Roofing Skills Shaped at NLSC 2025 with Leister

Author: Chloe Stambaugh, Marketing Associate, Leister USA

Leister is proud to support the future of the skilled trades through our collaboration with the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) and SkillsUSA. At the 2025 National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC) in Atlanta, Leister served as a sponsor of the Roofing Skills Competition – a pivotal event that showcases the talent and promise of young roofing professionals. 

This year’s competition brought together an impressive field of 21 students representing 17 states, including 15 high school competitors and 6 post-secondary participants. These students competed in a rigorous, hands-on roofing challenge designed to reflect real-world jobsite conditions. As part of our commitment to educating the next generation of roofing professionals, Leister engaged students through interactive tool demonstrations and career-focused learning experiences.

A Partnership Years in the Making

The 2025 Roofing Skills Competition is the result of a strategic, multi-year workforce development initiative driven by NRCA in partnership with SkillsUSA. Since first collaborating in 2020, NRCA has worked to formally establish roofing as a recognized SkillsUSA competition category—building out the curriculum, technical standards, and judging framework needed to support a national contest. 

Leister has proudly supported this initiative alongside NRCA and industry leaders, supplying tools, technical expertise, and visibility to ensure that roofing is not only represented, but elevated, within the national trades education landscape. Our equipment plays a key role in both the competitive environment and the education of future roofing professionals. 

Inspiring the Next Generation

This collaboration is about more than a single event – it’s about building a strong talent pipeline for the future of our industry. Through partnerships with organizations like SkillsUSA, NRCA, and similar learning experiences, the commercial roofing industry comes together to attract young people, raise awareness, and highlight the dynamic career opportunities available in commercial roofing.

Industry professionals engaged directly with students, instructors, and employers by demonstrating advanced roofing and plastic welding technologies and sharing practical insights into real-world job applications. The goal is to inspire the next generation of skilled professionals and empower them with the tools, knowledge, and mentorship needed to thrive in the field.

Looking Forward

We are proud to stand with NRCA and SkillsUSA in their shared mission to elevate skilled trades education and expand career pathways. As this workforce development partnership continues to grow, Leister remains committed to providing support to help young professionals thrive.

Together, we’re shaping the future of commercial roofing – one skilled competitor at a time.