Por The Coffee Shops.™ 

El roofing encontró energía, talento e impulso en el evento de este año. 

La industria del roofing tuvo una destacada participación en SkillsUSA 2026, y la conclusión fue clara: la próxima generación de profesionales de los oficios especializados está lista para incorporarse al mundo laboral. Celebrado durante la National Leadership & Skills Conference en Atlanta, el evento reunió a estudiantes, educadores y líderes de la industria para competencias prácticas, exploración de carreras y desarrollo de la fuerza laboral. Más de 19,000 personas asistieron y 7,000 estudiantes compitieron en 115 concursos, demostrando la gran energía y las oportunidades que actualmente rodean a los oficios especializados. 

Los estudiantes llegan con confianza y curiosidad 

Durante una conversación desde el piso de exhibición, Heidi J. Ellsworth, Karen Edwards y Lauren White de RoofersCoffeeShop® compartieron lo que más les llamó la atención del evento este año. Para Lauren, quien ha asistido a las competencias de SkillsUSA durante los últimos tres años, fueron los propios estudiantes. “Te miran a los ojos. Te hacen preguntas interesantes. Te dan la mano. No están viendo sus teléfonos,” comentó. “Están felices de estar aquí. Están felices de tener buenas conversaciones.” A lo largo del evento, estudiantes de diversos oficios mostraron interés en aprender más sobre el roofing y sobre las oportunidades profesionales que ofrece la industria. 

Esa curiosidad es importante. Lauren comentó que los estudiantes hacían preguntas como, “Cuéntame más. Háblame sobre roofing,” lo que demuestra el impacto que puede tener una simple conversación. Karen observó una tendencia similar al entrevistar a estudiantes, muchos de los cuales hablaron sobre cómo SkillsUSA les ayudó a desarrollar confianza en sí mismos y a salir de su zona de confort. Esa disposición para intentar cosas nuevas, aprender y crecer es precisamente lo que convierte a SkillsUSA en una sólida fuente de talento para los oficios especializados. 

La magnitud del evento reforzó ese mensaje. Los campeonatos ocuparon el Georgia World Congress Center, un recinto que cuenta con más de cuatro millones de pies cuadrados de espacio para reuniones y eventos, y que requirió el apoyo de casi 2,000 voluntarios de la industria para llevar a cabo las competencias. En el área de roofing, National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) continúa ampliando la presencia de la industria a través de la competencia de roofing comercial, que este año contó con 22 participantes.

El Roofing Pavilion sigue creciendo 

Lauren señaló que el Roofing Pavilion es una de las señales más claras de que la industria está comprometida con el desarrollo de la fuerza laboral. “Nuestro Roofing Pavilion crece cada año y siempre logra llamar la atención,” afirmó. Este año, el pabellón mostró más segmentos de la industria, incluyendo sistemas de teja y metal, ofreciendo a estudiantes y visitantes una visión más amplia de las oportunidades disponibles dentro del roofing. “Realmente están tratando de incluir todos los aspectos del roofing y todos los tipos de roofing para mostrar lo que es posible dentro de la industria,” explicó Lauren. 

Una industria, una oportunidad 

Ese apoyo más amplio por parte de la industria es una parte fundamental de la historia. La NRCA destaca que contratistas, fabricantes, distribuidores y asociaciones tienen un papel importante al apoyar programas locales, donar materiales, participar en competencias y fortalecer relaciones con escuelas y centros educativos. Ese espíritu de colaboración quedó claramente reflejado durante la conversación. Como señaló Heidi: “No se trata solo de los contratistas, no se trata solo de los fabricantes, no se trata solo de la distribución. Somos todos. Una sola voz. Una sola industria.” En SkillsUSA, ese mensaje se siente auténtico. Los estudiantes no solo observan desde las gradas. Muchos ya están estableciendo contactos, participando en entrevistas y, en algunos casos, obteniendo ofertas de trabajo antes de que concluya el evento. Uno de los competidores compartió que ya había recibido oportunidades laborales adicionales mientras participaba en la competencia, una señal clara de que los empleadores están prestando atención. 

Para una industria que continúa enfrentando escasez de mano de obra, SkillsUSA es mucho más que un evento inspirador: es parte de la solución. “No solo es una experiencia que te hace sentir bien, también ofrece soluciones reales para nuestros desafíos de fuerza laboral y escasez de trabajadores,” comentó Heidi. Su mensaje para los contratistas fue sencillo: “Si eres contratista, involúcrate.” Lauren sugirió un primer paso práctico: asistir a una competencia estatal, dedicar tiempo a conocer a estudiantes e instructores y comenzar a construir relaciones a nivel local. Ese enfoque local es una de las mejores maneras en que las empresas de roofing pueden fortalecer su fuente de talento. Participar con escuelas cercanas, apoyar programas educativos y colaborar en competencias como voluntarios, capacitadores o patrocinadores puede generar un impacto real, tanto para los estudiantes como para el futuro de la industria. 

Y los ganadores son... 

Nivel preparatoria 

• Primer lugar: Mason Miller, de Larned High School en Larned, Kansas 
• Segundo lugar: Nathan Lutz-Santos, de Lebanon High School en Lebanon, Tennessee 
• Tercer lugar: Austin Gibson, de Golden Strip Career Center en Greenville, Carolina del Sur 

Nivel postsecundario 

• Primer lugar: Sean McWilliams, de Alfred State College – School of Applied Technology 
• Segundo lugar: John Prophete, de Orange Technical College – West Campus en Ocoee, Florida 
• Tercer lugar: Adam Thornton, de Central Georgia Technical College en Macon, Georgia 

Al finalizar la semana, una cosa quedó clara: SkillsUSA 2026 fue mucho más que una celebración del talento. Fue una demostración de que el futuro del roofing ya está tomando forma. Los estudiantes aportaron habilidades, profesionalismo y curiosidad. La industria aportó oportunidades, visibilidad y apoyo. Juntos generaron el impulso necesario para abrir puertas, lanzar carreras profesionales y fortalecer los oficios especializados durante muchos años. 

Mira el video completo de cierre en vivo desde el Roofing Pavilion de SkillsUSA: 

¡Consulta la lista completa de entrevistas para conocer la experiencia de SkillsUSA directamente de la voz de los estudiantes!

By The Coffee Shops.™ 

Roofing found energy, talent and momentum at this year’s event.  

The roofing industry made a strong showing at SkillsUSA 2026, and the takeaway was clear: the next generation of skilled tradespeople is ready to get to work. Held during the National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta, the event brought together students, educators and industry leaders for hands-on competitions, career exploration and workforce development. More than 19,000 people attended, and 7,000 students competed in 115 contests, showing just how much energy and opportunity is surrounding the skilled trades right now. 

Students bring confidence and curiosity 

In a conversation from the show floor, Heidi J. Ellsworth, Karen Edwards and Lauren White of RoofersCoffeeShop® shared what stood out most at this year’s event. For Lauren, who has attended SkillsUSA competitions for the past three years, it was the students themselves. “They’re making eye contact with you. They’re asking you thoughtful questions. They’re shaking your hand. They’re not looking at their phones,” she said. “They’re happy to be here. They’re happy to have good conversations.” Across the event, students from a range of trades were eager to learn more about roofing and where a career in the industry could take them. 

That curiosity matters. Lauren said students were asking questions like, “Tell me more. Tell me about roofing,” which showed how much impact a simple conversation can have. Karen heard a similar theme while interviewing students, many of whom talked about how SkillsUSA helped them build confidence and push past their comfort zones. That willingness to try, learn and grow is exactly what makes SkillsUSA such a strong pipeline for the trades. 

The size of the event reinforced that message. The championships filled the Georgia World Congress Center, a venue that features more than four million square feet of meeting and event space and relied on nearly 2,000 industry volunteers to support the competitions. On the roofing side, the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) continues to expand the industry’s presence through the commercial roofing competition, which featured 22 competitors this year. 

The Roofing Pavilion keeps growing 

Lauren pointed to the Roofing Pavilion as one of the clearest signs the industry is serious about workforce development. “Our roofing pavilion gets bigger every year, and it always makes a statement,” she said.

This year, the pavilion showcased more parts of the industry, including tile and metal, giving students and visitors a broader look at the opportunities available in roofing. “They’re really trying to pull in all aspects of roofing, and all types of roofing to show what’s possible in the industry,” Lauren said. 

One industry, one opportunity 

That broader industry support is a big part of the story. NRCA emphasizes that contractors, manufacturers, distributors and trade groups all have a role to play by supporting local programs, donating materials, showing up at competitions and building relationships with schools. 

That spirit of collaboration came through clearly in the conversation. As Heidi put it, “It’s not just contractors, it’s not just manufacturers, it’s not just distribution. It’s all of us. One voice. One industry.” At SkillsUSA, that message feels real. Students are not just watching from the sidelines. Many are already networking, interviewing, and, in some cases, getting hired before the event concludes. One student competitor shared that he had already received additional offers while attending the competition, a sign that employers are paying attention. 

For an industry facing ongoing labor shortages, SkillsUSA is more than an inspiring event, it’s part of the solution. “It’s not only a feel-good experience, but also real solutions for our workforce and labor shortage,” Heidi said. Her message to contractors was simple: “If you’re a contractor, get involved.” Lauren suggested a practical first step: attend a state competition, spend time getting to know students and instructors, and start building relationships locally. 

That local-first approach is one of the best ways roofing companies can strengthen their workforce pipeline. Getting involved with nearby schools, supporting curriculum and showing up at competitions as volunteers, trainers or sponsors can make a real difference, both for students and for the future of the industry. 

And the winners are... 

High school 

• First place: Mason Miller from Larned High School in Larned, Kansas 
• Second place: Nathan Lutz-Santos form Lebanon High School in Lebanon, Tennessee 
• Third place:  Austin Gibson from Golden Strip Career Center in Greenville, South Carolina 

Post-secondary level 

• First place: Sean McWilliams from Alfred State College-School of Applied Technology 
• Second place: John Prophete from Orange Technical College – West Campus in Ocoee, Florida 
• Third place: Adam Thornton from Central Georgia Technical College in Macon, Georgia 

By the end of the week, one thing was obvious: SkillsUSA 2026 was more than a celebration of talent. It was proof that roofing’s future is already taking shape. The students brought skill, professionalism and curiosity. The industry brought opportunity, visibility and support. Together, they created the kind of momentum that can open doors, launch careers and strengthen the trades for years to come. 

Watch the full wrap up video live from the Roofing Pavilion at SkillsUSA: 

Check out the full playlist of interviews to hear about SkillsUSA from the students themselves!

By Jenny Yu.  

The Malco Group highlights training and mentorship as essential to addressing the industry's labor shortage. 

Nobody in the industry gets to where they are alone, and with an ongoing labor shortage, participating in hands-on mentorship and training programs are more important than ever. In a recent episode of MetalCast™, Karen Edwards sat down with Jon Olson, MetalCoffeeShop® Influencer and learning and product training manager for The Malco Group, to discuss how training, mentorship and industry involvement can help bridge the talent gap. 

According to Jon, the challenge facing the trades is twofold: an aging workforce and fewer young people entering the industry with hands-on experience. “The industry is facing a major generational transition,” Jon stated. “Too many people are retiring for the number of people coming in.” 

To help address that challenge, Malco has invested heavily in workforce development initiatives. Through programs such as their Head of the Class Student Recognition Program, as well as partnerships with organizations like SkillsUSA and Building Talent Foundation, the company works to introduce students and aspiring trade professionals to rewarding careers in the skilled trades. “Training, in many ways, is the industry solution to try and bridge that gap between, ‘I'm just starting out,’ and ‘I'm a productive addition to the team,’” Jon explained. 

Beyond formal training, Jon emphasized the importance of mentorship and creating a culture of continuous learning, not only for those new to the industry but for everyone. He encourages contractors to adopt a mindset of “winning and learning,” where every challenge becomes an opportunity for growth.  

“Training doesn't need to be over-structured,” Jon said. “You need to embrace each opportunity you have through continuous improvement and other means to really allow people to learn in their own way.” 

As labor challenges continue across the construction sector, Jon believes contractors who embrace this type of culture while prioritizing training, mentorship and professional development will be best positioned to build stronger teams and long-term success. 

Listen to the full podcast or Watch the recording to learn more about workforce development, training and Malco's impact on the overall future of the skilled trades. 

By Lauren White. 

Oregon students showcased impressive talent, leadership and career-ready skills at the SkillsUSA state competition. 

With the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference just around the corner, I started reflecting on my recent experience at the state competition in Oregon just last month. This year was my second time attending and witnessing students from across the state compete in cake decorating, pin design, carpentry, urban search and rescue, among other skills. And making a comeback this year was commercial roofing thanks to Eric, a student at McMinnville High School. 

Eric stumbled into the roofing competition this year. Typically a welding student, he happened to be wearing a Carlson Roofing Company hat to class one day – Eric's dad Mike is the current owner – which sparked a conversation with his teacher and SkillsUSA advisor Mr. Ford. After that, Eric entered the roofing competition under the mentorship of his father. If he decides to pursue roofing in the future, he would be a fifth-generation roofer! 

I was lucky enough to spend the day with Eric and his family; his mom and little brother came to check in on his progress and cheer him on throughout the day. Fellow classmates, competitors and industry professionals also stopped by to see Eric in action. Stationed outside the welding classroom at McMinnville High School I witnessed some of the welding competitions taking place. I’m always so impressed by these students and what they're capable of at such a young age.  

Eric finished strong, completing all of the necessary tasks of his competition, including clean up within the allotted time of four hours. And he is advancing to the national competition taking place June 2-5 in Atlanta, Georgia at the Georgia World Congress Center.  

Hear from Eric about his experience competing: 

Day two of the competition was spent at the Knife River Training Facility in Albany, Oregon. This is where most of the competitions take place, but others like roofing, welding and carpentry take place off site either at schools or different facilities that have the space, materials and equipment necessary for the competitions. Cake decorating, robotics and various soft skills like interviewing, pin and t-shirt design and prepared speech were taking place all throughout the day before the awards ceremony. I was able to catch up with a few educators and advisors I met last year, one of whom is Daniel Langston of Eagle Point High School – they always have a big presence at the state competition. And there are 15 students from Eagle Point who are advancing to the national competition in June! Hear from some of the students from Eagle Point about their experience competing and what SkillsUSA means to them.

I also had the opportunity to speak with three students who are also part of the state officer team, and let me tell you, this was a fun interview! Akshara, Theron and Gayathri were so thoughtful with their answers and had so many interesting insights. A few that stood out were: 

Theron: "SkillsUSA is all about developing leadership skills and workplace skills because all these challenges here today in the competitions, they're all related to a vocation or a career field. But it's more than just preparing you for this specific competition; it’s also preparing you for how to interact with people and how to be a good teammate, be a good manager, how to lead properly. And to me, SkillsUSA is built around making a well-rounded person.” 

Akshara: "I've never met such a wide and diverse group of people until I came to the conference of SkillsUSA. There are industry partners, advisors, students from all over Oregon, and we all have the same common interest: we want to be leaders, we want to be powerful, we’re passionate, and we have this one unifying principle of community.” 

Gayathri: “I feel like it's more of an exploration. There's a wide range of events; you could just try anything you wanted to. I tried cake decorating for fun and next year I might do something that's engineering related.” 

And just next week, thousands of students like the ones in these interviews will head to Atlanta to compete at the national competition. Be sure to tune in on YouTube June 2-4 for live updates from the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference as The Coffee Shops will be reporting live from the Roofing Pavilion, made possible by the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) and various industry partners and sponsors. You won’t want to miss it! 

Check out the full playlist for more interviews and insights from the students at the Oregon competition!

SkillsUSA is empowering the next generation of skilled professionals and industry leaders. 

The Coffee Shops™, the award-winning online communities where the industries meet for technologies, safety, information and education for the construction trades of roofing, metal, coatings and outdoor living are pleased to welcome SkillsUSA into their community. 

SkillsUSA is the number one workforce development organization for students. Founded in 1965, SkillsUSA is one of eight career and technical student organizations (CTSOs) authorized by the U.S. Department of Education through the Vocational Educational Act of 1963.  

Today, SkillsUSA has more than 440,000 student members, is present in more than 5,000 schools and works with over 23,000 professional members (teachers). Their programming operates under the SkillsUSA Framework of integrating personal, workplace and technical skills into academic curriculum. Through this framework, SkillsUSA students learn and develop in more than 100 occupational areas, from 3D animation to commercial roofing to speech and beyond. 

Another aspect of SkillsUSA programming is competition. Throughout the year, regional competitions are held, creating spaces for students to display what they have learned through their career and technical education programs. This all culminates at the annual National Leadership & Skills Conference in June. At this conference, state champions compete for national titles in more than 100 career and leadership competitions in the SkillsUSA Championships. 

SkillsUSA’s programming not only empowers students to become “skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members,” but also uplifts the industries they are learning about. Hands-on trades continue to face an increasing skill gap and labor shortage. And SkillsUSA has prepared more than 16 million diverse, difference-making students into careers in these fields over the course of its existence.  

At the end of the day, SkillsUSA changes classrooms, workplaces and lives for the better.  

The Coffee Shops are proud to welcome SkillsUSA!

By Jenny Yu.  

The SkillsUSA 2026 Championship will connect students, educators, contractors and manufacturers through hands-on skilled trades competitions. 

After a year of honing their skills and participating in local competitions, students from across the country are set to compete at the culminating event: the SkillsUSA 2026 Championship. Taking place at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta from June 1-5, 2026, the event brings together more that 6,700 state champions competing across 114 skilled and leadership contests as part of the broader National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC). 

On top of providing the platform for students to compete and showcase their talent, the SkillsUSA program builds the next generation of skilled professionals and elevates the value of careers in the trades. Roofing continues to expand its presence at the event as students can explore career opportunities and compete in roofing-related challenges including Commercial Roofing and Teamwork. According to the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), the competitions are designed to connect career and technical education students with real-world industry opportunities while helping address the skilled labor shortage facing roofing contractors nationwide. 

Here at RoofersCoffeeShop®, we are excited to be a sponsor of the NRCA Roofing Pavilion, the event’s central hub for students and CTE teachers to connect with industry professionals on training and career opportunities.  

Additional sponsors supporting the NRCA booth include ABC Supply, Central States Manufacturing, Georgia-Pacific Building Products, Johns Manville, Elevate™, IB Roof Systems™, Leister, National Roofing Partners, National Women in Roofing (NWIR), QXO, Roofing Alliance, Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3), SRS Distribution and TAMKO®. This robust participation reflects industry-wide collaboration to help SkillsUSA continue to grow as a pipeline for skilled professionals entering the trades. 

The SkillsUSA Championships have become a critical recruiting and education platform for the roofing industry. NRCA notes if even 5% of SkillsUSA students entered roofing careers, the industry could gain more than 5,000 new workers annually. 

To learn more about the 2026 SkillsUSA Championships, the Roofing Pavilion and ways to get involved, visit the SkillsUSA and NRCA websites. We hope to see you there! 

By Heidi J. Ellsworth.

Understanding key updates and insights on the initiatives shaping the future of roofing as I prepare to join the NRCA board in June 2026. 

One of the most important resources we have in the roofing industry are our associations. They bring contractors, manufacturers, distributors and service providers together to solve challenges, advocate for our businesses and help move the industry forward. I am proud to be joining the board of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) in June of 2026 and as I continue to learn about new initiatives, ongoing challenges and meaningful advocacy efforts, I want to share this information with the industry. 

One of the things I appreciate most about NRCA is the communication and transparency coming from leadership. McKay Daniels, CEO of NRCA, consistently keeps members informed about what is happening behind the scenes, not just the wins, but also the challenges and priorities shaping the future of roofing. 

In a recent update to industry executive members, McKay shared, “Here is a rundown of some of the things the association has been up to recently. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions, ideas or suggestions. NRCA is a volunteer-led organization… your input really matters.” 

That is exactly how McKay leads, with open arms and an open mind. It is a leadership style rooted in collaboration and listening, recognizing that some of the best ideas come directly from contractors and roofing professionals working in the field every day. Here are just a few updates from his recent communication and why they matter to the roofing industry. 

If there is one issue touching every contractor today, it is workforce. Whether companies are looking for labor, training future leaders or helping crews advance professionally, NRCA continues to invest heavily in workforce development and education. McKay shared that the association recently “delivered multiple CERTA Train-the-Trainer and private classes for members” while also completing PROCertification exams to help contractors meet project specification requirements. These programs continue to strengthen professionalism in roofing while creating career pathways for workers entering the trade. 

At the same time, NRCA is expanding its reach with the next generation. NRCA staff attended SkillsUSA competitions in California, Texas and Washington, with Texas and Washington representingnew state participation. That momentum is continuing nationally as NRCA prepares to support a record number of roofing competitors at the 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta, Georgia this June. The growing participation reflects increasing awareness of roofing as a viable and rewarding career path and highlights the association’s commitment to introducing young people to opportunities in the roofing trades. 

By showing students what roofing careers can offer, NRCA is helping build awareness of an industry filled with opportunity, innovation and long-term career growth. 

NRCA also continues its commitment to education beyond the rooftop. The association recently hosted its annual LegalCon Virtual seminar, addressing issues contractors are navigating every day. McKay noted topics ranging from immigration issues and managing risk in roofing contracts to using telemetry fleet data as a legal advantage. LegalCon has become a trusted annual event, helping members stay informed on legal, operational and business risks impacting roofing companies. 

Of course, workforce conversations naturally lead to advocacy and this continues to be one of NRCA’s strongest areas of focus. Roofing Day in D.C. recently brought together 200 roofing professionals to meet with lawmakers across 158 House and Senate offices, advocating for workforce solutions and affordable housing policies. 

McKay also reported that “NRCA staff met with senior White House officials on immigration reform tied to security and workforce needs,” while the association endorsed the Workforce Apprenticeship Growth and Education Support (WAGES) Act, legislation proposing payroll tax credits to offset apprentice wages and training expenses. These efforts matter because advocacy happening in Washington D.C. directly impacts the future workforce available to roofing contractors across the country. 

Safety and worker wellbeing also remain front and center. NRCA served as a lead partner for the National Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction while continuing to educate contractors on fall prevention resources, including NRCA’s Roof Deck Integrity Assessment Tool. During Mental Health Awareness Month, the association also highlighted mental health resources and worker wellbeing initiatives, reinforcing that jobsite safety extends beyond physical hazards. 

The Roofing Alliance, the foundation for the industry, is also celebrating its 30th anniversary this year while continuing to make a tremendous impact through scholarships, research and education. From supporting students pursuing roofing-related careers to investing in long-term industry research, the Alliance continues to help strengthen roofing for future generations. McKay shared that the Alliance approved $114,000 in scholarships for the 2026-2027 academic year supporting 23 students, while more than 600 professionals have completed roofing training through Clemson University. 

Research through the Roofing Alliance is also uncovering important insights into jobsite culture and safety. McKay noted that ongoing research is showing that “inconsistent safety behavior is driven more by risk perception and workplace culture than by rule awareness,” reinforcing that strong safety cultures are built through leadership, trust and engagement, not simply enforcement. 

Technical leadership continues to be another core focus. McKay reported that the Manual Update Committee recently completed the next update to The NRCA Roofing Manual, with the 2027 Membrane Roof Systems volume now in design and printing. These resources continue to provide contractors with trusted technical guidance and best practices. 

As I prepare to join the NRCA board, I continue to be impressed by the depth of work happening every day on behalf of roofing professionals. Associations matter because they amplify our voices, create opportunities and help guide the future of our industry. I look forward to sharing more updates from NRCA as together we continue building a stronger future for roofing.

By Emma Peterson. 

How competition and mentorship help students find careers in roofing. 

As the 2026 SkillsUSA National Championship get closer (it’ll be hosted June 1-5, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia), we wanted to take a moment to highlight the way this organization supports students and celebrates the trades. To do so, we hosted the student champions of the 2025 SkillsUSA roofing competition, Chase Huang and Damien Holloway, as well as their mentor Tim Stephens (also the VP of Architectural Sheet Metal Inc.) for an episode of Roofing Road Trips®. 

Tim opened the conversation talking about how he got involved in SkillsUSA:  

I learned about SkillsUSA from Rick Damato. Rick was one of the people who really pushed for National Roofing Contractors Association to adopt it and when that did happen, my team reached out to get involved... The reason why we wanted to be involved is because workforce matters. It's everybody's number one issue and has been for centuries. And the main issue with expanding the workforce is that students don’t know the trade are there; this program addresses that by introducing trades to students in school.  

Two such students that SkillsUSA connected to the trades were Damien and Chase. Reflecting on his experience, Damien shared, “Before the competition, I didn’t really see roofing as a job opportunity. Now I know that it’s something that I enjoy and can do. I’m planning on studying welding in a college program, but it’s really great knowing I have a job with Tim once I get out of school.” 

Chase had a similar experience and shared, “Winning a silver medal significantly boosts my confidence in roofing. It serves as proof of my ability, confirms my proficiency and shows that I can be in construction. And now I know what I can do in my future career.” In fact, that career is already in motion for Chase, who is working at Architectural Sheet Metal Inc. with Tim!  

At the end of the day, SkillsUSA is far more than a competition – it's an introduction to and celebration of trades like roofing. As Tim put it, “We need people in roofing and there are so many students out there who are looking for opportunities. And if you give them a chance and provide a bit of mentorship, they’ll blow you away... Really the power of SkillsUSA is in getting the trades’ story, like roofing, out there and connecting young adults to great career paths.”  

Tune into the whole podcast to hear more from Tim, Damien and Chase!

By Jenny Yu.  

Participants say SkillsUSA helps them explore careers and grow beyond the classroom. 

At the Oregon SkillsUSA 2026 Competition, students from all over the state showcased their technical abilities, creativity and career readiness across a wide range of disciplines. From culinary arts to healthcare and engineering, competitors demonstrated not only their skills but also their willingness to step outside of their comfort zones and explore future career paths. 

For Kallie Stephenson, this year’s cake decorating competition was a way to refine her culinary skills after competing in last year’s cooking competition. This year’s theme was “farm animals,” and Kallie made a baby chick cake with a marshmallow beak. Despite some last minute-adjustments, Kallie embraced the challenge and encouraged others to do the same. “Just try something new. I mean, I don't really decorate cakes in my culinary class,” Kallie said. “There's something for everybody, and it's really fun.” 

Healthcare competitor Ryese Fernandes highlighted the rigor of the event, which included CPR, checking vital signs, dietetics and a final presentation. This competition marked Ryese’s third year participating in the SkillsUSA competition, and last year she competed in the national competition for basic healthcare. “SkillsUSA definitely helped me break out of my shell. I used to be very shy and reserved, and I’ve grown a lot,” Ryese expressed. “I’m confident in what I did, and I did everything to the best of my abilities.” 

Pryce Henry shared what it was like competing in multiple competitions, including technical math and mobile robotics, and how this will have a long-term impact on their future. “Technical math and robotics together definitely built my skills a lot more than I probably would have if I didn’t do SkillsUSA in high school,” Pryce explained. “We’re growing our personal skills as well as our technical skills. We’re building up to our futures.” 

Finally, photography competitor Aiyana Little Eagle reflected on what the program has meant overall. “SkillsUSA was an opening factor, introducing me to all these CTE programs,” Aiyana shared. “It’s a really cool event where people can meet people, learn new things and learn new things about yourself. SkillsUSA helped me discover a whole new world.” 

Watch all of these interviews to learn more about how SkillsUSA is preparing the workforce of the future.

By Emma Peterson. 

Three students from Oregon share their SkillsUSA experiences and stories. 

This year, Lauren White, editor of The Coffee Shops™, had the opportunity to attend the 2026 Oregon SkillsUSA state competition. SkillsUSA competitions are fundamental and valuable opportunities for supporting the next generation of tradespeople as they grow their skillsets and understandings of their chosen trades.  Seeing leading professional organizations, like the National Roofing Contractors Association, getting involved is also exciting, as having such support from industry leaders for these future tradespeople gives many confidence in what’s to come.  

This year, Oregon’s state competition was held over the course of two days in April (4/10/26 and 4/11/26) at the Knife River Training Facility in Albany. While there, Lauren talked to three of the students competing: Akshara Dashputre, Theron Tyler and Gayathri Devarapu. Both Akshara and Gayathri are sophomores at the Beaverton Academy of Science and Engineering. As for Theron, he's a senior at Henley High School and is heading to the Oregon Institute of Technology with plans to study mechanical engineering this fall.  

At this year’s competition, Gayathri competed in three events: related technical math, cake decorating and prepared speech. She shared her thoughts about the experience, saying, “Technical math was probably my best event this year because I got to take the test online at school two or three weeks ago. For the other two, they were both at 9 a.m. this morning. So, I had to rush around a bit, but it was really fun.”  

As for Akshara, she competed in computer programming and prepared speech. The former is tied directly to what she is interested in pursuing in the future. She explained, “I wanted to do something involving computer science or cybersecurity related. And so, in this competition, we were given a project that we had to develop and I was able to kind of test my skills that I've already developed over a period of time.” As for the prepared speech competition, Akshara was just excited to talk about her passions. She shared, “The national theme for this year is Champion Your Future. And we had to create a five to seven-minute speech on what that theme means to us and how SkillsUSA ties into it. And that was an exciting event because I got to talk about how passionate I am about SkillsUSA. And writing that speech wasn't just for a competitive event. It was also for me to kind of reflect on my journey so far and what this event really helped me to do.” 

And last but not least, Theron competed in technical drafting and engineering technology design at this year’s competition. Both of these events are quite in depth, as Theron explained:   

For technical drafting, we were given a packet with multiple parts that we had to design, and then we had to follow all the industry professional technical standards and redesigned those parts in a CAD software, computer-aided design. Then we took our CAD model, and then we created a technical drawing that follows all the engineering standards. As for the engineering technology design, we’ve been working on a project for that since December and were even working on it in the hotel on this trip. 

Overall, all three of these students showed off incredible work and dedication at the competition. And while they were competing in mostly different events, they have one thing in common – they are all part of the SkillsUSA Oregon state officer team. Theron is the president for secondary education, Akshara is VP of social media and Gayathri is the reporter. Reflecting on their positions, the sentiment was all excitement and thankfulness. As Gayathri explained, “On our team of 12, we all do a mix of everything. For example, I helped with our community service project with Make-A-Wish and the other day I helped Akshara over here with some Instagram posts. It’s a lot of great experiences and I’m really glad to be a part of it.”  

Want to hear more from these amazing students? Check out Lauren’s full interview with them on the RoofersCoffeeShop YouTube channel!