iv About the Author Michael Crandell is a retired professor from Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, IL, where he taught collision repair and refinishing for 19 years. He began his automotive career through on-the-job training as a painter in an auto body shop in Peoria Heights, IL. After gaining extensive experience, Mr. Crandell opened his own collision repair shop, Smash Palace, which he operated successfully for 17 years. Fueled by a desire to do his best, he earned ASE certification as a Master Collision Repair Technician, as well as a Collision Repair Estimator. As a collision repair instructor, Mr. Crandell learned that the best way to teach students hands-on skills is to break down complex tasks into a series of simple steps. He says that teaching has been his greatest learning experience. Michael Crandell’s in-depth knowledge of auto collision repair and refinishing technology is based on a solid foundation of training and practical work experience in all aspects of the business. The lessons he learned as a technician, a collision repair business owner, and a teacher are infused into every page of this textbook.