Leadership Message
As We Enter The 31th Year Of The SkillsUSA Council
One of our top strategic priorities in our current plan is to increase the
notoriety of the Council. While our efforts are widely recognized throughout
the schools, many businesses and groups in the community remain unaware
of the work we’re doing to make our students better employees. The goal
encompasses not only increasing membership but also rebranding our
literature to be more relevant.
First on task was a new website courtesy of the Bethlehem AVTS Website
Design students and their instructor, Craig Moser. The new website gives us the
opportunity to share about our programs and also offer online event registration
and the ability to accept donations. Check it out at: skillsusacouncil.org
This summer, with the help of some alumni and board members, we
produced the first promotional video for SkillsUSA Council. It can also be
viewed on our new website. It shares, not only the success stories of some of
our former students but also, the dedication of many of our board members.
I think you’ll find their stories an inspiration to current and future Council
members alike.
We’ve continued to strengthen our programs to students, updating our
Professional Development Conference program and increasing the level of
community service involvement. You’ll read about some of our students’
community service projects in this report. These projects are an important
way for our students to identify with and support their communities, making
them more well-rounded and thoughtful individuals. Isn’t this what every
employer wants?
After 21 years in Kansas City, MO the National Leadership & Skills Conference
run by SkillsUSA moved to Louisville, KY. This was an exciting move as all
events would now be under one roof. We were honored to have a member of
our board and SkillsUSA Alum, Shawn Silvoy, assist in this transition.
The coming year will bring more updates to our programming as we continue
to meet the changing needs of our local workforce. We invite you to join us in
this process, whether it be through becoming a member, volunteering, judging
a contest, or attending an event. Together, we are building a better workforce!
Judy A. Hunsicker
Chairwoman
Thea Phalon
Executive Director
SkillsUSA Council
at a Glance
Our Mission
To create a world-class workforce, through professional development
of local career and education students and partnerships with the
local business community, to support local economic and community
growth in the Greater Lehigh Valley.
Our partnerships allow us to teach career and technical education students
job readiness and employability skills. We also build and reinforce selfconfidence, positive work attitudes, and leadership and communication
skills. We are building a better workforce by preparing our students to be
productive, professional employees.
Our Vision
All students graduating from our partner career & technical education schools
will possess 21st century career skills—effective communication, professional
decorum, financial literacy, work ethic, competitive spirit, and collaborative
teamwork—which will complement their technical training, preparing them for
employment and leadership in the Greater Lehigh Valley.
About SkillsUSA Council
SkillsUSA Council is a coalition of over 70 business and industry partners
committed to fostering a world-class workforce through career and technical
training to support local economic and community growth in the Greater
Lehigh Valley. At the five local career and technical high schools we serve,
SkillsUSA Council promotes mastery of 21st century career skills, training
students in effective communication, professional decorum, financial literacy,
and collaborative teamwork. Through competitions, workshops, and
conferences, we seek to produce a hard-working generation of creative and
compassionate critical thinkers.
Our Partner Schools
And Lead Advisors
• Bethlehem Area
Vocational-Technical
School
Judy Milositz
• Career Institute
of Technology
Susan Day
• Lehigh Career &
Technical Institute
Chris Canceliere
• Monroe Career &
Technical Institute
Maria Hafler
• Upper Bucks County
Technical School
James Achuff