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On The Road Garage Opens First Location In Irving, Announces Apprenticeships And Online Technology-Forward Training

On the Road Garage, part of the On the Road Companies social enterprise that launched in Dallas in 2011, opened its first location at 1500 North Loop 12, Irving, Texas 75061 in June 2020 to provide high-quality collision and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) repair as well as technology-forward apprenticeships and online training. A second location will open in Dallas in 2021. The garage is part of an economic mobility initiative that addresses transportation challenges and underemployment among vulnerable populations. The Perot Foundation contributed $3 million in seed funding for On the Road Garage, which is rebuilding more than cars with its apprenticeships and training.

On the Road Garage is a woman-owned business that employs highly experienced master collision technicians, estimators and painters to deliver fast, competitively priced collision repair services and ADAS repair for individuals and insurance companies. The garage provides year-long apprenticeships in a field with great demand and high earning potential. In partnership with the Texas Workforce Commission, On the Road Garage’s online training course offers a Certificate of Completion in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems.

Former Service King Collision Repair CEO Cathy Bonner is On the Road Garage’s Chief Strategy Officer bringing proven expertise for high-quality service delivery and rapid expansion.

“When you choose On the Road Garage, you are supporting a social enterprise that is giving individuals an opportunity for wealth-building in an essential business,” said Founder and CEO Michelle Corson. “We’re proud to have opened the garage during a pandemic to create jobs with high earning potential when they’re needed most. In addition to high-quality collision repair, we’re building the workforce of the future in smart car technology through our hands-on apprenticeship program and online training.”

The existing talent pool is aging out of the collision and smart car repair industry, and the pipeline of new talent is depleted due to a focus on four-year college and disinvestment in trades. On the Road Garage’s apprentices learn the latest in advanced collision repair and smart car technology through a full-year, hands-on course to gain the most up-to-date skills and knowledge in STEM-oriented fields.

“We are grateful to the Perot Foundation and especially Margot Perot for having the vision to help us establish this exciting social enterprise,” Corson said. “We expect our apprentices to be placed in jobs prior to completion of the program or to launch their own businesses, with the potential of earning a six-figure income without a four-year degree!”