Only this “inside man” is a woman who has worked her way up from aisle mechanic to I-CAR certified estimator.

CARSTAR, North America’s premier network of independent collision repair shops, honors women owners, managers, appraisers and technicians on International Women’s Day on March 8. One of those women is Ciciora, who turned her passion for cars into a career in collision repair.

“I started at CARSTAR Danrich as a repair consultant, answering phones and scheduling customers,” Ciciora said. “I had no prior experience with the collision repair industry before this. Ever since I was younger, I’ve always been surrounded by friends who love cars and trucks. I bought my own 2016 RAM 2500 truck and started working there doing cosmetic and mechanical repairs.

“I find car repairs fun but challenging because of all the complex components involved,” Ciciora said. “I knew I wanted to land somewhere in the automotive industry. After a few months of up-front work, I started getting into estimating and working with insurance companies. I discovered that this industry is constantly evolving with new vehicle technologies, which makes it interesting and a continuous learning opportunity.

At CARSTAR Danrich, Ciciora’s job title is Internal Analyst. Unlike most coachbuilders, they are primarily insurance-focused and not customer-focused, responsible for maintaining all relationships with their partners and other businesses.

“I take my job very seriously,” Ciciora said. “I oversee payments for all repairs, that we are compliant with our partners, and that we follow all OEM guidelines for proper repair. I write all the preliminary quotes, as well as all the quotes and/or additions coming out of pre-series (post dismantling). All work that passes through our facilities is supervised by me from the day the vehicle arrives on site until the day the vehicle is delivered to ensure…