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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’s mission is to empower its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens. We improve 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 372,000 student- & teacher-members participated in SkillsUSA in 2019-20.

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2023-2024   State Officer Team

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Cameron Vaughan
Lee County High School

Nathan Darnell
Starmount High School

Kayla Ingham
Pine Forest High School

Ruth Hall

West Carteret High School

Reece-Anna Cribb
South Columbus High School

Wesley Conner

South Columbus High School

Jacob Blackman
Midway High School

 

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

 

Glenn Barefoot

Assistant Director

SkillsUSA North Carolina

Constitution & Bylaws

Board of Directors

Daryle Nobles, Chairman, Retired Educator

Tony Reggi, NC Community College System

 

Dr. Nolan Fahrer, NC Department of Public Instruction

 

Bill Burgess, Carolina Training Associates

 

Michael Williams, Daimler

 

Kris Dell, Applied Software

 

Carl Coffey, Lowe's Home Improvement

 

Ryan Shaver, NC Masonry Contractors Association

Tim Eldridge, Educational Services Unlimited

Judy Dinelle, 84 Lumber

Barrett Crane, Snap-on Tools

Liz Myhre, Learning Labs

Wayne Lee, Retired Educator

 

Hardin Kennedy, Wilkes Community College


Jeff Faircloth, Guilford Technical Community College

Dr. David Barbour (ex-officio), NC Dept of Public Instruction

Jim Pressly (ex-officio), NC Dept of Public Instruction

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