Inside the Future of the Elevator Workforce

How the SkillsUSA Conference is an integral part of developing a talent pipeline for our industry

Every summer, SkillsUSA hosts its National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC), a weeklong event celebrating the skilled trades and the accomplishments of career-ready leaders from across the U.S. This event includes the SkillsUSA Championships where more than 6,000 state winners compete for the national championship in 115 skill and leadership competitions, including automotive service technology, carpentry, electrical construction technology, HVAC, industrial motor control, plumbing and welding. For the second consecutive year, National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII) was there in partnership with National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP).

SkillsUSA is a career and technical organization serving more than 413,000 middle school, high school, college and professional members enrolled in training programs for trade, technical and skilled service occupations. SkillsUSA also represents the future of the skilled trades, including the elevator industry. The student participants spend years perfecting their trade skills, as well as developing leadership, communication and teamwork capabilities. Many of the students already have certifications in their areas of study as well as OSHA 10 certification. Through expert classroom instruction and dedication, these students are career-ready and have focused their attention on pursuing a career in the trades. To ensure its bright and healthy future, the elevator industry must tap into organizations like SkillsUSA to attract talent and increase their potential for success. 

In June, NEII and NEIEP participated in this annual event and spent extensive time with thousands of students and advisors. Most of the students who stopped by our booth were excited to learn more about the elevator industry and explore how their skills and passions are a fit for a successful future in the highest-paying building trade. The consensus among NEII staff and member company representatives is SkillsUSA is the elevator industry’s premier outreach and recruiting opportunity for skilled trades students every year.

The expansive elevator industry booth was a popular destination for many attendees. In addition to the virtual reality lab, students enjoyed engaging with the model traction elevator, where industry representatives pointed out parts of the system that might apply to a wide variety of trade interests. The industry promotion extended beyond the roles and responsibilities of an elevator mechanic to include opportunities in information technology, human resources, robotics, cybersecurity and other fields. This broader focus attracted students who visited the booth at the SkillsUSA Conference to explore careers in these diverse areas.

Given the success we experienced in 2023, we increased our industry’s presence this year with a larger booth with more staff and increased advertising of our trade around the Atlanta Convention Center. In addition, we co-sponsored the SkillsUSA Advisor’s Breakfast. I was able to address the audience of more than 400 advisors and emphasized the benefits of working as an elevator mechanic or pursuing other career opportunities available in the industry. The information I shared led to increased interest in having representatives from our industry speak to their students during the next school year. NEII and NEIEP staff also connected individually with many of the advisors in attendance to answer more detailed questions about our industry.

The industry’s expanded presence at the 2024 conference — more staff, a larger booth, enhanced branding, additional information and more events — clearly made a notable difference compared to 2023. However, the most lasting impact was undoubtedly made by the elevator mechanics from NEII’s member companies. The elevator mechanics are a critical element for the elevator industry to advance recruitment objectives through the SkillsUSA engagement. The passion each mechanic has for his or her work inspired many of these students to learn more about their jobs, leaving attendees eager to explore how they can join the elevator industry. 

NEII is focused not only on attracting individuals to the elevator industry, but also on helping to ensure the industry’s long-term success. Existing pre-apprenticeship programs across the U.S. support interested individuals, but SkillsUSA offers a unique opportunity to draw from a pool of individuals who have already dedicated several years to learning a trade skill and understanding its challenges. The SkillsUSA students know what it takes and have the skills needed to succeed. 

The industry’s next steps are to build on the connections made during the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. NEII will promote industry recruitments, provide guidance on how to apply for openings in this industry and coordinate in-person events where possible. We will also continue to provide more detailed industry information to the SkillsUSA chapters.

To learn more about NEII’s involvement with SkillsUSA and how NEII is helping drive workforce development and diversity, go to NEII. 

In Their Words

NEII staff weigh in on their individual experiences at SkillsUSA, including what made this year’s event so special.

Savannah Clarkston, director of government affairs:

“Experiencing the SkillsUSA NLSC for the third time (once as an attendee and twice as part of the NEII/NEIEP efforts) allowed me to connect with students more than I had in previous years since I understood the structure and the various competition elements. I had incredibly meaningful conversations with students who were dedicated to their trades and excited to describe the outcomes of their competitions and even model some of the skills for us right at our booth! 

“One instance stood out to me following the Women in Welding panel where one of the elevator mechanics and I spoke to several female welders dedicated to their craft. I spoke with a student and her mother about the prospects of pursuing a career in the trades as a woman. This student was breaking glass ceilings as a junior in high school. She spoke about often being put down and frequently the only female in the classroom and having to overcome many obstacles to be taken seriously in welding. She kept pursuing her trade and has been accepted into several welding programs largely through the skills she possesses and the mentorship of her SkillsUSA advisor. I especially loved listening to the support from her family and the advanced questions she asked our field employees and NEIEP representatives about applying her skills to the elevator industry. I watched similar scenarios play out all week with several impressive students from various backgrounds pursuing careers in a multitude of trades. Each student was truly talented, and SkillsUSA gave them a platform to be celebrated and showcased like they have never been before. This is not typical for younger students who do not adhere to the ‘typical’ college path.”

Katelyn Baldwin, manager, CodeFinder and team support:

“Something I found incredibly impactful was that we had students coming back to our booth multiple times throughout the week. For example, there was the student who stopped to learn about our industry and practice her speech skills who returned at least two other times to share her progress throughout her competition. There was also a student who met one of the mechanics on Tuesday and came back to see him again on Thursday. I also loved how students were very curious about our industry and eager to learn how their specific skills might translate into a career in the elevator trade. In addition to having mechanics at our booth, we had an engineer from one of our member companies who many students competing in engineering were thrilled to meet and talk to about potential career options.”

Dot Mynahan, senior director of safety and workforce:

“I was impressed with the skill levels of the students in attendance. These students were here to compete for the national championship in their skill, meaning they had won their school, regional and state competitions. I spoke with a few advisors who wanted to bring their students to our booth once they learned about everything the elevator trade offers our employees. Two separate advisors pointed out their top student, which allowed me the opportunity to connect with those students for a more impactful discussion.  

“On several occasions, I was able to share the career path of Rick Myers from NEIEP, who attended SkillsUSA. Myers worked his way up through the field as an apprentice, mechanic and adjustor. He advanced into a regional field engineering role, then a national field engineering role and ended his career as a global elevator expert. He helped with the final adjusting of the elevators in Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. The sky is truly the limit when it comes to our trade!”

Nicole Van Velzen, director of communications:

“When I was out walking the exhibition floor during the SkillsUSA TECHSPO, I was drawn to so many trade competitions. Seeing the students work as individuals or teams in their respective tasks highlighted the depth of the SkillsUSA experience. While they need to master some foundational skills, so much of their work in the exhibit hall centered around teamwork, communication and creativity. I talked with students who had created welded metal sculptures, constructed complete mini homes and finished roofing projects. Their ambition for their futures was evident in how they spoke about their trade of choice and their drive to continually improve. They all are seeking a job they love that they know they are good at.” 

The future is bright.