Petty Family Foundation Joins Operative Talent Initiative
DANVILLE, VA, May 12, 2023 – The Petty Family Foundation is excited to announce that they have joined the ever-growing list of over 40 Operative Talent project partners with the shared goal of raising awareness around automotive industry career opportunities. They join Operative Talent founding partners KTL Restorations, BASF, and the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), along with key partners Auto Metal Direct, In The Garage Media and KC HiLiTES.
Petty Family Foundation Executive Director Rebecca Petty Moffitt noted, “The Petty Family Foundation is thrilled to support this initiative, as it aligns with our mission to enrich the lives of individuals through the automotive industry and help secure a promising future for the next generation of talent. We look forward to sharing details on this initiative with our followers and supporters to help raise additional awareness and support for this cause!”
Followers and supporters of The Petty Family Foundation will be encouraged to get involved with Operative Talent and participate in events taking place near them in Randleman, North Carolina, including an inaugural car, bike, and truck show in September. Anyone interested in attending should be on the lookout for information coming soon.
“We are excited to welcome the Petty Family Foundation to Operative Talent and collaborate with their team on the initiative,” added Brandon Eckenrode, managing director for CREF. “Now more than ever do we need to promote the industry’s career path opportunities to the younger generation and with the Petty Family Foundation, we can reach a bigger audience.”
The team of Operative Talent’s founding partners originally announced at SEMA 2021 the rebuilding and raffling of a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro called “Talent.” Raffle proceeds will fund a national campaign to educate the public on the collision industry, the industry’s many different career paths, and the need for entry-level staff due to an aging workforce, an issue shared among many technical trades.
“The automotive industry has always been a vital part of our economy and culture. However, there is still a significant knowledge gap when it comes to the rewarding career opportunities it offers,” said Crystal Lawrance, co-owner of KTL Restorations and co-founder of Operative Talent. “Our goal with Operative Talent is to bridge that gap and inspire a new generation of talent to explore the vast possibilities within this dynamic industry.”
“We believe that by showcasing the opportunities available in the automotive industry, we can help inspire a new generation of talented individuals to pursue a career in the field,” added Tina Nelles, marketing services manager for BASF. “We are excited to be collaborating with our partners to make this vision a reality.”
Expanding key partners across multiple sectors will enable the Operative Talent initiative to reach a larger audience and inspire young people to pursue career opportunities in automotive.
“Inspiring future generations of automotive gearheads have been part of KC’s DNA for over 50 years. I was personally inspired by KC when I saw all the off-road trucks like the Big Foot Truck to Ivan Stewart to Back To The Future Toyota Truck. Now that I work for this legendary brand, I want to pay it forward and inspire future generations of automotive builders, fabricators, and talent. We’re super excited to be working with Operative Talent and all the shakers-movers of our industry,” said Randy Wimenta, marketing activation manager for KC HiLiTES.
The car is set to unveil in early 2024 and the winner of Talent, the 1969 Camaro, will be announced live in September 2024. Be sure to follow Operative Talent and its amazing partners for announcements including a car show hosted by the Petty Family Foundation, The Hertz Drive for Talent, and many other planned initiatives to attract the next generation of talent.
Visit www.operativetalent.com to view details on the build and purchase raffle tickets or donate.
About Operative Talent
Operative Talent is a collaborative initiative dedicated to attracting future talent to the automotive industry by showcasing the diverse opportunities, success stories, and exciting segments within the field. Partnering with The Petty Family Foundation and the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), as well as industry-leading organizations like KTL Restorations, BASF, Auto Metal Direct, In The Garage Media, and KC HiLiTES, Operative Talent is committed to inspiring and empowering the next generation of automotive professionals.
Current Partners as of May 1, 2023 include:
Alumicraft Street Rod Grilles
Auto Metal Direct
Auto Shop Solutions
Baer Brakes
BASF Refinish
Big Kid Blocks
Black Pearl Showboards
Bowler Transmissions
CarBuff Network, LLC
Chrome Domz
Classic Car Studio
Collision Repair Education Foundation
Continental Tire
Covercraft
Dakota Digital
DEI: Design Engineering, Inc.
DeWitts Radiator
Dom Tucci Design
Eastside Motorsports
Foose Designs
Gandrud Performance Parts
Greening Auto Company
Griot’s Garage
GUNIWHEEL
Hertz
IDIDIT Steering
In the Garage Media
All Chevy Performance
Classic Truck
Modern Rodding
Indasa USA
KC HiLiTES
KTL Restorations, Inc
Magnified Production
Moore & Giles
Nessys Kustoms
Norton Saint-Gobain
Notstock Photography
Painless Performance Products
PaintZoo Studios
Petty’s Family Foundation
Petty’s Garage
Reliable Carriers, Inc
Ringbrothers
Roadster Shop
SATA by DAN-AM
The Shop LLC
Steele Rubber
Summit Racing
Thomas Engineering
Tremec Performance
Vintage Air
XS Power Batteries
For more information, contact: Crystal Lawrance and Tina Nelles, Co-Chairs of Operative Talent, Inc
Email: crystal@ktlrestorations.com; tina.nelles@basf.com
Phone: 434.685.7353