CSAA Insurance Group Donates $25,000 and Salvage Vehicles to Support Collision Engineering Career Alliance Students
Donation bridges classroom learning with industry practice for aspiring collision repair technicians at Contra Costa College
ST. LOUIS, June 10, 2025 – The Collision Engineering Career Alliance today announced a generous donation of $25,000 and two salvage vehicles from CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA insurer, to benefit its industry-leading program at Contra Costa College in San Pablo, California. The donation will provide educational resources and hands-on training for students enrolled in the Collision Engineering program, helping to bridge the skills gap and develop entry-level talent to fill essential roles within the collision repair industry.
Contra Costa College accepts a $25,000 donation to its Collision Engineering program from CSAA Insurance Group.
"CSAA is a respected industry insurer, supporter and partner of the Collision Engineering Career Alliance, and we are immensely grateful for its donation,” said Mary Mahoney, who serves as vice president of Enterprise Mobility and leads the Collision Engineering Career Alliance. “Our industry expects the need to fill more than 100,000 collision technician jobs in the next three years—no one can solve this problem alone. We applaud CSAA for their partnership and commitment to strengthen the future of collision repair. Together with more industry partners, we can build the next generation of highly skilled collision repair professionals in more communities across the U.S."
Officials from CSAA gathered with the Collision Engineering Career Alliance, Contra Costa administration and Collision Engineering students for a check presentation earlier this week. Representatives from local and national industry partners were also present at the event to showcase the importance of industry collaboration to remove barriers and foster sustainable pathways to rewarding collision repair careers.
"We are pleased to contribute to the success of the Collision Engineering program at Contra Costa College," said Dan Tessadri, senior manager of auto process and performance for CSAA Insurance Group. "Our support of the Collision Engineering Career Alliance demonstrates our commitment to developing the next generation of vehicle repair professionals who will maintain the highest industry standards through meaningful, rewarding industry careers."
During the event, G&C Auto Body also generously unveiled a matching donation of $25,000 to the Collision Engineering program at Contra Costa College.
"We are grateful for all donations and look forward to unlocking more educational resources for our students," said Laura Lozano, an instructor at Contra Costa College. "The program has seen tremendous success with growing recognition in the San Francisco Bay Area. By coming together and supporting one another, we are working to build a strong future for Collision Engineering."
Contra Costa College was one of the first schools to adopt the Collision Engineering program when it launched as a pilot in 2020.
Today, the Collision Engineering Career Alliance is active at partner schools across the country including Ranken Technical College in St. Louis, Missouri; College of Lake County in Grayslake, Illinois; Contra Costa College in San Pablo, California; Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois; Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, Nebraska; and Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
Together with other partners in collision repair, automotive, insurance and education, the Collision Engineering Career Alliance aims to recruit more students and expand to more schools across the nation.
For more information regarding the program, visit www.beacollisionengineer.com.
About the Collision Engineering Career Alliance
With foundational support provided by the Enterprise Mobility Foundation, the Collision Engineering Career Alliance is an industry catalyst for addressing the ongoing technician shortage in collision repair. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization works to unite industry and education, remove barriers and foster sustainable pathways to rewarding collision repair careers. Through philanthropic contributions and an innovative, holistic training approach, the Collision Engineering Career Alliance empowers schools across the U.S. to recruit, support and equip students for the future of vehicle repair through industry-defined courses, certifications and hands-on training that enables them to build their knowledge while accelerating their careers.
About CSAA Insurance Group
CSAA Insurance Group offers AAA-branded automobile, homeowners and other personal lines of insurance to AAA Members through AAA clubs in 23 states and the District of Columbia. Founded in 1914, the company has been rated “A” or better by AM Best for more than 90 years, and is one of the top personal lines property casualty insurance groups in the United States, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The company has been repeatedly named one of the 50 most community-minded companies in America by Points of Light. More information is available at http://csaa-insurance.aaa.com and on social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Tik Tok, Threads and YouTube).
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