Photo by Heritage Visuals.
Photos throughout by Craig Moore, Heritage Visuals, Alexis Pratts, Jordan Sewell and Lloyd Wolf.
With state pride on full display and skills sharpened to a competitive edge, more than 19,000 students, teachers, education leaders and representatives from 850 national corporations, trade associations, businesses and labor unions from across the nation descended on downtown Atlanta for SkillsUSA’s 62nd annual National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC), presented by Aerotek, held June 1–5, 2026. They came to connect, compete and prove that America’s future skilled workforce has never been stronger.
Atlanta Takes Center Stage
SkillsUSA’s economic impact on the city of Atlanta is a staggering $34.9 million. From the Georgia World Congress Center to State Farm Arena, energy and ambition filled every hall. With 115 national competitions, delegate sessions, SkillsUSA LEARN, Models of Excellence and a dynamic Leverage leadership conference for 260 state officers, NLSC 2026 offered something meaningful for every stakeholder — with plenty of opportunities to learn, lead and level up.
Community remained at the heart of it all. Pin trading sparked new friendships across state lines, chants echoed through hotel corridors and the SkillsUSA Store stayed packed all week as members grabbed gear to show their SkillsUSA pride.
“The SkillsUSA National Leadership Conference is one of Atlanta’s most anticipated events each year,” said Charlene Lopez, executive vice president and chief sales officer, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The economic impact on our hotels and businesses is substantial, but what sets this conference apart is its deeper connection to our community. Local industry professionals serve as judges and mentors, helping shape talented young people into the skilled professionals — and engaged citizens — our economy needs. That’s an investment in our collective future we’re proud to be part of.”
Full Throttle at State Farm Arena
The conference kicked off at State Farm Arena with the Opening Session, where IndyCar Series champion Josef Newgarden — presented by Snap-on Inc. — addressed thousands of SkillsUSA members and supporters. The winningest active American driver in the series, with back-to-back Indianapolis 500 victories in 2023 and 2024, Newgarden shared the lessons of teamwork, precision and persistence that define success at the highest levels of competition. These are values SkillsUSA members recognize immediately.
“You guys are a critical ingredient to the team – each and every one of you,” Newgarden said. “No one is more important than the other. We equally together make up a team and that’s what ends up making a result.” He continued, “It is so, so important to be a great teammate … Being a great teammate is what is going to bring you results.”
The session also marked a milestone moment as SkillsUSA unveiled the official 2026 WorldSkills USA team, the elite delegation of champions set to represent the United States in international competition in Shanghai this September.
In her Opening Session address, SkillsUSA Executive Director Chelle Travis put it simply: “You possess the skills and support to pursue your passions, to build a strong foundation for success and to confidently navigate the path ahead. And when you embrace challenges, sharpen your skills and seize opportunities — you champion your future.”
Skills Beyond the Competition Floor
Drawing 1,175 participants, SkillsUSA LEARN brought the conference’s professional development experience to life through engaging sessions, interactive workshops and hands-on learning opportunities designed for students, advisors and educators alike. Organized into focused development tracks — including Student Development, CTE Instructor Innovation and Advisor Development — LEARN gave attendees practical tools and strategies to carry back to their chapters and classrooms. More than 400 credentialing opportunities were also available during the week, allowing participants to earn industry-recognized certifications; many at no cost.
Another standout addition to the conference was the Immersive Experience: Construction program, a three-day hands-on event that engaged 100 high school and college/postsecondary students. The results spoke for themselves: nearly 95% of participants reported being satisfied or very satisfied with the experience, and 84% said they would highly recommend it to a friend or peer. Perhaps most significantly, 68% of participants reported increased interest in pursuing a career in construction — and not a single student left with less interest than they arrived with. HVAC student Mohammed Al-Towaiti expressed gratitude for being a part of the event, “These experiences have helped me discover new interests, strengthen my career goals, and better understand the opportunities ahead.”
115 Competitions, One Goal
A centerpiece of NLSC was the SkillsUSA Championships — 115 hands-on skill and leadership competitions featuring 7,002 student contestants, each already a state champion, competing for national gold.
Beyond the podium, the Championships showcased the full range of what SkillsUSA membership looks like: competitors from middle school through college/postsecondary, spanning trades from welding and web development to healthcare, culinary arts and robotics. If you earned your place at NLSC, you belonged there.
TECHSPO: Where Industry Meets Inspiration
Surrounding the Championships, SkillsUSA TECHSPO continued its growth as one of the nation’s largest technical education expositions, with 242 exhibits spread across the GWCC halls. Combined with competition floors spanning approximately 1.8 million square feet — the equivalent of 31 football fields — TECHSPO gave students unprecedented access to the tools, technologies and companies shaping the future of skilled work.
Attendees explored the latest innovations while engaging with partners through hands-on demos, games and giveaways. TECHSPO provided a live snapshot of workforce demand in action, connecting students directly with the industries actively recruiting their talent.
Workforce Development in Action
Thursday also brought the SkillsUSA Workforce Development Summit, a focused, action-oriented morning convening industry leaders, educators and policymakers to explore how workforce development, career and technical education and economic growth intersect in real and measurable ways.
The summit featured a conversation between U.S. Department of Labor Assistant Secretary Henry Mack and SkillsUSA Executive Director Chelle Travis on the future of work and the role of CTE in building a resilient national workforce.
The day also brought a major announcement: Lyft and Ford Philanthropy unveiled a new ride-credit program to help students reach training, job interviews and apprenticeships, aiming to close the “last mile” transportation gap that too often stands between motivated students and skilled trades careers.
Leaving Atlanta Better
NLSC 2026 left a mark on Atlanta beyond the competition floor. As part of three community service projects, 300 SkillsUSA participants built 120 beds for children in the greater Atlanta area. Another 460 participants created 10 custom murals to be donated to health care facilities across the nation. And 427 toiletry items were collected for City of Refuge. Compassion and service, it turns out, are also skills SkillsUSA members have in abundance.
More than just an event, NLSC 2026 changed lives. Students left Atlanta with new skills, new connections and a renewed sense of what’s possible. Industry partners left energized by the talent they saw developing before them. And the nation took another step forward in closing the skilled workforce gap — one future leader at a time.
SkillsUSA will return to Atlanta for the next NLSC from June 21–25, 2027.
What People are Saying About NLSC.
NLSC was more than a conference — it was a celebration of what career and technical education makes possible. Students, teachers and industry leaders alike shared their reflections on the energy, impact and opportunity that defined this year’s event.
David “DJ” Jordan, SkillsUSA Board member and Enterprise Director at Aerotek, talked about the SkillsUSA effect, “My mother was a SkillsUSA teacher as well as an administrator, so I understand what actually goes into the learning. Years ago, we used to talk about the skills advantage. And it is the methodology, it is the techniques, it is the level of professionalism that the students receive and then apply. That’s what makes SkillsUSA very different,” he says. “To be able to give back to the organization at this level is fantastic!”
Past National Officer Juan Orona attended NLSC as part of SkillsUSA’s social media team. In addition to that, he was tapped to give tours to conference VIP attendees, including Sebastian Barron, who serves as the Metro Atlanta Representative and Community/Outreach Liaison for the Office of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, and Greg Clay, Deputy Chief of Staff for Mr. Andre Dickens, Mayor of Atlanta.
But it wasn’t rubbing shoulders with VIPs that stood out most to Orona during this year’s conference. It was witnessing the growth of those around him. “The true highlight was watching our student leaders shine on the national stage from the point of view of an alumnus. Seeing their passion, dedication and growth firsthand is a powerful reminder of why I love this organization so much,” he says. “I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to give back to an organization that has shaped so much of who I am today.”
Zachary Felger from Alexandria (Minn.) Technical & Community College came to NLSC to compete in Motorcycle Service Technology. He garnered the gold medal in the College/Postsecondary division. NLSC provided excitement and accolades for Felger’s week in Atlanta, but that wasn’t what stood out the most. What did? “Getting to share it all with my dad!” he says.
