top of page

About Us

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry working together to ensure that America has a skilled work force.  We help every student excel.  SkillsUSA is a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) that is recognized as an integral part of the classroom by the OVAE.  

​

SkillsUSA North Carolina’s mission is to empower its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens.  SkillsUSA improves the quality of our nation’s future skilled workforce through the development of SkillsUSA Framework skills that include personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics. Our vision is to produce the most highly skilled workforce in the world, providing every member the opportunity for career success.


A nonprofit national education association (501c3), SkillsUSA serves middle-school, high-school and college/postsecondary students preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service (including health) occupations.

 

SkillsUSA is committed to using its resources to provide its members with the greatest opportunities to succeed.  From industry-designed competitions to professional and leadership development workshops, SkillsUSA gives students an opportunity to enhance both their technical and employability skills.

 

Started in 1965 as V.I.C.A. (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America), SkillsUSA has served 13.6 million members since 1965.  Over 380,000 student & teacher members participated in SkillsUSA in 2022-23.

Infographic 2021.jpg

2023-2024   State Officer Team

DSC_0108a.jpg
Jacob Blackman - President
Midway High School

Kayla Ingham - Vice President

Pine Forest High School

Reece-Anna Cribb - Secretary
South Columbus High School

Cameron Vaughan - Treasurer

Lee County High School

Wesley Conner - Reporter
South Columbus High School

Nathan Darnell - Historian
Starmount High School

Ruth Hall - Parliamentarian

West Carteret High School

Lexi Norwood - President CPS
Central Carolina Community College

 

SkillsUSA North Carolina Staff

​

Paul Heidepriem

Executive Director

​

Rod Lykins

Director of Membership & Curriculum

​

Wil van der Meulen

Postsecondary Support Director

​

Brandon Ramirez

State Leadership Coordinator

​

​

​

​

​

SkillsUSA North Carolina

Constitution & Bylaws

Board of Directors

​

Daryle Nobles, Chairman, Retired Educator

​

Tony Reggi, NC Community College System

​

Kris Dell, Applied Software

​

Jim Pressly, NC Department of Public Instruction

 

Bill Burgess, Carolina Training Associates

 

Carl Coffey, Lowe's Home Improvement

 

Ryan Shaver, NC Masonry Contractors Association

​

Judy Dinelle, 84 Lumber

​

Tim Eldridge, Educational Services Unlimited

​

Liz Myhre, Learning Labs

​

Barrett Crane, Snap-on Tools

​

Jeff Faircloth, Guilford Technical Community College

​

Wayne Lee, Retired Educator

 

Hardin Kennedy, Retired Educator

​

Dr. David Barbour, NC Dept of Public Instruction

​

Dr. Nolan Fahrer, NC Dept of Public Instruction

 

Elaine Vallery, 2023 Secondary Advisor of the Year

​

Dennis Marshall, 2023 Postsecondary Advisor of the Year

​

​

bottom of page