Ladies in Collision: Diane Benting, Body Shop Jobs

by Alana Quartuccio

This month, we feature a lady in collision who not only is a fine example of a collision lady entrepreneur but – as the president and founder of Body Shop Jobs – she also happens to specialize in helping connect companies with the right woman OR man for the job in the collision repair space. There really is no stopping women from making their mark in this industry! Read on to learn more about Diane Benting and Body Shop Jobs!

Texas Automotive: Tell us about Body Shop Jobs and how it came to be.

Diane Benting: Body Shop Jobs is a job board that serves the entire automotive collision industry. It is not just for the body shops; it’s for anyone in the automotive collision space – distributors, manufacturers, rep agencies, anyone doing heavy duty work. I designed it to be all encompassing.

The idea of Body Shop Jobs came during the COVID pandemic. I was pregnant at that time and found myself twiddling my thumbs a bit as I was unable to visit shops for the job I had at that time. So, I asked myself what else I could do. I had already been helping body shops find new employees, and then the great idea came to me to launch a dedicated job board for the industry. I did the research and began to build it out on my own until I found a web development company that could design beyond my own capabilities.

Once it was designed, I launched Body Shop Jobs in April 2023. It’s the “Indeed” job site for the automotive collision industry. Anyone looking for a job can post a resume for free and apply to jobs for free. Employers pay a fee for job postings. It’s a nationwide job board, so if one is looking to relocate, they can use it to find a new position in their targeted area. They can also use it to search for jobs in their local area.

TXA: You’ve been in the auto body business for a while prior to starting Body Shop Jobs. How did you first get your start in the auto body world?

DB: I graduated college with a degree in marketing and photography. I went to work for Tasco Auto Color as a graphic designer, and I worked my way up to becoming their marketing director. When I had the idea for Body Shop Jobs, I approached Tasco to let them know I planned to start this venture. They agreed that it was a great idea and something the industry needed. I had their full support. I love Tasco Color, and I will always support them, but it was time for me to take on a new venture by launching Body Shop Jobs.

TXA: Women are obviously no stranger to this industry, but unfortunately, that doesn’t mean women don’t still encounter challenges in a male-dominated industry. Being that you are in the staffing and recruiting space, what are some of the biggest challenges you believe women face at times?

DB: The automotive industry is just very male-dominated, so for women to get their foot in the door and prove themselves, I feel like women often have to work a little bit harder to prove that we are capable of doing everything. This especially applies to female painters and body technicians. Even in my area of the industry, I’ve had people offer to “let me carry that for you” if I happen to be carrying something, and I tell them I’m perfectly fine to carry it myself. Just because I’m a woman, doesn’t mean I can’t do something. So, it’s overcoming those obstacles to show that you are capable of being a painter, body tech, detailer, manager or an owner. And because of the way our brains operate, female managers can really help a body shop because we often see the bigger picture. Women come in, clean up, organize and take care of things differently than men do just based on the different way our brains tend to operate. Women can be especially great with the organization of a body shop.

TXA: From your perspective with helping people finding roles in the industry, are you finding more women entering this industry?

DB: I am seeing more women enter the industry over the past several years. I think there is plenty of space for women. There’s definitely an uptick in how many are coming into it.

TXA: What about the industry do you love the most?

DB: I love that you get such different personalities and such a good mixture of people. If you were in the tech world, you’d have a bunch of people working behind computers or from home. Here in the automotive industry, you have people from all different backgrounds, from all different walks of life, all working together to make sure people can get themselves and their families from point A to point B in safely repaired vehicles.

TXA: What is life like outside of the automotive industry? Any interesting hobbies?

DB: I have a four- and five-year old, so they keep me very busy. My social life has changed since having my children. Life is a lot more about baseball and softball games now.

TXA: What encouraging words would you give to other women interested in entering the world of collision?

DB: Put yourself out there. If you are interested in something that you know you can do and want to try, get out there and tell your manager or boss. Tell them you can do it and want to try. Let them see your commitment, and opportunities will follow. Voice your opinions.

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