WMABA education/tool grant application now open, Southeast Collision Conference education lineup announced

The Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association (WMABA)’s 2026 education and tool grant application is open to support future collision repairers.

WMABA says the grants are designed to support education, training, tools, and program funding that strengthen collision repair professionals and the next generation entering the industry.

Students or instructors are encouraged to review the application details and submit their requests while funding is available.

Grants from the Jerry Dalton Memorial Education Fund benefit students and education programs for the collision industry of Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C., based on program need and available resources.

The John Mattos Tool Scholarship is part of the education fund. It is available to students currently enrolled and recent graduates (within the past year) who reside in Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, or Washington, D.C.

“We are excited to offer a method that gives an individual or program in our area a leg up with their tool or instructional needs,” said Jordan Hendler, WMABA executive director. “Industry fundraising efforts, such as our golf outing, fund the grants given out in our membership region. It’s encouraging to see the fundraiser come to fruition, when we can hand out tools to hard-working techs, and especially when they are already in the workplace. Just recently, we gifted an additional allotment of tools to two techs who received them in the shop, and their elated faces makes it all worthwhile!”

The application deadline is March 31. Grants will be announced and awarded on April 24 during the Southeast Collision Conference. You do not have to be present, though it is encouraged.

Registration is also open for the Carolinas Collision Association’s (CAA) 2026 Tool Grant Program.

The program awards $2,000 grants to students entering the collision repair industry. The program awarded eight grant recipients in 2025.

Applications will be accepted through Feb. 28, with recipients announced April 1.

The Southeast Collision Conference will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, on April 23-24 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Charlotte Concord Golf Resort & Spa. WMABA and the Carolinas Collision Association (CCA) have also announced the Collision P.R.E.P. education lineup for the conference.

Classes will be held throughout the day on Thursday and Friday, both in the classroom and on the show stage.

The associations say the classes are designed for every role in the shop — owners, managers, estimators, technicians, and future leaders.

“The big news this year is our brand-new designated learning tracks,” Hendler said. “We’ve organized the curriculum into two distinct paths— managerial and technical — allowing a team to ‘choose their own adventure’ based on their specific roles. The managerial track is designed for owners and managers. The technical track is built for the ‘hands-on scholars’ on the shop floor. Estimators can switch between based on the class they feel applies most to them as an individual.

“This isn’t just a seminar series; it is a meticulously crafted educational experience packed with industry titans and cutting-edge topics designed to propel our industry into the future. From AI-driven workflow solutions to high-stakes structural techniques, we are covering the entire spectrum of modern repair to ensure you and your team stay miles ahead of the curve.”

Topics include:

• • “Unlock Hidden Paint and Material Profit in your Collision Center” with John Shoemaker
  • “Importance of Corrosion Protection” with James Schupp
  • “ADAS, AGRR (Auto Glass Repair & Replacement), Mechanical & Collision: How They all Segue together” panel discussion
  • “Structural Adhesives & Hybrid Joining Operations” with Jason Scharton
  • “Navigating the OEM Certification Maze: The Pros, Cons, and What’s Worth It” with Robert Gruskos
  • “Is it time to Align?” with Justin Allen
  • “Revolutionizing Customer Intake & Efficiency with AI-Powered Solutions” with James Spears
  • “Breathe Easy and Stay Compliant: Environmental and Safety Essentials for Today’s Collision Centers” with Jason Fritz and Zach Pucillo
  • “The Costs of Not Getting Paid: Changing Tactics in the Changing Marketplace (Peer to Peer)” with Michael Bradshaw, Barry Dorn, and Kris Burton

Sessions will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday and from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday. View the full schedule and course descriptions here.

The conference also includes a tradeshow from 1-8 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday.

The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) will hold an open meeting at the same location on April 21 from 2-5 p.m., as will the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) on April 22 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Images

Featured image: WMABA tool grant recipient provided by WMABA