Auto Care Association’s Tool and Equipment Community Donates More Than $30,000 in Tools to Support Livingston Area Career Center Automotive Program

The donation to the Livingston Area Career Center follows outreach by Colt Gragert, automotive  and diesel technology instructor at Livingston, who connected with Missy Stephens, manager, community engagement, Auto Care Association, looking for guidance on how to better support the growing number of female students in his program and to learn more about the Women in Auto Care community. Gragert expressed the need to support female students entering the field and shared that the program lacked the necessary tools to provide effective hand-on training.  

"Colt’s commitment to empowering students—especially young women entering the field  —aligns perfectly with our mission,” said Missy Stephens, manager, community engagement, Auto Care Association. “It was an honor to help connect him with our association’s Tool and Equipment community to bring this support to life."

Upon learning the need, the Auto Care Association’s Tool and Equipment community mobilized quickly, resulting in the donation from Cutting Edge Automotive Solutions and ATD. 

“I am passionate about this industry, and we need to do more than just talk about cultivating the next generation of automotive professionals,” said Lee Locklear, president, Cutting Edge Automotive Solutions. “...if you are in a position to help, you should help. We were, so I did.”

The donation highlights the power of industry collaboration as well as the vital role the Auto Care Association’s communities play in nurturing the next generation of industry professionals.  

For more information about the Auto Care Association’s Tool and Equipment community or to get involved, please visit autocare.org.