John Helterbrand, National Program Director at Collision Engineering Career Alliance

John Helterbrand is the National Program Director for the Collision Engineering Career Alliance. In this role, he is responsible for shaping the strategic direction and overseeing the operational excellence of the organization.

Helterbrand joined Ranken Technical College in 2003, after 20 years in the industry, as a full-time instructor specializing in structural damage repair and welding. In 2010, Helterbrand was promoted to Ranken's Collision Repair Department Chair. With his leadership, the department moved in a new direction by encouraging students and employers to collaborate through an internship training model and graduate top technicians. 

This workforce development model later became the basis for the Collision Engineering Career Alliance, co-founded in 2020 by the Enterprise Mobility foundation and Ranken Technical College in St. Louis.

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.