Turning education into real-world roofing careers

By The Coffee Shops®. 

Students apply classroom training, meet industry professionals and discover career opportunities in roofing. 

For students exploring the trades, understanding what a career might actually looks like can be difficult without firsthand experience. In an episode of Roofing Road Trips® sponsored by National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down with Chase Huang and Damien Holloway, student champions of the 2025 SkillsUSA roofing competition, along with their mentor Tim Stephens, vice president of Architectural Sheet Metal, Inc. They discussed how SkillsUSA helps bridge the gap between theoretical roofing education and job experience by moving education beyond the classroom and giving students a chance to practice their abilities in an industry setting. 

Tim explained that no description of a career can replace direct exposure to the work. Students may know they want to work in construction, but without experience on a jobsite, they may not consider roofing as an option. “Nothing takes the place of real-world experience,” he said. “You get your hands in it, and you can see, okay, maybe there is an opportunity that I never thought existed.” 

For Damien Holloway, the experience was valuable because students were evaluated by professionals rather than practicing only in front of an instructor. The competition also introduced participants to companies supporting the roofing industry through booths and demonstrations. 

That connection benefits contractors as well as students. Contractors can observe participants installing the same types of systems their teams work with every day, while students can ask questions, explore potential employers and better understand what companies are looking for. 

The experience is worthwhile even when a participant does not win. According to Chase, the event gives students the opportunity to prove themselves as professionals. “I would say for students, SkillsUSA is one thing lifetime experience. If you have ambition, it's time to prove your talent and skills. All I can think of is the pros and the I will highly, highly encourage you students to go,” he said. 

By providing students with the chance to practice their skills in a hands-on environment, they are empowered to take ownership over their learning and future careers. The opportunity to test their skills while also learning from mentors and peers provides valuable feedback that will guide them moving forward. Whether students confirm that roofing is right for them or discover a different direction, they leave with meaningful real-world experience.  

Listen to the full podcast learn more about how SkillsUSA connects education with real-world roofing careers.