Skills USA convened for their annual National Leadership and Skills Competition – the largest celebration of the skilled trades in America. This week, a promising crop of young and aspiring tradespeople have gathered here from all over the country to see who’s the best in their chosen field. This is the third time I’ve been invited to speak at their opening ceremony, and it’s always a blast. Eighteen thousand people attended last night’s event, and I think I shook hands with most of them. Today, they’ll begin competing in their chosen vocations – everything from plumbing to the culinary arts, (which, now that I think about, are inherently linked.)
The competition in every vocation is intense, and a lot of fun to watch. But my favorite competition at these events is not between the students; it’s between the companies who sponsor the event itself. Dozens of highly recognizable corporations are on hand not only to encourage the competitors, but to hire them – in many cases, before the closing ceremonies. It’s like watching talent scouts at the All-Star game, fighting over the best prospects. Except the prospects here aren’t baseball players. They’re plumbers, electricians, HVAC techs, welders, etc., and they’re ALL in demand.
Consider the situation at Crash Champions Collision Repair. Over dinner, I asked their CEO, Matt Ebert, how many collision 
repair technicians he could hire today, if they showed up ready for work.
“Seven hundred,” he said. “Maybe more.”
“Damn,” I said. “How many to you hope to hire from this competition?”
“I’m shooting for a hundred,” he said. “But I’d be happy with fifty.”
That’s one CEO from one company, hoping to find the talent he needs in a convention center bursting with skill. What an inconvenient truth for all those who still maintain that opportunity is dead, and all the good jobs are gone. Thomas Edison was right. Opportunity is most often missed, because it’s dressed in overalls and looks like work. It’s great to see so many kids on the right track.
A special shout out to all the past mikeroweWORKS scholarship recipients in attendance, including the five who came by to say hello before I was called on stage. (No pressure, but there’s a long history of MRW work ethic scholarship recipients taking home the gold in their chosen vocations. Don’t let me down!)
Also, a nod to young Joseph, who stood in line for a half-hour to shake hands and made an impression.
Joseph: Hi, Mr. Rowe. My name is Joseph, and I just wanted to shake your hand and tell you that I really enjoyed your speech this evening.
Me: Thanks, Joseph. I’m glad.
Joseph: I was also wondering if you’d like to take a picture.
Me: Sure. There’s a professional photographer right there. I’m sure he’d be happy to do it.
Joseph: I’d really prefer it if you took my picture yourself.
Me: Fine. Give me your phone. I’ll take a picture.
With that, Joseph reached into the pocket of his red blazer and handed me a picture of himself.
“Here you go,” he said, before walking away with a grin.
I suspect Joseph will do well in the comedian competition…
P.S. Speaking of mikeroweWORKS, we’re currently plowing through a record number of applications from this last enrollment period, and I’m pleased to report the extraordinary increase in volume has been matched by an extraordinary increase in quality applicants, along with an extraordinary level of support. Too early to say for sure, but it’s looking like we might be able to award $5 million in scholarships this year. That would be a milestone worth celebrating. More on that later.