Northwest Technology Center’s Auto Collision Repair program has a great history and an exciting future. Its instructor, Jeff Owen has more than twenty years of experience teaching students about auto body repair. Owen, an Alva native, took the reins of the program in 1991, as a recent graduate of Northwestern.
Over two decades later, the program has turned out multiple auto body professionals. Several of those have businesses in the area, including Shane Lehr and the entire staff at Lehr’s Body Shop, Ryland Rhodes with Alva Body and Fender, Cody Roach with C&R Automotive in Cherokee and Chris Headlee and Ben Krieman at K&K Body Works in Alva. Many others are employed by these and other area shops. The program is aligned with Auto Service Excellence (ASE) and NATEF standards and students may earn ASE certifications.
The program prepares students to complete non-structural repair and automotive refinishing, damage analysis, non-structural and minor dent and plastics repair along with painting and refinishing. Currently, students in the program have three career options from which to choose. These include Combination Collision Repair Technician, Non-Structural Repair Technician and Refinishing Technician.
Students also learn to use state of the art tools and equipment in repairing damage and removing and installing handles, moldings and trim. The program also includes painting preparation, sanding processes, color matching and adjusting color, removing and installing glass and the process of writing estimates.
According to Owen, “After students complete the program and have two years of collision repair work experience, they are ready to take the certification tests for ASE and NATEF. Jobs for people with these unique skills are out there. My students have worked at great jobs in several states. There are also careers in the military using these skills.”
For more information about the Collision Repair program, access the school’s website at www.nwtech.edu or contact Jeff Owen at 580.327.0344 or via email at jowen@nwtech.edu.