For one ĢƵ (CWI) graduate, the journey to a fulfilling career didn’t start in a classroom - it started with a paint booth, a glass window, and a little curiosity.
At 23, after holding what felt like every dead-end job, Jessica Crowley found herself working at a local body shop. “I was the gopher,” she laughed. “I did everything from taking out the trash to moving cars around.”
But what truly captured her interest was the painter on the other side of the glass.
“He wasn’t very friendly,” she recalled. “But I’d stand there and just watch him. I thought, ‘That is so cool. I want to do that.’”
With encouragement from her mother, Crowley enrolled in CWI’s Collision Repair Technology program. It wasn’t long before she realized she had found more than just a class. She had found her calling.
A Program That Sparked a Passion
“I loved going to school at CWI and I absolutely loved this program.” Crowley said. “It was just the best two years of my life.”
It wasn’t just the classroom that changed her life. It was - a competition that put her skills to the test on a national level and helped launch her career.
“SkillsUSA is what changed my life in this industry, period. It changed my trajectory, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without my involvement in SkillsUSA...I competed my first year and took second,” she said. “That lit a fire under me. I wanted gold.”
Crowley’s second year, she got her gold and not only won the state competition but went on to take third place in the nation.
During that national competition, a representative from , one of the largest paint companies in the world, handed her a business card. “I didn’t think too much of it at the time,” she said. “But that ended up being the beginning of my career.”
From CWI to Career Success
After graduating from CWI, Crowley painted for a year at Idaho Wrecker Sales while interviewing with PPG. The process took months and included cross-country flights and formal dinners she had never experienced before. Eventually, she was hired and relocated to Baltimore, Maryland.
In the years that followed, she held multiple roles at PPG, living and working across the country - from Maryland to Northern California - before eventually returning to Idaho.
Today, she serves as a Commercial Regional Manager at PPG, leading a team of 11 people across 16 western states. Together, they sell industrial coatings used in everything from flowerpots to farm equipment.
Giving Back to the Next Generation
Now that Crowley is back in Idaho, she gives back to the same competition that changed her life.
“I run the spot repair portion of the competition,” she said. “And I also help run the national competition.”
For her, staying involved is more than just paying it forward - it’s essential for the future of the industry.
“There’s a huge skills gap,” she said. “Our industry is aging, and if we don’t have support - from donors, from companies, from people willing to share what they know - we won’t have the workforce we need.”
Crowley also encourages industry leaders and potential donors to invest in programs like CWI’s.
“We need community support,” she said. “Without it, students miss out on opportunities, and our industry continues to shrink. The people who helped me along the way gave freely of their time and knowledge. Now it’s my turn.”
Advice for Students Considering CWI
To students considering CWI or the skilled trades, Crowley’s advice is clear.
“If academics were never your thing, but you know you need to do something to get ahead in life – come to CWI and study a skilled trade,” she said. “The trades will give you a good life. I pay my own bills, I own a home, I work for a Fortune 500 company, and I make my own schedule.”
The key, she says, is dedication.
“If you show up, work hard, and put in the effort, this industry will take care of you.”
