” – Jade Norman-Jolley “At first lots of thoughts were rolling through my head. ‘I’m going to be the only girl in the class. They’re going to look at me and put me down if I do anything wrong.’ But it’s absolutely nothing like that. Everyone is so supportive in the lab and we make jokes; it is just a really good environment.” – Tatum Wilson “I wasn’t scared, but I was intimidated going into the shop for the first time. There are girls who work up in the front offices, but I’m the only girl working in the shop. At first, I was really shy. After the first year, we’re all like family.” – Samantha SpencerTHE FEAR FACTOR“My dad, my grandpa, and my dad’s boss. My dad is a kindhearted person, and he knows when to give you really good advice. He said to pursue the collision repair path I wanted with, ‘I have no doubt you will be successful.’ My grandpa completely rebuilt his Jeep. He said, ‘I really want to do projects with you.’ And my dad’s boss owns a lot of classic cars. When I saw them, I just fell in love. It’s like going to the mall and seeing all these wonderful things – it’s just beautiful.” – Feleep Johnson “My teacher, because he’s taught me little things, and it’s the little things that make a big difference. He’s also taught me that slower is faster. That’s a big thing that stuck with me, especially when we were working on fenders. People were trying to rush their welds, brush their body filler, or get their dents out and they weren’t coming out as good as they wanted. But he was just really good at uplifting me and helping me.” – Eklyne McKinney MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON TO YOU24I-CAR COLLISION REPORTER

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“I definitely plan on going to a tech college that revolves around auto collision and possibly auto technology. I do want to work in a shop and potentially have my own shop and all that wonderful stuff.” – Feleep Johnson “I definitely will go to college…I like the idea of having my own shop and working on cars. That would be amazing. And being my own independent woman and working every day with cars and making a bunch of Toyota pickup trucks like my dad does.” – Valeria Bu Ramirez POST-GRADUATION PLANS“My teachers, because they’ve been so supportive and they don’t judge you. They will help you. And they will work through it with you and take their time to make sure each individual has the proper amount of time with them.” – Haley Griswold “I would have to say my parents and my teachers. My parents were very skeptical at the beginning, but they have been very supportive. Having this support system is really uplifting and it makes you want to work harder because of it. Because you know if you mess up or take a couple steps back, you have that support to keep you pushing forward.” – KayJah VuongCONTINUED ON PAGE 26 >“I will go to college, and I’ll see where life takes me. I do love collision repair, but one thing I really want to do is paint. I love painting the most.” – KayJah Vuong“Go in with confidence, lots of confidence. And even if you’re not that confident, try to stay calm. Teachers are wonderful, and it’s a very safe environment.” – Feleep Johnson “Definitely be confident and have a level head. Know that you are going to make mistakes. You have to learn through your mistakes because you’re never going to improve if you don’t fail. You have to fail to succeed. If you know it’s okay to make mistakes, you’ll be just fine.” – Eklyne McKinney WHAT YOU’D TELL OTHER WOMEN25THE CUSTOMER ISSUE

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DRIVING THE CONVERSATION“1970 Z-28 Camaro. That’s my dad’s favorite car, and mine. And the Chrysler Turbine, made in the 1960’s but were completely decommissioned.” – Feleep Johnson “1968 Ford Mustang, Shelby GT500. That’s my dream car—the shape, the color, the inside is just beautiful to me. Ever since I saw it in the movies.” – Valeria Bu Ramirez “My favorite cars--a Dodge Challenger or a Rolls-Royce.” – Haley Griswold “Two trucks – a 1999 Dodge Ram or 2006 Dodge Ram.” – KayJah VuongFINALLY, YOUR DREAM VEHICLE“You know that there will be some mistakes made, but everyone else in the shop will likely make the same mistakes too. Everyone will learn together. Just come in with confidence, and definitely have fun.” – Jade Norman-Jolley “It doesn’t matter what you look like, or how big or small you are. You can do anything in this industry. If you want to, you can be in this industry however you’d like. Just be confident, be a hard worker, and show that you can do it. Show that you want to be here and everyone should accept you for that.” – Haley Griswold “I love for my nails to be done and lash extensions. But no matter what you look like, or who you are, you always have a place in this career path. No matter what anybody says, you know who you are and you know what your strengths are, your weaknesses, and it shouldn’t matter to anyone else. Always, be who you want to be for yourself and nobody else.” – KayJah Vuong “One day I hope the conversation will be about my work and not my gender, because today many people say, ‘Oh, a girl did that.’ And I would rather have them say, ‘Oh, that’s really good work.” – Samantha SpencerA DTC alumnus himself, Norm Markham is also a part-time I-CAR instructor and sits on the I-CAR National Instructor Advisory Committee (NIAC). To learn more, please see the article “NIAC Strengthens Instructor Experience.”26I-CAR COLLISION REPORTER