SkillsUSA: Connect your company with local up-and-coming talent

By Dani Sheehan. 

Don’t miss this engaging conversation that will open the door for your company to get involved with roofing competitions and inspire students to enter the industry. 

In the most recent Coffee Conversations®, sponsored by Johns Manville, Heidi J. Ellsworth sits down with industry experts to discuss SkillsUSA. Hear from Todd Nathan with Johns Manville, Ryan Clancy with Baker Roofing in South Carolina, Sherri Miles with Miles Roofing in Virginia and John Esbenshade from the NRCA as they discuss skills, strategies and insider tips on how and why to get involved in competitions like SkillsUSA.  

The roofing industry was not really involved in Careers in Technical Education (CTE), vocational and trade schools, until probably three or four years ago. John explains how SkillsUSA now fits into this equation: “SkillsUSA is an active competition between career and technical education students across the country with over 140 different contests. They are very much designed to create the future in all these industries in years to come here in the United States. And they require tests on personal skills, tests on workforce skills and tests on technical skills.” 

Last year, they had four champions with Ryan and Sherri helping two of them prepare for the championship. Ryan says they jumped in at the last minute for the competition with three students. He shares, “We brought it to the point to where roofing is not just asphalt shingles that you see driving down the road. We work on bigger stuff, flat, Target, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's. So, we try to make it intriguing for the young men and women, showing them how to do it, the different processes and just the tools you can use.” 

It was Sherri’s second time at a state competition, and she shared her excitement about the possibilities the competition brings to the students. She adds, “But the bigger funnel was at the beginning of school and bringing thermoplastics into the classroom, and all the kids in the CTE in Virginia Beach City Schools had a rotation for roofing. So, they got to come in, and whether they were interested in plumbing or electrical or masonry, they got a chance with the hand welders. It's a chance to get to a broader group of kids who are interested in construction.” 

Johns Manville had a heat welding contest at their booth. Todd explains, “We had a small mock-up deck beside this as well. So, we could take them over there and show them more details. And we had students come back and say, ‘Hey, can I try welding there? Can I try welding in different scenarios?’ So, it was a really, really great competition as well. Just the involvement from the students was really great to see.” 

Looking to work with your local vocational school to start a roofing competition near you? Read the transcript, Listen to the podcast or Watch the webinar to learn more about these incredible competitions and how to open doors for future generations in roofing.