- On October 21, I met in St. Louis with executives in the Global Opportunities Product Lifecycle Management division of Siemens. The meeting was arranged by board member Cameron Ferguson, Caterpillar, and student national officers Jason Brigner (Region III) and Brandon Mullings (college/postsecondary vice president) made the SkillsUSA presentations to Siemens. We talked about support for the SkillsUSA WorldTeam and getting their support on the Youth Development Foundation, on Championships technical committees and providing subject matter experts for engineering assessments in the Work Force Ready System. They’re very interested in giving software grants to schools.
- We signed an agreement with GAERF (Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation) to offer five co-branded PrintED/SkillsUSA Skill Connect assessments. The five are graphic communications, advertising design, screen printing, digital file preparation/digital file output and offset press operations/binding and finishing. News releases and official announcements are still being prepared. We’re very enthusiastic about this partnership because we are partnering with THE organization that certifies instructional programs and is recognized by the graphics/printing industry.
- My trip to California on October 16 and 17 went well. I worked with the California board on board training, state association policy and worked with them on strategic planning.
- Development of the instructional program for the Engineering Alliance is going well according to staff. Staff developed the EA logo, and we’re in the process of getting it trademarked.
- According to our marketing director, “Monster Garage” on the Discovery Channel is now talking about having eight SkillsUSA students participate in the programs to be taped at the end of November and possibly airing this coming spring. Thanks go to Lowe’s and Kobalt Tools for making the connections.
- On October 26, staff attended a manufacturing summit in Washington, D.C. hosted by NIMS (National Institute for Metalworking Skills) and the Swiss Embassy. Approximately 80 people attended. A common theme throughout was the frustration of domestic employers – and the disbelief of foreign manufacturers – with the U.S. public education system. “Over and over again we heard: “We want better CTE and we want more CTE.”” Assistant Secretary of Labor Jane Oates spoke during the summit.
- We had a good training seminar on diversity for department directors on October 20 with Ellen Hyslope from Human Resources at Middleburg Bank. Her key message to managers: Make sure you’re focused on creating equal opportunities for all employees.
- The Youth Development Foundation Committee’s spring meeting is scheduled for March 17-18. It will be held here at the national center and there will be a joint session with the board of directors at that same time.
Highlights
November 15th, 2009Highlights
November 1st, 2009- I’m delighted to report that Niki Clausen will be our new full-time alumni coordinator. Niki will start in her new position on November 2. She brings a wealth of background and experience as a former SkillsUSA national officer, a culinary teacher, a SkillsUSA chapter advisor, Oregon state association director and as a member of the national alumni coordinating council. Thanks go to both Lowe’s and Air Products for their support in making this happen.
- The October 6 ACTE (Association for Career and Technical Education) “Cooking Up a Future” Congressional Reception on Capitol Hill was quite successful this year. According to ACTE, at least four members of Congress and staff from over 100 congressional offices attended during the two-hour event. SkillsUSA was one of four student organizations participating and the only one doing a demonstration. Thanks to Chef Christine Gloninger and Chef Frans Hagen, three students from Annandale High School were preparing and serving crepes to the guests. They ran the exhibit to visit and everyone did.
- We had a great conference call with Brian Spiro and Tim Humes of Carhartt to discuss their future support for SkillsUSA including Carhartt becoming a clothing supplier through E-Group.
- During our meeting on October 13, the Architectural Woodwork Institute committed to increasing its support for SkillsUSA and helping form new chapters in states where AWI has member companies.
- The Senate confirmed Brenda Dann-Messier on October 5 to be the new assistant secretary for vocational adult education in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE). The assistant secretary has a strong commitment to adult learning and helping students to transition into postsecondary education. We look forward to working with her.
Highlights
October 15th, 2009On the last day of the WLTI, we met with representatives from the U.S. Army’s agency. They told us that because the economy has been bad Army recruitment has been good. As a consequence, they’ve met their recruiting goal, and their budget has been cut 42 percent. We were waiting for the other shoe to drop. Instead, they told us there are only three approved sponsorships this year and SkillsUSA is one of them. Their funding for SkillsUSA will remain level. They said the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference is one of their best events all year, and they’re looking into scholarships for students to attend WLTI.
* The final transactions between Midwest Trophy and our new SkillsUSA Store were completed. The folks at E Group reported they have received the last of the inventory and everything looks good.
* In the “out and about section:” Tom Holdsworth and I had a great visit with board member Jim McKenney to discuss areas of greater cooperation between the American Association of Community Colleges and SkillsUSA, particularly on the legislative front; Marsha Daves and Bruce Potter recently returned from Alaska where they worked with chapters under the W.K. Kellogg Foundation grant; Tom Holdsworth and a representative from TSA (Technology Student Association) traveled to Baltimore on September 29 to present on the Engineering Alliance to supervisors of technology education in Maryland; I recently traveled to New Hampshire for a meeting with intelitek, and I spoke at a STEM conference there; and, (drum roll, please) last weekend I took my young grandson, Will, to Disney World. We had an awesome time!
- On the last day of the WLTI, we met with representatives from the U.S. Army’s agency. They told us that because the economy has been bad Army recruitment has been good. As a consequence, they’ve met their recruiting goal, and their budget has been cut 42 percent. We were waiting for the other shoe to drop. Instead, they told us there are only three approved sponsorships this year and SkillsUSA is one of them. Their funding for SkillsUSA will remain level. They said the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference is one of their best events all year, and they’re looking into scholarships for students to attend WLTI.
- The final transactions between Midwest Trophy and our new SkillsUSA Store were completed. The folks at E Group reported they have received the last of the inventory and everything looks good.
- In the “out and about section:” Staff and I had a great visit with board member Jim McKenney to discuss areas of greater cooperation between the American Association of Community Colleges and SkillsUSA, particularly on the legislative front; Staff recently returned from Alaska where they worked with chapters under the W.K. Kellogg Foundation grant; Staff and a representative from TSA (Technology Student Association) traveled to Baltimore on September 29 to present on the Engineering Alliance to supervisors of technology education in Maryland; I recently traveled to New Hampshire for a meeting with intelitek, and I spoke at a STEM conference there; and, (drum roll, please) last weekend I took my young grandson, Will, to Disney World. We had an awesome time!
Highlights
October 1st, 2009- Three new Skill Connect Assessments are available for field-testing and 150 more sites have volunteered to field test. The online order page has just been revised and simplified, and a review of the figures tells us that since the release of the first assessments, over 1,700 technical assessments have been purchased in 81 different schools in 25 states and Puerto Rico.
- I had a great meeting with Ed Roebuck, coordinator of CTE, District of Columbia Public Schools and several other DC officials. Participation in career and technical student organizations (CTSOs) has been written into the state plan. As a matter of fact, the way the plan is written, all students will participate in their respective CTSOs. District officials are committed to member development this year and lead advisor support. They’re interested in CareerSafe and the Skill Connect Assessments too.
- The new catalog for the SkillsUSA Store is in the mail. This is a new day for the look of SkillsUSA and supporting the brand. I’m pleased to report that 30 state and territorial associations took advantage of the state medallion offer this year.
- Bill Maddox, vice president, Service Management Group, N.E.W. Customer Service Cos., Inc. will be replacing Luke Kathol on the Youth Development Foundation committee. We certainly welcome Bill and wish Luke well. I’m sure we’ll be seeing both of them. N.E.W. last week delivered a check for $50,000 to support the SkillsUSA Job Board.
- And, levels one and two of the PDP Online are ready to go according to staff.
Highlights
September 15th, 2009* We had a great Youth Development Foundation meeting in Calgary with some excellent discussion on the value of partnership with SkillsUSA and corporate reports on their activities. Board members including President Julie Yeater, Larry Rabalais, Russ Hoffbauer and Nick Morrisroe joined the YDF meeting. The board and YDF dinner was sponsored by Woodwork Career Alliance.
* Thanks to Russ Hoffbauer and Alan Hall, on August 27 we held what I hope was a very successful meeting with executives from State Farm Insurance Companies. New national officers Zia Green and Stephen Lupton gave what I consider one of the most powerful presentations I’ve ever seen by two of our students. Much of our focus was on community service, and Zia arrived with a portfolio of the work done in her instructor’s class – Advisor of the Year 2008 Cheryl Reese – and everyone was impressed. State Farm expressed interest in community development, continuing its support for teacher training and field staff, alumni and the WorldSkills Competition.
* The new SkillsUSA Store received its official launch with an e-mail promotion to just about everyone in SkillsUSA. The site is http://www.skillsusastore.org/skillsusa/welcome.asp.
* And, thanks to several people with cameras at the WorldSkills Competition and Webmaster Craig Moore, it is possible to see some of the excitement of SkillsUSA WorldTeam http://www.skillsusa.org/compete/worldteam.shtml. There’s also a special section on news coverage up to this point.
- We had a great Youth Development Foundation meeting in Calgary with some excellent discussion on the value of partnership with SkillsUSA and corporate reports on their activities. Board members including President Julie Yeater, Larry Rabalais, Russ Hoffbauer and Nick Morrisroe joined the YDF meeting. The board and YDF dinner was sponsored by Woodwork Career Alliance.
- Thanks to Russ Hoffbauer and Alan Hall, on August 27 we held what I hope was a very successful meeting with executives from State Farm Insurance Companies. New national officers Zia Green and Stephen Lupton gave what I consider one of the most powerful presentations I’ve ever seen by two of our students. Much of our focus was on community service, and Zia arrived with a portfolio of the work done in her instructor’s class – Advisor of the Year 2008 Cheryl Reese – and everyone was impressed. State Farm expressed interest in community development, continuing its support for teacher training and field staff, alumni and the WorldSkills Competition.
- The new SkillsUSA Store received its official launch with an e-mail promotion to just about everyone in SkillsUSA. The site is www.skillsusastore.org/skillsusa/welcome.asp.
- And, thanks to several people with cameras at the WorldSkills Competition and SkillsUSA’s Webmaster, it is possible to see some of the excitement of SkillsUSA’s WorldTeam in action: www.skillsusa.org/compete/worldteamphotos.shtml. There’s also a special section on news coverage up to this point.
Highlights
September 1st, 2009We held nearly two full-day meetings with intelitek here at the national center to discuss progress on Skill Connect Assessments, including the status of each assessment and the roll out of the next series of tests. There’s no doubt that SkillsUSA is receiving enthusiastic responses from across the country; but, we’re still at work on details for several of the tests to be sure pilot testing is complete in time for projected test launch. We spent most of Thursday working on the business and marketing plans, including staffing. On Wednesday, we had a conference call at the request of a state department of education to answer questions on the delivery of the assessments on a statewide basis.
On August 27, I had a meeting at State Farm, thanks to board member Russ Hoffbauer. New national officers Zia Green and Stephen Lupton accompanied me. I met with Cameron Ferguson and one of Caterpillar’s worldwide talent recruiters for breakfast that morning. And, while I’m mentioning great partnership supporters, staff recently returned from a one-day trip to Allentown, Pa., where they met with executives from Air Products. They said it was a very productive meeting with lots of discussion about alumni membership among many other things.
The letters to Congress and the governors about their SkillsUSA Championships champions and Skill Point Certificate recipients have all been sent, and we’re getting responses asking for student home addresses. We have some state association directors who have caught on that this is a great excuse to pay a visit to the governors’ offices. We love it. SkillsUSA is building networks to support our students all the time.
Highlights
August 15th, 2009Highlights
The 2009-10 new national officers excelled in training and have selected their officers. The presidents are Andrew Zigler from Texas (high school) and Annalee Santos from Florida (college/postsecondary). Brandon Mullings from Florida is the college/postsecondary vice president and JEC (junior executive council) chair. The entire 2009-10 national officer listing was published in the August 1 Executive Update.
Plans are underway for this year’s Washington Leadership Training Institute, and we are delighted to announce that Deputy Assistant Secretary Glen Cummings from the U.S. Department of Education has accepted our invitation to be the luncheon speaker on Monday, September 21. We’ve also invited Jane Oates, the new Assistant Secretary for Labor, to be our opening speaker and Dane Linn, Director of Education for the National Governors Association, to be with us as part of a panel presentation for advisors.
SkillsUSA’s WorldTeam will be coming to town on August 27 for a final team gathering before leaving for Calgary. We have requested and are hopeful that Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden will host a recognition event for them.
Levels 1 and 2 of the new PDP online will be beta tested by about 30 teachers in August with plans to have these levels finished and ready for purchase by September 2.
The Engineering Alliance initiative is moving forward. The Web site will be up this fall, and online leadership modules and contests are scheduled to be completed and ready for teachers in January.
- The 2009-10 new national officers excelled in training and have selected their officers. The presidents are Andrew Zigler from Texas (high school) and Annalee Santos from Florida (college/postsecondary). Brandon Mullings from Florida is the college/postsecondary vice president and JEC (junior executive council) chair. The entire 2009-10 national officer listing can be found here.
- Plans are underway for this year’s Washington Leadership Training Institute, and we are delighted to announce that Deputy Assistant Secretary Glen Cummings from the U.S. Department of Education has accepted our invitation to be the luncheon speaker on Monday, September 21. We’ve also invited Jane Oates, the new Assistant Secretary for Labor, to be our opening speaker and Dane Linn, Director of Education for the National Governors Association, to be with us as part of a panel presentation for advisors.
- SkillsUSA’s WorldTeam will be coming to town on August 27 for a final team gathering before leaving for Calgary. We have requested and are hopeful that Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden will host a recognition event for them.
- Levels 1 and 2 of the new PDP online will be beta tested by about 30 teachers in August with plans to have these levels finished and ready for purchase by September 2.
- The Engineering Alliance initiative is moving forward. The Web site will be up this fall, and online leadership modules and contests are scheduled to be completed and ready for teachers in January.
Highlights
August 1st, 2009Highlights
We’ve held meetings with E group, our new official supplier for the SkillsUSA Store including review of new products and plans for the introduction of the SkillsUSA Store to members and to state association directors. There will be a display of merchandise in Charleston and a presentation by E group. They’ll also have a strong presence during the Washington Leadership Training Institute in September.
A letter requesting a WorldTeam meeting with Vice President Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden, was sent late last week. The team is scheduled to be in Washington on August 28, and we hope we can create some sort of Washington event for the team members before they head to Calgary. Trade press news releases on each of the contestants will be sent out next week.
Letters to Congress and the governors about their SkillsUSA Championships champions and Skill Point Certificate recipients are being faxed starting this week. This means that, for the first time the senators and representatives will receive the news before the congressional August recess. News releases about the national officers and the President’s Volunteer Service Award recipients have also been sent.
Diversity training for national staff is scheduled in September and October and Gary Diehl has completed his work on third-party administration for SkillsUSA pension funds as required by the IRS for nonprofits.
And, finally, Cameron Ferguson, as board past-president, sent an e-mail to national staff members last week commending them for their work on the National Leadership and Skills Conference. Here’s part of what he had to say: “Everywhere I went, I heard comments about how smoothly it was running, and how the enthusiasm was running at an all time high. The results of your hard work and passion were absolutely evident for all to see. The visitors I brought to Kansas City were totally stunned by what they saw and heard. They couldn’t believe the professionalism of the students, the breadth and depth of the competitions, the scope of the organization, and dedication of the volunteers, advisors, and the national staff.” Thank you, Cameron. I know the staff appreciates your comments and your leadership as well.
We’ve held meetings with E group, our new official supplier for the SkillsUSA Store including review of new products and plans for the introduction of the SkillsUSA Store to members and to state association directors. There will be a display of merchandise in Charleston and a presentation by E group. They’ll also have a strong presence during the Washington Leadership Training Institute in September.
A letter requesting a WorldTeam meeting with Vice President Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden, was sent late last week. The team is scheduled to be in Washington on August 28, and we hope we can create some sort of Washington event for the team members before they head to Calgary. Trade press news releases on each of the contestants will be sent out next week.
Letters to Congress and the governors about their SkillsUSA Championships champions and Skill Point Certificate recipients are being faxed starting this week. This means that, for the first time the senators and representatives will receive the news before the congressional August recess. News releases about the national officers and the President’s Volunteer Service Award recipients have also been sent.
Diversity training for national staff is scheduled in September and October and staff has completed work on third-party administration for SkillsUSA pension funds as required by the IRS for nonprofits.
And, finally, Cameron Ferguson, as board past-president, sent an e-mail to national staff members last week commending them for their work on the National Leadership and Skills Conference. Here’s part of what he had to say: “Everywhere I went, I heard comments about how smoothly it was running, and how the enthusiasm was running at an all time high. The results of your hard work and passion were absolutely evident for all to see. The visitors I brought to Kansas City were totally stunned by what they saw and heard. They couldn’t believe the professionalism of the students, the breadth and depth of the competitions, the scope of the organization, and dedication of the volunteers, advisors, and the national staff.” Thank you, Cameron. I know the staff appreciates your comments and your leadership as well.
Highlights
July 15th, 2009- The SkillsUSA WorldTeam trained on Saturday, June 27 in areas such as time management and interpersonal communications skills that take on heightened importance in the WorldSkills Competition. Laurent Thibault of the WorldSkills International Board attended the NLSC and said publicly. “We have always heard about the SkillsUSA Championships. Now that I’ve seen it I can say this is the largest and greatest display of skills anywhere in the world.” The Championships is featured on the home page of WorldSkills International at www.worldskills.org.
- The Skill Connect Assessments booth was a hopping place during conference. Frequently all 20 demonstration computers were in use with teachers test-driving the 34 assessments on display. Reactions were extremely positive. Over 500 teachers stopped by for the demonstrations.
- The Sustainability Solutions contest is off to a good start. Nine student teams displayed their talents and sustainability projects. The projects ranged from green building projects, alternative fuel systems and green blogs and Web sites. We were happy that four companies joined the national technical committee and that the committee chair was former national officer Grayson DeGraff, now a manager with Lowe’s.
- The new Professional Development Program (PDP) curriculum online – Levels 1 and 2 – will be ready for release at the beginning of school. Thanks to Air Products for providing the resources to revise and reprint PDP and to Lowe’s for the resources to move it to an interactive online learning environment.
- Oh, and we do share the news about our students. News releases on our medalists were e-mailed to 1,507 daily newspapers and 2,034 non-daily papers across the country. News releases for the Skill Point recipients were e-mailed to 1,563 daily papers and 3,011 non-daily papers. Word is that reporters are calling and the news stories are coming in at a rapid clip.
- People say: “Now that conference is over it must be nice to get a rest.” There’s no rest. We have a lot coming up very quickly including: national officer training; the state association directors’ meeting and board meeting in Charleston; the WorldSkills Competition and YDF meeting in Calgary; the launch of the Engineering Alliance; and, the Washington Leadership Training Institute. All of that is in the next two months.
Highlights
June 15th, 2009- It appears we’re still on track for a record attendance and the largest ever National Leadership and Skills Conference. We’re up 100 competitors from last year with about 5,400 and that’s after cutting back on some contests. We’ve picked up a few more TECHSPO exhibitors. The press kit and the trade releases are both online at www.skillsusa.org/about/news.shtml.
- Staff and I had a good series of meetings at the U.S. Department of Labor on May 20. It appears we may have the Skill Connect Assessments listed among the DOL’s list of approved assessments. There’s also interest in SkillsUSA models for instruction.
- Speaking of the Skill Connect Assessments, on Wednesday the 27th we received an update on sales. In the 53 days on the market, 1459 assessments have been sold. They’ve been used in 23 states. The Employability assessment is the most popular with Welding and Advertising Design second and third. Staff reports that we will have 36 Skill Connect Assessments ready for test-drive demonstrations during conference.
- ASE reports that the three automotive assessments we’re doing together have sold beyond expectations. On May 21, they had 21,478 tests assigned and the vast majority of them had been taken.
- And, I’m happy to report we have a new member on the Youth Development Foundation, Lynn Scheitrum, who is the manager for Talent Management and Central Staffing for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. We look forward to having her with us.
