» New Mexico’s Highly Skilled Workforce to Compete in Skills USA Conference in Albuquerque

April 02, 2009 - Albuquerque, NM- Skills USA New Mexico will offer high school and college students from all over the state the chance to display their skills at the 2009 New Mexico State Leadership & Skills Conference. The conference will be held at Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) in Albuquerque, New Mexico from April 2 to April 4.

Miller Bonded, Inc., (MBI) has supported the SkillsUSA conference for several years. This year, they will again extend a helping hand by donating staff and materials to the event. Miller Bonded employees will construct plumbing apparatuses for the competition, which SkillsUSA can use in the future.

Current employees of Miller Bonded know first-hand the positive impact that Skills USA has on the lives of high school and college students. Roy Herrera, Pipe Fabrication Foreman at Miller Bonded, participated in SkillsUSA welding competitions while in high school and college, winning a total of four gold medals. Herrera credits SkillsUSA with preparing him for his current career.
“Competing in welding gave me the experience to strive to be the best that I could be as a welder,” Herrera said. “SkillsUSA gave me the opportunity to build and strengthen my leadership skills, and to become a successful worker.”

Herrera will serve as a welding judge during this year’s competition. Tom Payne, Director of Business Development for Miller Bonded, will serve as the plumbing chair during competition. Payne is looking forward to seeing talented students put their skills to the test.

“I have been very fortunate throughout my career and I feel even more fortunate to be able to give back and share my experience with bright, young people who are just getting started,” Payne said. “I applaud Miller Bonded for providing the opportunity as well.”

An open house will take place at CNM on April 3. On April 2, students will compete in Leadership Events including community service, job interview and prepared speech. On April 3, competition will focus on the Technical Skills category, which includes events like cabinet making, carpentry, firefighting and plumbing. An awards ceremony will take place on the 4th. New Mexico state Gold and Silver Medalists will move on to the National Leadership & Skills Conference.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for students to put their education to the test and learn more about what it takes to be successful in the workplace,” said Alain Archuleta, a CNM electrical trades instructor who has been a SkillsUSA advisor at the college since 1987. “SkillsUSA also provides students with a unique opportunity to network with potential employers and position themselves for a rewarding career. It’s a great program that benefits both students and employers.”

Payne is looking forward to seeing what kind of new talent will emerge from the competition. “Our industry has suffered from a lack of younger generations entering the construction profession, so as an industry representative, this is a great opportunity to see the labor force that is being developed,” Payne said.

SkillsUSA is a national organization that provides educational experiences for students in leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development. Skills USA conferences bring together highly skilled students from around the country who compete in events in 54 different categories from welding to nail care. Members include students from high schools, colleges, technical schools, teachers, and school administrators. Both competitors and instructors must be members of SkillsUSA to compete in events.

“I believe students should take the chance to push themselves to be the best that they can be. SkillsUSA can and will open doors for you,” Herrera said.
For more information about SkillsUSA in New Mexico, contact Saundra Castillo, New Mexico State Director, by phone at 575-973-2427 or by email at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

About Miller Bonded
Miller Bonded, Inc. is the single-source contractor for the design, construction and maintenance of mechanical systems in office buildings, schools, universities, colleges, hotels, industrial plants, casinos, retail centers, restaurants, prisons and hospitals. In 1995, Miller Bonded was formed through a merger of Miller Metal Company and Bonded Plumbing & Heating. The company brings more than 100 years of combined experience in mechanical contracting.
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