Running a collision repair shop might not be the most common career for women. That’s not stopping Morgan from pursuing a path she loves. Her awe for automotive started a young age and it’s burning bright today. Totally at home in hands-on labs and in management classes, Morgan is honing the skills she needs to seize the future she’s always wanted.
I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in automotive around my freshman year of high school! I come from a trade-oriented family, so I always knew I wanted to do something in the trades. The driving factor for automotive, specifically collision repair, was going to local car shows with my dad. I always loved seeing the colorful and creative paint jobs that the cars had.
I decided to pick Penn College to further my education, because the collision facility here is packed full of state-of-the-art equipment. I was also excited about the number of certifications I was going to receive while completing my regular coursework. Also, Penn College was the only school to offer a business management degree specifically catered to the automotive industry.
I wasn’t originally planning to get my bachelor’s degree, but when my mother and I came to campus for my first official tour of the collision facility, I decided to just go for the bachelor’s degree. Mr. Hack, one of the collision instructors, was the one who convinced me to enroll in the bachelor’s program after talking about the massive number of employers that contact him in hopes for a female bachelor’s degree student that is willing to relocate to work with them.
What I love most about Penn College is the beauty of campus! No matter what time of year it is, the campus is always drop-dead gorgeous!
Some advice that I have for other young ladies pursuing a degree in automotive: Do not give up. The guys in your class will challenge you everyday. Just remember to stay strong and keep pushing forward. You are just as capable, if not more, as they are to do the work and be successful here and in the automotive industry.
There is not one person I can name specifically. I look up to every woman who has made it in the automotive industry. Without those women taking the risk of doing what no woman had ever done before, I would not be on the path I am now and for that I am forever grateful.
"My dream job is to hopefully be a collision center manager or service consultant at any reputable service facility or dealership."
Women are drastically underrepresented in the skilled trades. Their numbers might be small, but their work speaks volumes. See Morgan and our community of trailblazers in this high-energy video.
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