Developing the next generation of skilled leaders

By Dani Sheehan. 

By participating in SkillsUSA, the roofing community creates opportunities for students to train with real materials, use real systems and develop a career path that leads directly into the field. 

When you think about the next generation of roofing professionals, what comes to mind? Skilled hands, certainly, but also sharp minds, problem solvers and leaders who understand safety, collaboration and professionalism. For six decades, SkillsUSA has been building that future workforce. 

As the nation’s leading workforce development organization for students, SkillsUSA serves more than 444,000 student and teacher members across the country in over 130 occupational areas. From welding and construction to 3D design and commercial roofing, the organization’s mission is to ensure every student leaves empowered and career ready day one – equipped not only with technical skill, but with the personal and workplace competencies that employers say make all the difference. 

“We truly do create a pipeline of career-ready students through what we call the SkillsUSA Framework,” shared Chelle Travis, national executive director of SkillsUSA. “It’s the blueprint for everything we do.” 

The framework that builds leaders 

That framework, developed with input from more than 1,000 industry partners, focuses on three pillars: personal skills, workplace skills and technical skills grounded in academics. According to Chelle, it’s this blend of technical excellence and employability that sets SkillsUSA students apart. “Employers often tell us they hire for technical skills but fire for soft skills,” she explained. “SkillsUSA students have both. They’re dependable, adaptable and ready to work from day one.” 

The results speak for themselves. Industry partners across the country have begun to recognize the SkillsUSA difference in applicants. Some employers even look for SkillsUSA participation as a first screening criterion, knowing those students already have the communication, teamwork and professionalism needed on the job site. 

Connecting education and industry 

SkillsUSA operates as a bridge between education and the workforce, ensuring that what students learn aligns with real-world industry needs. That connection happens through work-based learning programs, live industry panels, mentorship and credentialing opportunities. 

A recent innovation, SkillsUSA Pathful, extends that bridge to every classroom, allowing students in urban and rural areas alike to connect digitally with industry experts. “We’re meeting students where they are,” Chelle said. “Through Pathful — an all-in-one career exploration and workforce readiness platform, they can interact with live industry panels, explore different career paths and start to build their professional network long before graduation.” 

By making these connections early, SkillsUSA helps students develop what Chelle calls their occupational identity – a sense of who they are and where they fit in the workforce. It’s one reason the organization has expanded to include middle school programs, introducing career awareness earlier to combat misconceptions about skilled trades. “Research shows that by eighth grade, students have already ruled out many of the careers we serve – simply because of lack of awareness,” she noted. “We want to change that.” 

The world’s largest showcase of skilled talent 

One of the most visible expressions of SkillsUSA’s mission is the National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC), the largest event of its kind showcasing the future skilled workforce. This year’s conference hosted over 19,000 attendees, including 6,800 competitors across 114 skill categories, all under one roof. “It’s 31 football fields of skilled competition,” Chelle shared with pride. “There’s truly nothing else like it.” 

In addition to competitions, students can explore one of the largest technical expos (TECHSPO) in education, featuring over 250 exhibitors, hands-on learning stations and opportunities to earn industry-recognized credentials. There are so many opportunities to learn at the TECHSPO, one of which is at the Roofing Pavillion where attendees can try heat welding a TPO roofing membrane. The event also brings together educators, industry leaders and policymakers for SkillsUSA’s Workforce Development Summit, focusing on challenges and innovations shaping the future of skilled trades. 

Building the future workforce 

Over the past 20 years, SkillsUSA has nearly doubled its membership, added dozens of new competitions and expanded its reach across every education level. With its focus on connecting students, schools and employers, the organization continues to redefine what workforce development looks like in America. 

“We are workforce development,” Chelle said simply. “Our mission is to elevate skilled careers, connect students with their future and ensure every graduate is ready to lead.” For the roofing industry, SkillsUSA represents more than competition. It’s a blueprint for building confident, capable professionals who are ready to take the industry to new heights.