SkillsUSA
Search
Legal / Privacy / Index / Membership Login
StudentsEducatorsSupportersAbout UsEventsCompeteJoinConnectShopContact
Home > Tim's Blog

Graduation Regalia

January 31st, 2011

Before graduation season gets into full swing, you might want to purchase official SkillsUSA graduation regalia products. Official SkillsUSA stoles, tassels and honor cords make wonderful gifts to recognize the hard work and achievements of graduates.

Order yours today, and encourage your students to do so as well at www.skillsusastore.org.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Executive Perspectives | No Comments »

SkillsUSA Store

January 14th, 2011

Start the new year off with a visit to the SkillsUSA Store. It’s a great time to get ready for spring and take care of official SkillsUSA uniform, supplies, apparel and gift needs. Go to www.skillsusastore.org. Also, for great gift, apparel or other custom-branded product ideas while supporting SkillsUSA, go to www.brandedproductsonline.com

Tags: ,
Posted in Executive Perspectives | No Comments »

SkillsUSA Store

September 1st, 2010

With an exciting new school year now underway, we’re pleased to invite you to visit the SkillsUSA Web store www.skillsusastore.org – your one-stop resource for all things SkillsUSA. From uniform products and core items, stylish apparel to cool accessories, our online store is available 24/7 to serve you.

Also, coming to your inbox this fall is our new 2010 – 2011 catalog, which previews more than twenty new apparel and product offerings. Redesigned to honor our collective commitment to sustainability, this catalog will become a handy companion to our online store. We encourage you to share the catalog with your SkillsUSA students as well, as our full product line truly has something for everyone.

In addition to new offerings spotlighted in the catalog, our product line is updated throughout the year. Be sure to visit www.skillsusastore.org often to see what’s new.

Remember, SkillsUSA Store is your one-stop outfitter for all Official SkillsUSA products including:

  • SkillsUSA Blazers, Wind Jackets and Ties
  • Competition Work Uniforms for all events
  • Chapter Supplies, Banners and Table Drapes
  • SkillsUSA Pins, Patches and Medallions
  • Fun and Stylish Fashion Apparel
  • SkillsUSA branded Gifts and Accessories
  • Customizable Awards
  • And much more!

We are also pleased to be your resource for all your custom branded SkillsUSA product and apparel needs. Our merchandising team can provide you with the latest products at competitive prices. From funky T-shirts to cool pins, from decals to flash drives, we have access to more than a million products at every price point. Just call (703-674-5454) or send an e-mail to Steve Korker at skorker@egroup-inc.com, and his team will be happy to help you with concepts and ideas.

Thank you for shopping the SkillsUSA Store and your continued support of our organization.

Tags: ,
Posted in Executive Perspectives | No Comments »

Highlights

August 15th, 2010
  • On July 30, staff directors held an off-site retreat just across the river in Maryland to prepare for activities beginning this fall with particular emphasis on membership and marketing. We began with a Vision 2020 discussion and moved through funding priorities, the CEO Champion of the Year initiative and SkillsUSA WorldTeam. We’ve got a good management team with lots of ideas.
  • The State Association Director Annual Professional Development and Training Conference was just held in Herndon, Va. on August 10-15. New state association directors arrived on Tuesday, August 10, and began their training that evening. Experienced directors arrived on August 11. They had a packed schedule with lots of best practice sessions on association management. We had seven new directors attending, and 41 directors and assistant directors in all, and 34 state associations were represented.
  • We recently held a meeting at the center with E-Group to compare notes on the SkillsUSA Store at conference and to prepare for this coming fall. There have also been lots of meetings preparing for the Washington Leadership Training Institute.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Executive Perspectives | No Comments »

Highlights

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.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Executive Perspectives | No Comments »

Legacy Blazers Available at a Reduced Price, New Blazer Introduced

November 1st, 2009

As part of our new launch of the SkillsUSA Store, we have redesigned the SkillsUSA blazer to enhance it with new custom buttons, an ID label inside for identifying the student or school and a new lighter, smoother fabric. The new blazers are in stock at $99.99, and they come in an expanded size range. Each blazer is packaged in a garment bag.

We still have a quantity of the older-style SkillsUSA blazers available, and we are selling these for $84.99 for a limited time. This is a wonderful opportunity to stock up on the legacy blazer at a value price. Both the poly/wool and 100% polyester styles are available, however, some sizes may be limited.

To order either new blazers or legacy blazers, visit to the SkillsUSA Store at www.skillsusastore.org.

Any questions on SkillsUSA blazers and availability of the legacy blazer in particular sizes should be directed to our supplier:

Steve Korker Jr., Account Manager
E Group, Inc.
13505 Dulles Technology Drive
Herndon, VA 20171
Phone: 703.674.5454
Fax: 703.716.5807
E-mail: skorker@egroup-inc.com
Web: www.Skillsusastore.org

Thanks for your continued support of the SkillsUSA supply service!

Tags:
Posted in Executive Perspectives | No Comments »

Highlights

October 15th, 2009
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:” 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!

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Executive Perspectives | No Comments »

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.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Executive Perspectives | No Comments »

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.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Executive Perspectives | No Comments »

SkillsUSA Store Relaunch

September 1st, 2009

As of today,  September 1, our all-new www.SkillsUSAStore.org is open with an array of new products including fashion apparel, accessories and gift items. Log on to order stylish clothing and accessories that help you show your pride in SkillsUSA!

On Sept. 18, the www.SkillsUSAStore.org site expands to include all chapter supplies and competition uniforms. Inventory transfer from our previous supplier should be complete by this date.

Our all-new official blazer will be available for purchase this October. Offered at a new low price of $99.95, the attractive new blazer features a lighter weight fabric, SkillsUSA labeling and custom buttons and an interior tag for noting owner information. The blazer will be shipped with a garment bag for ease of storage.

After hearing SkillsUSA members’ feedback at recent conferences, our store has expanded sizing, ranging from women’s size 0 to men’s size 66L. We are pleased to be offering these for purchase this fall.

We’re committed to delivering a pleasant shopping experience to all SkillsUSA student members and advisors, and we know you will enjoy shopping at www.SkillsUSAStore.org.

Be sure to visit often, as new products will be added frequently. If you need special items or assistance in using the site, simply dial 1- 800-401-1560, and the customer care team will be happy to assist you.

Thank you for supporting your organization with the purchase of official SkillsUSA products.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Executive Perspectives | No Comments »

« Older Entries