Destination Event for Career and Technical Education Marks In-Person Return in New Host City
LEESBURG, Va., April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- SkillsUSA, a non-profit partnership of students, teachers and industry, celebrates its return to an in-person National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC) from June 20-24 in Atlanta. The event marks the first in-person NLSC since 2019 and the first time Atlanta has hosted the conference since 1981. (The 2020 and 2021 events were held virtually as a result of the pandemic.)
SkillsUSA's NLSC is a weeklong workforce development event attended by over 12,000 CTE students and teachers from states across the nation. Attendees are selected by their states to be part of an official delegation of competitors, voting delegates and national officer candidates. Others attend to participate in high quality professional development and leadership training.
"As a national talent pipeline and vital solution to the skills gap, SkillsUSA is excited to return to our in-person NLSC while launching an exciting new era for the event in Atlanta," said SkillsUSA Executive Director Chelle Travis. "The move to Atlanta aligns with our goal of taking the conference to next-level success while providing the best possible experience for our students, teachers, education leaders, and industry partners. This event is much more than a conference or convention — it's an inspiring showcase of America's next generation of career-ready workers and leaders, and we're proud to shine a well-deserved spotlight on their highly developed personal and professional skills. The pandemic proved just how essential these skills are and always have been, not just to industry, but to our nation and world."
The SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference is considered one of the nation's largest showcases for career and technical education. This multi-faceted convention features the SkillsUSA Championships, where state champions in 108 unique career competition events — from 3D Animation to Prepared Speech to Welding — compete for national bronze, silver and gold medals. Simultaneously held alongside the competitions is SkillsUSA TECHSPO, one of the nation's largest technical expositions. TECHSPO features more than 150 exhibitors from education and industry, eager to connect with the most highly skilled students in the country.
The NLSC also features a full schedule of professional development, leadership training and industry-specific seminars. Recognition is also a main focus of the event, including a national Advisor of the Year award and the naming of three SkillsUSA chapters as 2022 Models of Excellence for best exemplifying the three areas of the SkillsUSA Framework: Personal Skills, Workplace Skills and Technical Skills Grounded in Academics.
Three general sessions, delegate meetings, national officer elections and a student-led community service project will round out the week. Pre-conference training opportunities will include tracks for student leaders and teachers.
SkillsUSA is one of the largest student groups in the nation, and the event is expected to generate $20 million for the Atlanta economy in 2022. The conference is targeted to grow substantially year to year through 2026.
"We are thrilled to welcome SkillsUSA to Atlanta and become the new host city of the National Leadership & Skills Conference," said William Pate, president and CEO of the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau. "With hotels, restaurants and attractions just a few steps away from the Georgia World Congress Center, attendees will find it easy to explore Downtown's walkable convention and entertainment district."
SkillsUSA has served more than 14 million members since 1965, helping each student develop the career-readiness skills that facilitate personal and professional success. Partners, educators, community supporters and SkillsUSA stakeholders are welcome to attend the 2022 event. More information is available about SkillsUSA's NLSC here: http://www.skillsusa.org/events-training/national-leadership-and-skills-conference/.
About SkillsUSA
Founded in 1965, SkillsUSA is a nonprofit partnership of students, teachers and industry that empowers its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens. The SkillsUSA Framework of Personal, Workplace and Technical Skills Grounded in Academics inspires work and life success for students while helping industry close the skills gap currently leaving millions of skilled trade jobs unfilled. Through SkillsUSA's career competitions program and curricula, employers ensure schools are teaching relevant technical skills, and with SkillsUSA's credentialing process, they can assess the career-readiness of their future employees. SkillsUSA's membership of nearly 340,000 students and instructors encompasses middle schools, high schools and college/postsecondary institutions in every state and three U.S. territories. SkillsUSA programming covers 130 trade, technical and skilled service occupations, and is recognized by the U.S. departments of Education and Labor as integral to career and technical education. For more information: http://www.skillsusa.org.
About ACVB
Established in 1913, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau is a private, nonprofit organization created to favorably impact the Atlanta economy through conventions and tourism. For more information, visit: http://www.atlanta.net.
Media Contact
Jane DeShong Short, SkillsUSA, 703-737-0612, [email protected]
Karen Kitzel, SkillsUSA, 703-737-0607, [email protected]
SOURCE SkillsUSA

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