From the SEMA Stage: What it takes for women to work in collision repair

Female collision repair students or professionals typically have to work harder to prove themselves, not only to their colleagues but to consumers.

That was one point made by women in the industry during a SEMA Show Collision Repair and Refinish Stage segment titled “Women in Collision: Perspectives from Newcomers and Veterans.”

“I think sometimes, the students especially, have to work a little bit harder to prove themselves,” said Stephanie Nitz, Collision Engineering Program (CEP) regional workforce manager. “Although when that is shown, that they’re capable, it’s like tenfold. They work hard. They are multitaskers. They’re really proving themselves on the floor of the shops.”

The CEP is a two-year, hybrid/work-based learning associate degree program. Students rotate every eight weeks between classroom instruction and paid apprenticeships at trusted collision repair facilities. The model provides students with the opportunity to earn an income while completing their training.

Aryanna Solis, a CEP student at the College of Lake County in Illinois, said she’s noticed that women’s capabilities are underestimated, especially younger women.

“I’m 21 and in my shop, I’m one of two female technicians,” she said. “We’re both under the age of 25, and I feel like we get looked down upon a lot because we’re young and females in the industry.”

She added that some of the men she works with are easier to approach for help than others in the shop because they have daughters.

“My biggest challenge is being trusted with what my task is,” Solis said. “A lot of times when I ask for help, they end up taking over, and I don’t like that. I like to be able to figure it out on my own. That’s one of my hardest challenges — asking for help but then still taking control of what I’m doing.”

Her female tech colleague, CEP mentor, or a teacher are Solis’s go-to people for help, she said.

“I have pretty great access to training, especially because of Collision Engineering,” Solis said. “They’ve given me a lot of opportunities like this one [Collision Stage panel], and being able to work in a shop already at my age with the internship. I feel like that’s a pretty amazing opportunity for my training.”

Kena Dacus, a Kansas shop owner and SCRS Board member, said she gets a lot of support from people in the industry.

“I think the consumers are probably my biggest challenge — gaining their trust and letting them know that I do know what I’m talking about,” she said. “I do feel like it’s getting better than it was 10 years ago when I started.”

Dacus added that she’s always had plenty of mentorship and training support throughout her career in the industry.

Raven Luna, collision technology discipline lead at Collin College in Texas, said she thinks it’s beneficial that the up-and-coming generation of male collision repairers is already learning from females and interacting with female students.

“For them to already be used to getting feedback from a woman or learning from them, then they go out in the industry — I would say within this next generation, you’re going to see a change,” she said.

Dacus added, “I would just like to remind all the men in this industry that there’s a lot of talent that maybe gets overlooked. Women are very capable, and I think we’ve proven that we can do anything in this industry just as well as the men can, whether it’s front office stuff or technician work.”

When asked what they want to accomplish in the next five years, the panelists’ answers were:

• • Recruit and retain more women to work in all areas of collision repair shops
  • Provide peer-reviewed research on the successes and challenges that collision repair students face
  • Inspire young students to pursue careers in collision repair

Luna noted some things may go unnoticed by men and come across differently to women in shops, called “microaggressions,” such as having a restroom only meant for men in the shop area, and uniforms made only for men.

“Men can continue to be allies to women in the shops and in the industry,” Nitz said. “For the women, as we climb the ladder of success in this industry, leave it down so that the younger ones can climb that ladder too. Keep the doors open so that it’s a clear pathway for them.

“Visibility matters for students. They see women like you all, or Laura Lozano [Contra Costa College], or Pati Fairchild at El Camino [College] in those roles, leading and teaching and filling that space — it brings up the next generation, and it validates that they’re welcome here too.”

How to honor industry women

The Women’s Industry Network (WIN) has opened nominations for its inaugural Founding Mothers Award as well as its annual Most Influential Women (MIW) Awards.

The Founding Mothers Award has been established to celebrate the six “founding mothers” of WIN — Frederica Carter, Geri Kottschade, Gigi Walker, Patricia Serratore, Kathy Mello, and Marcy Tieger. It also seeks to honor the organization’s true mission of supporting and connecting women in collision repair.

“WIN was founded 20 years ago by these six pioneering women who saw a need for connection, mentorship, and opportunity in the automotive collision industry,” a WIN press release states. “Their vision built the foundation for WIN’s mission to empower women across all levels of the trade.”

WIN says Kottschade, Carter, and Tieger are actively providing input for the award, “continuing their legacy of leadership and inspiration.”

“The Founding Mother Award honors the women who are shaping the future of the collision repair industry — women who demonstrate passion, perseverance, and purpose every day,” the release states.

Kottschade, who currently serves as WIN’s vice chair, added,

Key considerations for award recipients are excellence in their craft and mentoring. It is open to all women and will annually recognize an individual who is “intently involved with the true craft of collision repair, as their skills need to be still active on the shop floor – either as a hands-on refinish technician and/or painter,” the release states.

According to WIN’s research, 4.8% of auto body technicians in the U.S. are women.

“Albeit still a very small percentage of the autobody technician workforce, this is actually doubled over the past decade, when there were just 2.34% female techs back in 2015,” the release states.

Kottschade added, “Collision repair, especially on the shop floor, has long been a male-dominated industry; and while there certainly has been progress, we see WIN’s previous efforts, along with this latest, annual Founding Mothers award, as another continuous way to bring awareness to the availability and skills that women can successfully bring in professional repairs and refinishing excellence.”

Specific evaluation criteria for the new award are based on:

• • “Industry visibility and leadership — Inspiring others and advancing the trade;
  • “Professional accomplishments — Demonstrated excellence and at least two years of full-time shop experience;
  • “Mentorship and support — Guiding and empowering co-workers; and
  • “Community involvement — Promoting diversity, inclusion, and outreach.”

Nominations will be accepted through Jan. 19. Neither the nominator nor nominee is required to be a WIN member, and all nominations help WIN celebrate women who lead, mentor, and inspire a stronger, more inclusive industry, the release states.

As a nonprofit organization with nearly 1,000 members in the U.S. and Canada, WIN was created to honor and support women in the collision industry. It’s known for its annual MIW awards, which recognize women for their lifetime of guidance, leadership, and industry commitment, the release states.

Nominations for the MIW awards will be accepted through Jan. 5.

“The Most Influential Women award exists to recognize women for their guidance, leadership, and industry commitment,” said Jenny Anderson, WIN MIW Awards Committee chair, in a press release. “The award focuses on four areas: their professional accomplishments; mentoring and support for others in the collision repair industry; their lasting influence in the profession; and going beyond the requirements of their professional lives to give back to their communities.

“If you are a fan of a woman who excels in the areas mentioned, please go to our website to share her accomplishments with our dedicated team so she can be considered for this esteemed recognition. The MIW nomination process is a great way to recognize deserving women and to let them know they are making a difference.”

Nominees are reviewed and interviewed by an independent selection committee of industry professionals, past MIW recipients, and WIN members who do not currently serve in leadership capacities. Award recipients are selected based on established criteria, including industry influence, professional accomplishments, mentorship, and community service.

“Since its inception in 1999, the MIW program has recognized over 130 women who have enriched the collision repair industry with their leadership, vision, and commitment to excellence,” the release states. “WIN acquired stewardship of the MIW program in 2013 and continues to evolve the program to align with WIN’s mission of ‘driving the future of collision repair by attracting, developing and advancing women.'”

In 2025, WIN honored these leading women with an MIW award:

• • Juliet Alleman, regional manager, CollisionRight
  • Trista Anger, regional business manager – coatings, Western Canada, BASF
  • Renee Sicotte, owner of Marion Auto Body and Glass
  • Erin Solis, senior vice president, Square One Systems/Coyote Vision Group
  • Tanya Sweetland, senior vice president, Collision Repair Platforms, OEC
  • Mandy Wynn, national training and support leader, DCR Systems

The 2026 MIW award recipients and the inaugural Founding Mothers Award recipient will be celebrated at WIN’s Annual Conference, May 4–6, in Tucson, Arizona.

Images

Featured image: Todd Hesford, SCRS; Kena Dacus, SCRS; Raven Luna, Collin College; Aryanna Solis, Collision Engineering student; and Stephanie Nitz, Collision Engineering Program manager, speak during a panel discussion at the 2025 SEMA Show. (YouTube screenshot)