NORTHEAST educational panel will tackle tech shortage crisis

Panelists will discuss market trends contributing to the ongoing tech shortage and how the industry got here

Nutley, N.J.—The ongoing tech shortage has left shops struggling to keep up with repair volume. A special panel, “The Continuing Tech Shortage: How Do We Fix It?” during AASP/NJ’s NORTHEAST 2022, March 18-20, at the Meadowlands Exposition Center (MEC) in Secaucus, N.J., will examine the issue.

Panelists will discuss market trends contributing to the ongoing tech shortage and how the industry got here. They will also identify avenues to lure in new staff to the industry and encourage them to stick with it through support, education, communication and awareness.

**Paul Hill of I-CAR and Greg Settle of TechForce will be among the panelists.**

Michael Bonsanto (Passaic County Technical Institute) will moderate the panel that features a variety of experts: Brandon Eckenrode (Collision Repair Education Foundation), Keith Egan (Betag Innovation), Paul Hill (I-CAR), Bart Mazurek (CCC Intelligent Solutions Automotive Services Group) and Greg Settle (TechForce Foundation). The panel will take place Friday, March 18 at 4 p.m.

“Although the lack of qualified help has been a huge issue for the past 30 years, it’s even more important now due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has worsened the situation,” Bonsanto said. “We can’t keep waiting for someone else to fix this problem for us; we have to come together and find a way to fix it as an industry. Collision repairers cannot afford to keep putting their heads in the sand and continue being unaware of what’s going on because that won’t solve this crisis.”
“Shop owners are having fits trying to find techs,” shares AASP/NJ Executive Director Charlie Bryant.

Register to attend NORTHEAST 2022 at aaspnjnortheast.com/education. The event marks the 45th year AASP/NJ has presented what has become known throughout the industry as the largest regional event of its kind. The trade show floor will feature 150 vendors. To pre-register for free show badges and for the latest information and announcements about NORTHEAST 2022, visit aaspnjnortheast.com.