If you've ever had to have bodywork done on your car, you know that even the best engine mechanic isn't always quite as skilled when it comes to hammering out dents, and making the paint look shiny and bright. It's especially worrisome when the work on your car has to be done by an insurer-approved company, because it's being covered by someone else's insurance. To help improve the quality of bodywork being offered, and to help create new jobs in the audo body field, GEICO has partnered with the Auto Body and Painting Association of Hawaii (ABPAH) to create a new apprenticeship program.

The training program was kicked off on Tuesday, March 18th when GEICO presented Kuroda's Auto Body, Inc, with a contribution to their apprenticeship activities. The shop, which is located in Waipahu, was chosen by ABPAH to host the pilot of the new program, which will run through September 30th of this year.

Madison Marie Spotts, president of ABPAH says, "The GEICO Apprenticeship Program is a great example as to one way the insurance industry can help head off the shortage of trained technicians in our industry, especially here in Hawaii." She continued, "The lack of resources to pull from contributes to the current crisis-level shortage we are facing. With the continued rise in changes being made by the automobile manufacturers, it is imperative that the technicians who are repairing today's vehicles are properly trained and have up-to-date equipment."

The general manager of GEICO's Hawaiian office, Tim Dayton, added, "Top training and competitive compensation is needed to attract new technicians to this growing field. We're happy to help out any way we can."

It has not yet been announced whether this program will remain limited to Hawaii or will be offered in other states.