Spotlight

SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference: A Celebration of Talent and Opportunity

The 2024 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) was the culmination of hard work and dedication from students nationwide. PMMI, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, attended the Wisconsin and Illinois state championships and had a significant presence at the national level. Their involvement underscored their commitment to fostering future talent in the packaging industry.

During the NLSC this past June in Atlanta, the PMMI Foundation sponsored the Packaging Pavilion, supported by equipment from its members, including Syntegon, Benchmark, Fanuc, and Wipotec. This event welcomed more than 17,800 attendees, including 7,400 students, 3,311 advisors and administrators, and 2,242 technical committee members and judges. In total, representatives from 850 national corporations, trade associations, businesses, and labor unions participated. The highlight of the event featured 115 hands-on skill and leadership competitions, with 6,540 competitors engaging in these activities.

PMMI played a crucial role in introducing the attendees to the industry by participating in the Expedition NLSC Digital Scavenger Hunt. This interactive experience allowed exhibitors to increase traffic to their booth and engage with participants.

The conference provided PMMI and its member companies with an invaluable opportunity to connect with students, parents, and educators nationwide. This interaction fostered a dialogue about potential career paths and internships in the packaging and processing industry.

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Looking Ahead

The SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference underscores the importance of technical education and vocational skills in today’s rapidly evolving workforce. PMMI’s presence at the conference exemplified the association’s commitment to empowering the next generation of packaging professionals and bridging the gap between industry and education.

PMMI continues to promote the industry through state competitions and is already gearing up for the 2025 Nationals in Atlanta, scheduled for June 23-27. The future looks bright as PMMI and SkillsUSA work together to develop and celebrate the talents of career-ready students.

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