Ladies in Collision: Shauna Davis, Kaizen Glass Solutions

by Alana Quartuccio

Some of this industry’s most successful leaders are female. As this feature continues to prove time and time again, the ladies in collision are all over the map – fixing cars, mastering automotive technology and making waves here in the Lone Star State and all over the country. This month, Texas Automotive sat down with Shauna Davis, president and founder of Kaizen Glass Solutions. She has over two decades of experience in the automotive world and is super passionate about quality auto-glass education. Read on to learn all about how Shauna got her start at being a leading auto glass expert.

Texas Automotive: Let’s start off getting to know you better! What role do you currently play in the industry?

Shauna Davis: I own Kaizen Glass Solutions. We’re a training center focused primarily on auto glass training, helping shops bring auto glass in-house or expand their service offerings. We also train new employees for existing glass shops, as well as individuals looking for a career change or wanting to add new skills.

We also provide hands-on training in ADAS calibration, windshield repair, wheel restoration and flat glass – because these services all connect to one another.

I’m really passionate about offering education that’s accessible and raising awareness around these career paths that are often overlooked as career or entrepreneurial options. We make it easy for anyone interested in learning these trades by meeting them at the level that they are at, guiding them step by step, and supporting them beyond the classroom. I’m especially proud of how we take care of people – helping them get started, building their confidence and connecting them with the tools and resources they need to succeed.

TXA: What led you to an automotive career?

SD: I’ve been in the auto glass industry since 2002, so it’s been 24 years now. sometimes it just feels like yesterday. I kind of just landed in it by fault. I started as a receptionist with an auto glass tool company right here in Texas. Within a few months, I worked my way up and ultimately became the global sales and marketing director and travelled the world doing demonstrations at trade shows, networking and building relationships and sharing knowledge early on in my career. I was put through a training program that is similar to the program I offer people now. Through that experience, I learned how critical the windshield is. Everyone might think it’s just there to keep the wind and bugs out. I realized then that it’s my responsibility to educate people on the safety factor that your windshield plays and how essential it is for someone to be qualified and properly trained to do this work. It’s been my mission since then. I am a self-proclaimed auto glass expert/educator and safety advocate. I believe in doing the job the right way, staying connected to what’s new and up and coming so people are aware of what they need to know in order to do the job properly and what challenges may come their way.

TXA: When did your work with auto glass begin to expand into the collision repair industry?

SD: Body shops did their own glass until adhesives and windshield technology began to change that. Then body shops started to realize they didn’t want the liability involved with the advanced auto glass work, so they began to sublet. Before I started Kaizen, when more ADAS features were rolled out somewhere around 2015-2016, I started to see a trend of body shops coming to me asking about how they can learn about auto glass. That trend continued to grow and grow. Through my travels and networking, I began to connect with more people on the collision side of the industry and started to really pay attention to what works for them. I then began working to bridge the gap between auto glass and collision. Now, it’s the biggest trend in the industry. I am proud I listened to my instincts. Today, we see so much technology in these windshields and glass in general, plus there is so much liability that anyone who works on a vehicle needs to be aware of how to properly replace or be educated about who they sublet the work to to make sure it’s a company that is qualified and will follow proper procedures.

TXA: What led you to start working with ABAT?

SD: I wanted to stay as connected and close as possible to the collision industry to keep on top of what was happening in the industry. So, early on as I began to launch Kaizen Glass Solutions, I signed up to be a member of ABAT to stay informed of what Texas shops are dealing with. Jill Tuggle is definitely an industry leader. I’m very excited about everything she and ABAT have done on the legislative side here in Texas. It’s super exciting to work with her as she is so passionate about similar things that resonate with me. My passion is educating people about auto glass safety and the proper procedures involved. In Texas, there is no regulation or licensing to do this kind of work, and it’s unfortunate because it’s one of the largest safety pieces in your vehicle. If a non-qualified person were to perform this work, it could cause a huge problem for the passengers of that vehicle. It’s inspiring to work closely with Jill and take her lead on some of the things we could do on the auto glass side.

TXA: What would you say are some of the challenges that you’ve seen women encounter, and if you have experienced any yourself, how did you combat them?

SD: I’m seeing a big shift in a positive way that the industry treats women. Early on in my career, it was as though you had to prove that you were knowledgeable, like where someone may bypass you to speak to the male boss or they might tend to gravitate toward the male representative at the company to ask the technical questions. One of my great stories – and I have many of them – is that if people went to the men I worked with instead of me with questions, those male co-workers would ultimately wind up literally leading them back to me for the answers. Today, there’s still just a little bit of that, but I see a big difference. I think women are much more well-respected than in the past. I love that women are really coming into more leadership roles in the industry. They stay connected and they do things – not to prove themselves – but to really have people take note, and it makes people realize this is someone I want to work with and learn from. I can share stories for days (laughs), but I thankfully don’t really see women being overlooked that much anymore.

TXA: What do you love most about the industry?

SD: I would say it’s the people and the ever-changing technology, the processes, the procedures, the new cars that are coming out, the new technology that’s going into them. It’s really great because for someone like me who doesn’t like to do mundane repetitive things all the time, this industry keeps you learning and connected. There’s always updates about procedures, especially with vehicle manufacturers. There’s always a need to keep people educated and connected. People all across the country have the same mission to want to do things the right way. I think one of the biggest things is finding solutions to what is coming our way next and to be able to come together on that. I can’t stress the relationship factor enough. I don’t think I’d be where I’m at today without some of the people I’ve met along the way and realizing that they are here to help you as much as you are there to help them.

TXA: What’s life like outside of work?

SD: I’m pretty much a workaholic (laughs), but when I do get a few minutes or hours, my two teenage children, ages 17 and 14, keep me busy with their activities. My daughter is a cheerleader, so her practices and competition keep me busy, and my son is active with football and golf. I am a bowler, and I am in a bowling league with my sister and cousin that meets once a week – this ensures all three of us can spend some time together.. I don’t have a lot of personal time outside of that and when I do I try to get a workout in and some quality time with my closest friends.

TXA: What encouraging words do you have for any women interested in pursuing a career in this field?

SD: Knowledge is power. Educate yourself as much as you can, not just in what you are working in, but on all the things connected to that. It’ll help you grow tremendously to know how, if you stay connected to anything that relates to the work you are in. Stay on top of what is happening in the world as it relates to the industry as a whole. And definitely network. Your network is your biggest asset. A great network will have you surrounded by people that will help you grow. And in turn, you will inspire others and the next generation of people as well.

Want more? Check out the February 2026 issue of Texas Automotive!