“Everything we do is informed by industry,” Travis explains.“Our partners tell us the skills they need in entry-level employees, and we embed those directly into curriculum, competitions, and certification standards. That’s the SkillsUSA difference.” These partnerships aren’t symbolic. Companies like 3M, Lowe’s, Ford, Aerotek, Constellation Energy, BASF, and Haas provide equipment, scholarships, mentorship, and even job offers to students who compete at SkillsUSA events. Many leave national or state competitions with employment offers in hand. “We have over 850 national business and industry partners,” Travis adds. “They believe in our mission and actively remove barriers for students — from scholarships to work-based learning to direct hiring pipelines.” 3M: A MODEL PARTNER One of those partners is 3M, which has been working with SkillsUSA for decades. Maureen Tholen, Vice President of Sustainability for 3M’s Safety and Industrial Business Group and immediate past president of the SkillsUSA Board of Directors, says the relationship is a natural fit. “At 3M, many of our products — abrasives, adhesives, personal protective equipment — serve the same industries SkillsUSA trains for,” Tholen explains.“It’s 229 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 11 SKILLSUSA
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