For its second annual iteration, the event invited two collision repair instructors and two students who competed in this year’s Michigan SkillsUSA competition.
The Michigan I-CAR Committee held its second annual Michigan Collision School Program Top Golf Fundraiser on Oct. 6 at Top Golf in Auburn Hills, adding a significant new dimension to this year’s event: direct participation from collision repair instructors and students.
Thanks to support from Painter’s Supply & Equipment, two school instructors and two students who competed in the Michigan SkillsUSA competition earlier this year joined industry professionals for the day-long gathering.
“We held our inaugural event last year at Top Golf of Auburn Hills, and not only was it a success, but we also received very positive feedback from our attendees about doing it again in 2025,” said Ray Fisher, chairman of the Michigan I-CAR Committee. “So, with the help of the Michigan ICAR Committee — we did!”
The event included practice time and a round of Top Golf Contender Tournament Play, followed by local announcements and I-CAR updates. The highlight was a new segment featuring insights from collision repair instructors and students about the current state of vocational training programs.
Fisher emphasized the importance of this addition: “The committee was so happy to add this segment this year. The trades continue to be faced with ongoing challenges of finding good, qualified help, and thanks to our attendees’ feedback last year, the committee decided to take it to the next level and make it happen.”
He expressed particular gratitude to Chris Kugler, chief sales officer at Painter’s Supply & Equipment, for donating four tickets to enable the instructors and students to attend. “It takes a village, and Chris was there for the industry,” Fisher noted.
Mike Simon, an I-CAR instructor and Michigan Committee member, described his role as helping to engage attendees and open doors between education and industry. “I think that we did that today,” Simon said. “I just wish we had more of the industry in attendance to hear what we all heard today! It was extremely engaging and positive.”
The participating instructors, Kortney Thumme from Lenawee ISD and Kurt Chrysler from Chesaning High School, both Michigan SkillsUSA coordinators, valued the opportunity to share their perspectives on collision repair education and student preparedness.
“We are glad that we were able to attend today and talk about our schools, our students, our SkillsUSA competition, and how our students are coming out of the schools today,” Thumme said.
Chrysler added the conversations led to immediate planning for deeper collaboration: “I believe we opened some doors today with shops too. During our conversation at lunch today, we decided that we need to include shop owners at our next Michigan Collision Repair Instructor’s Association Conference in spring 2026.”
Dave Solmes, owner of Dewey’s Auto Body, an I-CAR instructor and Michigan I-CAR committee member, spoke to the group about the I-CAR Academy, highlighting how the program benefited schools in 2024 and now repair facilities since its launch earlier this year.
The event resonated with industry attendees who saw value in strengthening ties with vocational programs.
“Our group attended last year and had a great time while supporting a needed cause,” said Courtney Rohrbaugh, regional training and support manager for Caliber Collision. “I was really appreciative that we heard from the instructors and students today. I have already exchanged my information with them and will be following up on this. I am already looking forward to the MCRIA Conference in the Spring and this again in the fall next year.”
Jason Coulter, collision center manager at Feldman Collision, echoed the sentiment: “Ray, I am glad to be here again and support the cause. I met Brandon Eckenrode, executive director of the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), at SEMA, and he spoke about this. We just need to do this — it’s the right thing to do for our industry.”
The event was organized by attending Michigan I-CAR Committee members including Fisher, Solmes and Thumme, as well as Charlie Owens, owner of Northtown Collision, and Don Speace of Axalta.
Additional committee members that helped organize include Leo Maki, owner of Michigan Appraisal Company; Roy Schnepper, president of Butler’s Collision; Jake Robinson of Gerber Collision & Glass; and Dave Grooten II of Caliber Collision.
Fisher praised the Top Golf staff for their continued support and announced the committee will debrief later soon to begin planning for 2026.
“Although it is a lot of work, it’s great to see the energy,” Fisher said. “I would recommend to shops, instructors, vendors and other collision-related professionals to tentatively save the date of Oct. 5, 2026.”
The event underscored a growing recognition within Michigan’s collision repair industry that bridging the gap between vocational education and professional practice is essential to addressing ongoing workforce challenges.
Ray Fisher is president of KSRA Consulting. An Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) and Accredited Master Automotive Manager (AMAM), he has more than 20 years of body shop management experience and eight years as an assistant parts manager, as well as experience leading associations at the state and national levels, as president and executive director of ASA-Michigan for nine years and ASA National for three years. He has provided expert witness services on collision repair processes.
 
 
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