MEADVILLE, PA — Rick Fischer, a territory manager for PPG Automotive Refinish, has received the 2006 Pennsylvania SkillsUSA Business and Industry Leader Award for his efforts on behalf of the Auto Collision Repair Technology shop at Crawford County Area Vocational Technical School (AVTS) in Meadville, PA. In addition to the award he received from SkillsUSA, Fischer also received a citation from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for Industry Leadership and his contributions to the school.

Fischer has been involved with the education of Crawford County AVTS students for the past 15 years. He serves on the Auto Collision Repair Technology shop’s Advisory Committee; has sponsored scholarships for students to attend the National Training Center for Industry Training and has led workshops for students, supplying all materials and supplies. He was instrumental in arranging for PPG to donate equipment and supplies to the school’s shop, and facilitated field trips to the PPG warehouse at the Lordstown Assembly Plant. Fischer also assisted in the creation of a certification program for students that provides curriculum and testing for qualified seniors to become PPG Certified Paint Technicians.

SkillsUSA (formerly VICA – Vocational Industrial Clubs of America) is a national non-profit organization of students, teachers and industry representatives working together to ensure America has a skilled work force. PPG has been a supporter of SkillsUSA for many years. A number of PPG instructors act as judges at local and state skills competitions and many PPG personnel have held positions on the USA Advisory Board and the SkillsUSA Youth Development Foundation since the organization was founded in 1965.

For more information on SkillsUSA, go to: www.skillsusa.org .

For more information on PPG Automotive Refinish, go to: www.ppgrefinish.com .

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