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| A Message from Our Executive Director! |
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| Dear Readers,
I am thrilled to welcome you to this quarter’s edition of our SkillsUSA Massachusetts digital newsletter. As we step into the vibrant world of the Manufacturing Career Cluster, we are eager to explore the myriad of opportunities that a career in manufacturing holds for our students and communities.
Manufacturing plays a critical role in the Massachusetts economy, employing a significant workforce and driving innovation. |
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| Currently, over 250,000 individuals are employed in manufacturing across the state, making it a cornerstone of our economy. With a projected job growth rate of 12% in the next decade, the future looks bright for our students pursuing careers in this dynamic field.
In this newsletter, we will feature a variety of articles that highlight the invaluable contributions of our partners from both business and education and the remarkable journeys of our students. You’ll read inspiring stories that showcase how our students are gaining hands-on experience and developing skills that are highly sought after by employers in the manufacturing sector and beyond.
We invite business and education leaders to join us in preparing the next generation of the Massachusetts workforce. Your expertise and support are essential in shaping the future of our students and ensuring they are well-equipped for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in manufacturing. Together, we can foster a collaborative environment that encourages growth and innovation.
Thank you for joining us on this exciting journey as we delve into the Manufacturing Career Cluster. Together, let’s empower our students and strengthen our workforce!
Warm regards,
Karen Ward
Executive Director, SkillsUSA Massachusetts |
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| Coming Full Circle to SkillsUSA with Local & Global Manufacturing Experience |
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| Manny Resendes, an Engineering and Tools Team Leader at Larson Tool & Stamping and SkillsUSA alumni, shares the impact the organization made on him, his career and how he gives back. |
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| Thank You to Neuco!
Manufacturing Partner Spotlight |
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| Neuco has been in business for over 50 years providing utility companies with a skilled workforce to keep New England well lit and warm during the winter months. Since 2018, Neuco has sponsored both the State and National Competitions with expert volunteers and materials to help run the events. |
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| Andrew Cardin is a Welding Supervisor at Neuco. He shared, "As a former SkillsUSA and WorldSkills Welding Competitor, it is my great honor, privilege and blessing to be able to bring more exposure and sponsorship to this great organization through Neuco.
I hope to shine more light on the only organization that is truly making a difference at the core of all vocational technical training and fulfilling its mission to "to empower its members to become world-class workers, leaders, and responsible American citizens."
Thank you to Andrew and the Neuco team for your continued support! |
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| Recent Events & Happenings |
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| 2025 National Leadership & Skills Conference Recap |
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| The 2025 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference held in Atlanta, Georgia, was an incredible showcase of talent, dedication, and hard work by our SkillsUSA Massachusetts students. This year, Massachusetts proudly sent a delegation of enthusiastic and skilled competitors who demonstrated their expertise across various contests and represented our state with great pride. |
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| We are thrilled to announce that our students excelled at the national level, bringing home an impressive array of medals. Massachusetts secured a total of 45 national medals in 32 individual and team competitions including 20 gold medals, 10 silver medals, and 15 bronze medals. Team Massachusetts also earned 109 SkillPoint Proficiency Certifications, across 110 different competitions.
These achievements earned Massachusetts the top spot in high school competitions with medals won and are a testament to the exceptional training and preparation that our students receive, as well as the unwavering support from their mentors and educators. |
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| Additionally, we are proud to announce that our state’s 39 Official Delegates worked together, assisting Logan Rebello from Taunton High School, Taunton, MA in being elected as a National Officer during this year’s conference. This prestigious position not only reflects the leadership qualities of our students but also highlights Massachusetts’ commitment to the advancement of career and technical education on a national level.
The 2025 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference was an unforgettable experience for our state, providing opportunities for networking, learning, and showcasing their skills in front of industry leaders. We applaud all our competitors for their outstanding performances and dedication to excellence.
Congratulations to all our SkillsUSA Massachusetts students for their remarkable achievements and thank you to the Massachusetts business community for helping us prepare our team for national competition. Our thanks and grateful appreciation are also extended to our education and government partners for support and encouragement of SkillsUSA’s mission in Massachusetts. We look forward to continued success and growth of SkillsUSA in Massachusetts as our students pursue their careers and represent our state with pride. |
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| Get to Know SkillsUSA Massachusetts! |
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| Member of the Quarter:
Isaac G. Schmidt |
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| A newly minted National Champion, Isaac Schmidt recently won a Gold Medal in the CNC 2-Axis Turning Programmer Competition at the 2025 SkillsUSA Championships.
A graduate of Shawsheen Valley Technical High School in Billerica, MA, Isaac shares more about his SkillsUSA experience and some advice, too, below. |
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| “My experience with SkillsUSA over the past two years has truly been aMAzing and incredibly impactful. It has provided me with so many opportunities I never could have imagined. Some highlights from being a part of the SkillsUSA MA program are the connections that I have made and the ability to meet other talented and skilled students from across the state and then the country. It led to the opportunity to represent Massachusetts at the National Leadership & Skills Conference and to become a National Champion, which has been incredibly rewarding and represents the culmination of countless hours of learning and practicing.
I would say to anyone thinking about participating in SkillsUSA MA that they should absolutely join. It is truly an unforgettable experience and helps you grow as a person, student, and skilled worker. To those considering competing, I would say, don’t give up and always try your best; success isn’t about being the best at first, but about being consistent and putting in the work to become better. I started out my first year knowing nothing about my competition, but the Technical Standards that I received from SkillsUSA MA gave me direction in what I needed to learn. |
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| Through consistent work, I won Gold at the State level and then went on to get Silver at Nationals. My first National Conference gave me confidence but also showed me what I needed to improve on. Throughout this past year, I continued to put in the work. This paid off with a second opportunity to join the Massachusetts Delegation at the National Conference, this time winning a Gold Medal.
These competitions ultimately have helped prepare me with more knowledge and ability, setting a solid foundation for my future career.”
Thank you, Isaac, and a big congratulations! |
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| Meet Our Volunteer:
Ernest F. Houle |
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| Ernest F. Houle of Leominster, MA, is a lifelong advocate for career and technical education and a proud alumnus of Leominster Trade High School, where he graduated from the Metal Fabrication and Welding Program in 1988.
His journey with SkillsUSA began in 1986 as a sophomore when he joined the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA). |
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| Ernest competed in the VICA competitions, earning a Silver Medal at the District level and a Gold Medal at the State level in 1988, ultimately placing 11th in the nation at the VICA National Leadership and Skills Conference. His early leadership experience also includes attending the inaugural 1-Day Fall Leadership Conference in 1987.
Following graduation, Ernest remained committed to the organization, volunteering in multiple capacities—including judging the State Welding Competitions and supporting conference operations. He began teaching welding at Minuteman Regional Technical High School in 1996 and served as both a shop and chapter advisor for SkillsUSA-VICA. Now serving as Superintendent-Director at Assabet Valley RVSD, Ernest continues to champion SkillsUSA through administrative support and board leadership, including his current role on the Massachusetts SkillsUSA Board of Directors. He also actively assists in mentoring state officers during their national leadership training in Washington, D.C.
He shared, “Volunteering for Massachusetts SkillsUSA is my way of giving back to the organization that helped shape who I am. It’s an honor to support the next generation of leaders and skilled professionals, just as others once did for me.” |
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| Meet Our Team:
Brady McCarron |
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| Brady McCarron is the Alumni and Community Service Coordinator at SkillsUSA Massachusetts! He shares more about what inspires him in his role below.
“I’m passionate about the opportunities SkillsUSA creates for its members—whether it’s the excitement of competitions or the meaningful connections they build with business and community leaders. As the Alumni & Community Service Coordinator, I especially value helping students dive into service projects and recognize the real impact they can make. From the alumni perspective, it’s all about reconnecting with those who’ve gained so much from this organization and inspiring them to give back.” |
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| Exciting Organizational Milestones! |
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- SkillsUSA Massachusetts has surpassed the 40,000 member milestone with a total membership of 40,024 during the 2024-2025 program year.
- SkillsUSA Massachusetts has reached the GOLD LEVEL milestone in the State Standards of Excellence program each year since the program’s inception eight years ago.
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| How You Can Get Involved… |
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| Your time and dedication makes the difference! We depend on volunteers to help our entire organization run smoothly and successfully. Our volunteers also allow us to keep costs low for students and school chapters, enabling us to reach more members and widen our impact. Many people choose to volunteer because they feel called to assist in our mission, want to meet new people, or even because “someone once did it for me.” |
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| Become a Partner! Donations to SkillsUSA Massachusetts support programs across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Your contribution helps build organizational capacity, infrastructure and financial stability, ensuring lasting impact on students, schools and communities. |
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| Did You Know? On This Day in History |
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| August 11-16, 2015 – The 43rd WorldSkills Competition took place at Anhembi Parque, São Paulo, Brazil. Two SkillsUSA Massachusetts members: Jake Rivard, a graduate of Blackstone Valley RTHS, represented the United States of America in Mechanical Engineering Drafting and Andrew Cardin, a graduate of Blackstone Valley RTHS represented the United States of America in Welding and winning a Medallion of Excellence. |
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501 Paramount Drive
Raynham, MA 02767
(508) 738-2474 |
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