National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC)

Events

Mar 31

The Ultimate Showcase of Career and Technical Excellence

The National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC) is SkillsUSA’s premier event, uniting top students, educators, and industry leaders for a week of competition, leadership, and celebration.

For nearly 60 years, NLSC has spotlighted the best in career and technical education—elevating workforce readiness and connecting education with industry. Each year, students demonstrate their skills, leadership, and professionalism on a national stage, shaping the future of America’s skilled workforce.

A group of student leaders in red jackets stands on stage beneath a large SkillsUSA banner during a national conference.

A student stands with hand over heart during the national anthem at a SkillsUSA ceremony with a large American flag backdrop.

Chelle Travis in a red blazer raises both fists in victory on stage, celebrating an achievement at a SkillsUSA event.

What is the National Leadership & Skills Conference?

NLSC is the largest gathering of career and technical education students in the United States, featuring:

The SkillsUSA Championships – The nation's premier career competitions, where students go head-to-head in over 100 skilled trade, technical and leadership categories.

Leadership Training and National Delegates Sessions – Workshops, networking and advocacy opportunities that develop the next generation of industry and community leaders.

Industry Connections and Career Readiness – Direct engagement with employers, recruiters and industry partners looking to hire top-skilled talent.
Recognition and Celebration – A week of ceremonies, awards and special events to celebrate the talents, hard work and achievements of SkillsUSA members.

Mike Rowe delivers a motivational talk on stage wearing a “Workforce Movement” t-shirt.

A keynote speaker in overalls holds up props while presenting on a SkillsUSA stage.

Two young women in red blazers smile outside a civic auditorium during a SkillsUSA event.

Two students pose next to a WAVE 3 News van, representing SkillsUSA in the media.

A speaker in a red blazer stands under stage lights during a SkillsUSA presentation.

A large SkillsUSA donation check of $80,000 is presented on stage under a VICA banner.

A group of red-jacketed students listens to an instructor or advisor during a breakout session.

Students in red jackets walk across a large outdoor venue or convention center.

A packed arena watches a SkillsUSA stage program under bright lights and large screens.

Attendees work in a large conference hall with rows of tables and a red carpet.

A red-blazered speaker addresses an audience at the SkillsUSA national conference podium.

A woman in a red floral dress raises a prop and smiles mid-speech at a SkillsUSA event.

A man in a cowboy hat waves the Texas state flag, representing his state with pride at a SkillsUSA ceremony.

The SkillsUSA Championships: Where the Best Compete

The SkillsUSA Championships, held during NLSC, is the country’s largest showcase of skilled trades and career competitions.

100+ Competitions in Skilled Trades, Technology, and Leadership
Over 6,500 student competitors from across the nation
Industry-driven challenges judged by top professionals
Real-world testing environments that simulate job conditions

A packed event hall displays a VICA banner as students gather beneath a “Skills Build America” sign.

A large arena crowd watches a VICA ceremony or competition on a central stage.

Rows of students in red blazers sit at long tables under a hall filled with vertical signs.

Students concentrate at competition tables during a large-scale VICA skills event.

A parade of students in red jackets marches with state flags outdoors.

A group of students poses on stage holding awards and a VICA flag.

Students raise state flags indoors while others cheer from the competition floor.

Confetti fills the air as students celebrate during a closing ceremony.

Students pose with flags at the conclusion of a formal ceremony on stage.

A massive audience watches a SkillsUSA presentation projected onto large screens in an auditorium.

Kansas delegates march with a sunflower-themed VICA banner during an outdoor event.

Students study in a large carpeted hall with conference tables and white dividers.

A student speaks at a podium flanked by other delegates in red blazers.

A packed stadium watches a SkillsUSA ceremony lit by spotlights and large displays.

Students line up in red blazers for a group activity or breakout session.

Two students talk beneath a SkillsUSA Championship directional banner.

A large check presentation happens on stage as part of a SkillsUSA scholarship or donation event.

A bustling career fair with company booths and banners offers job connections for SkillsUSA members.

Students fill an airplane cabin en route to a national VICA event.

Attendees browse exhibits in a Rubbermaid-branded outdoor tent at a SkillsUSA expo.

Attendees enter a SkillsUSA exhibition space under large welcome signage.

A massive construction-themed SkillsUSA display features wood structures and sponsor signage.

A marquee at the Georgia World Congress Center announces the 1979 VICA conference.

Students gather at a competition floor lined with booths and welding stations.

A graphic from the 1981–82 VICA program features the Louisville national leadership conference.

A group of delegates in red jackets walks together outside a large convention center.

A student in a skirt shakes hands with an older official in an office setting.

A VICA member chats with two women in a hallway during a conference.

Participants eat and chat in competition hall.

Students work on outdoor activities in gym attire.

A student takes a written test while an instructor watches in a classroom setting.

n arena fills with students watching a central stage with a VICA symbol above.

A trio of students in VICA gym shirts prepares for a competitive event.

Students in red blazers take exams in a traditional classroom environment.

Students and attendees mingle in a large indoor plaza with escalators and balconies.

Stage platform is set up in the center of an arena with a seated crowd.

Volunteers and students check in at a registration table in a concrete hallway.

A long line of SkillsUSA participants queues along a brightly lit convention center corridor.

VICA competitor masonry (year unknown).jpg

1997 SkillsUSA Championships medallions.jpg

Championships Kansas City (year known).jpg

SkillsUSA Championships Kansas City 1996 Ribbon Cutter Awards.jpg

VICA competitors with toolboxes at NLSC Kansas City 1994.jpg

A History of Excellence: NLSC Through the Years

The National Leadership & Skills Conference has a rich history, dating back to 1965, when SkillsUSA (then known as VICA) first envisioned a national platform to showcase student excellence in career and technical education.

1965 – The first National Leadership & Skills Conference was held in Nashville, TN, marking the founding of VICA (now SkillsUSA).
1971 – The first competitive events were introduced at the conference.
1994 – The United States Skill Olympics was officially renamed the SkillsUSA Championships, effective in 1995.
1999 – The organization officially changed from VICA to SkillsUSA-VICA at the NLSC, later shortened to SkillsUSA in 2004.
2020 – The conference was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021 – The conference was held virtually for the first time, with U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona providing a video message.
2022 – The first full in-person NLSC post-pandemic took place in Atlanta, drawing over 13,664 attendees.
2023 – The largest NLSC to date was held in Atlanta, with 16,102 attendees.
2025 – The largest projected NLSC ever, with an anticipated number of attendees of over 18,000.

National Conference Speakers

Voices That Inspire the Next Generation

From workforce champions to SkillsUSA alumni, our conference speakers bring powerful stories, expert insights and bold ideas to the stage. These thought leaders reflect the values of SkillsUSA — leadership, innovation and excellence in the skilled trades.

Our keynote and session speakers play a vital role in energizing students, educators and industry partners at our national events.

1965 — Bob Conger, Conger-Parker Lumber Co.; Sam Ezelle, Secretary-Treasurer, Kentucky State; AFL-CIO; and R. E. Brinkley, Deputy Commissioner of Education, Tennessee
1966 — Paul Castiglione, Past President, Texas VICA
1967 — Lee Chapman, IAMAW, and Laurence Howard, American Gage Machine Co.
1968 — John Frank, Potter, and Dr. James Sill, Southwestern State College (OK)
1969 — Former Ohio Governor James Rhodes; Dan Kuykendall, Congressman; Paul Belden, Belden Brick Company; and Dr. Leon Minear, U. S. Office of Education
1970 — Russell Peterson, Delaware Governor, and Roman Pucinski, Congressman
1971 — Edgar Whitcomb, Indiana Governor
1972 — Tricia Nixon Cox, daughter of President Nixon, and Richard Terrell, Group Vice President, General Motors Corp.
1973 — David Hall, Oklahoma Governor; Major General John Roberts; and Dr. James Hudson, Project HOPE
1974 — Ronald Wright, Former National Officer
1975 — Dr. Harrison Schmitt, Astronaut, and Dr. Frederick Hill, Great Britain’s representative to the WorldSkills Competition
1976 — William Usery, Secretary of Labor, and Hugh Murphy, U. S. Department of Labor and Pamela Powell, The White House
1977 — Ernest Green, U. S. Department of Labor
1978 — Charles Duke, Jr., Astronaut
1980 — Larry Pressler, Congressman; Georgia Governor George Busbee; and Fred Napolitano, National Association of Home Builders; Dan Taylor, U. S. Department of Education
1981 — William H. Morris, U. S. Department of Commerce, and Charles Blackburn, Shell Oil Co.
1982 — William Cook, Jr., and Phyllis George Brown, First Lady of Kentucky
1983 — Charles Duke, Jr., Astronaut; William Pratt, Kentucky Department of Education; and President Ronald Reagan
1984 — Art Fettig, author and Raymond Donovan, U. S. Department of Labor
1985 — Bill Prince, U. S. Department of Labor (former national officer) and Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt
1986 — Colonel Joe Engle, astronaut, and Major Kenneth Cameron, astronaut
1987 — Brigadier General Chuck Yeager, First Pilot to Break Sound Barrier
1988 — Dan Jansen, Olympic Speedskater and Kay Lani Rae Rafko, Miss America
1989 — Bill Demby, Disabled Viet Nam Veteran
1990 — Terry Bradshaw, Former Quarterback with Pittsburgh Steelers
1991 — Patricia Fripp, Motivational Speaker
1992 — Mary Lou Retton, Olympic Gymnast
1993 — Lou Holtz, Notre Dame Football Coach
1994 — Dick Vitale, Sports Announcer; Charlotte Lopez, Miss Teen USA; and Kimberly Aiken, Miss America 1994, were present for a photo session with GM
1995 — Rudy Ruettinger, Notre Dame Football Player
1996 — James Lovell, Astronaut
1997 — Janet Evans, Olympic Swimmer
1998 — Jerry Lineger, Astronaut
1999 — Joe Galli, DEWALT Industrial Tool Co., and Paul Pentz, True Value Hardware
2000 — Lyn St. James, Race Car Driver
2001 — Steven Phillips, Vice President, Harley-Davidson Motor Co.
2002 — Jeffrey Swartz, CEO of The Timberland Co.
2003 — Julia Abramova, Former National Officer
2004 — Major General Michael Rochelle, U. S., Army Recruiting Command
2005 — Terry Bowden, ABC College Football Analyst
2006 — Kwame Jackson, “The Apprentice” TV show star
2007 — Larry Stone, COO, Lowe’s Companies, Inc., and Jason Ryan Dorsey, Best-selling Author
2008 — James Press, Vice Chairman and President of Chrysler, LLC and Barrington Irving, first black and youngest pilot to fly solo around the world
2009 — Wendy Venturini, SPEED Channel Reporter, and Stephen Palletta, Founder of Stephen’s Journey Foundation
2010 — Mike Holmes, “Holmes to Homes” TV show star and contractor
2011 — John McGlade, CEO, Air Products
2012 — Chef Jeff Henderson
2013 — Mike Rowe, “Dirty Jobs” Star
2014 — Chris Fischer, TV personality and founder and CEO of Fischer Productions
2015 — Nick Pinchuk, CEO, Snap-on Inc.
2016 — Kayleen McCabe, Contractor and TV host of “Rescue Renovation”
2017 — Nick “Sunshine” Tokman, star of Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch”
2018 — Brad Keselowski, NASCAR Driver for Team Penske
2019 — Art DelaCruz, COO for Team Rubicon
2020 — No conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 — Virtual: U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona provided a video
2022 — U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona and Nick Pinchuk, CEO, Snap-on Corp. (Opening Session) and Darren Keefe, HGTV (Awards Session)
2023 — SkillsUSA graduates Aaron Robles, Laila Mirza and Matt DiBara. Entertainment by Reza/Edge of Illusion
2024 —Journalist Cory James, Poet Amena Brown and Author Chris Gardner
2025 — Mike Rowe, “Dirty Jobs” Star and head of mikeroweWORKS Foundation.

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