Skillsusa RCAT

🚨 Urgent: Protect the RCAT Program! 🚨

Attention all supporters of technical education! We need your help to save the Residential Commercial Appliance Technology (RCAT) Program at SkillsUSA from termination. This crucial program provides students with the hands-on skills and knowledge for high-demand careers in appliance technology and repair. Whether you’re an instructor, advisor, appliance service company, parts distributor, manufacturer, 3rd party administrator your support is essential.

Why RCAT Matters:
🔧 Career Readiness: Prepares students with essential technical and workplace skills.
🏠 Bridging the Skills Gap: Ensures a steady pipeline of skilled technicians for the growing appliance industry.
👥 Community Impact: Fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and a strong work ethic in students.

How You Can Help:
✍️ Sign the Petition: Your support is crucial to keep this program alive!
🔗 Sign the Petition Now
https://chng.it/xdMRQpZzXb

Join us in protecting the future of skilled trades and technical education. Together, we can make a difference! 💪

This campaign needs you now Protect the RCAT Program from Termination in SkillsUSA

After an exciting week of seminars, our contest judges and support team are enjoying a well-deserved dinner! We're all geared up for the contest starting tomorrow morning. 🏅✨

We are setting up for the 2024 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference!

Happy Independence Day from the SkillsUSA RCAT Team!

A BIG Thank You to all the Technical Committee Members & Contest Support volunteers. Every one of you had a BIG part (even if you don't think so) in making this event a success. Thank you Dylan Harris for being our Social Media Specialist, who keeps our program in front of thousands!

Thank you Atlanta! It was an amazing contest! We will see you next year!

Meet the Judges for the SkillsUSA RCAT Program

Mark Pollitz - SkillsUSA RCAT (Chairman)
Greg Doster - SkillsUSA RCAT (Past Chairman-Retired)
Don - Service Success Group (Brazing / Lokring)
Ed - B&B Appliance (Brazing / Lokring)
Reggie - Encompass (LG Dryer)
Anthony - LG (LG Dryer)
Dan - LG (LG Washer)
Richard - Marcone (LG Washer)
Tim - Hisense (Hisense Fridge)
Mike - Callahans Appliance / PSA (Hisense Fridge)
Dwayne - RCAT (Cookie Committee)
Cheryl - RCAT (Cookie Committee)
Dan - CFESA (Commercial Equipment)
Joel - Whirlpool Corporation (Commercial Equipment)
Tim - Fisher & Paykel / DCS (Fisher & Paykel Dish Drawer)
Jonathon - Fisher & Paykel / DCS (Fisher & Paykel Dish Drawer)
James - Electrolux (Electrolux Range)
Steven - Electrolux (Electrolux Range)
Stuart - Mr Appliane (Customer Relations)
Besor - Reliable Parts (Interview Employability)
Christina - ServicersWeb (Tech Support)
Eden - ServicersWeb (Tech Support)
Mike - Michaelson’s Appliance Repair (Tech Support)

Good Morning!! Today is Competiton day. Nine contestants, from across the country, will be competing today, on several different appliances, on a variety of brands. The judges, this morning are meeting to go over everything one final time before the contest begins. Good luck contestants!

Shout out to Electrolux for not only donating appliances that the contestants will be working on, but also giving a class about them! Huge shoutout! Thank you Electrolux!!

Mark Pollitz , the Co-Chairman of the Skillsusa RCAT , did an interview as well . Be sure and stay tuned for the final result after the competition!

Anthony & Dan from LG Electronics, were asked to be interviewed, both Dan & Anthony, were in VICA club, which is now known as SkillsUSA. Both Dan & Anthony, are now Judges for the Skillsusa RCAT competition. Stay tuned for the results of the interview.

After that tasty lunch provided by Encompass, Fisher & Paykel, as well as DCS , is providing an amazing seminar on the F&P Dish-Drawer. Thank you F&P and DCS!

After that amazing session by Encompass, they also provided lunch!! Thank you Encompass!!

After the amazing VULKAN LOKRING class, Reggie Williams, from Encompass , a supply chain solutions OEM Parts Distributor, is teaching the contestants how to use the encompass website and what makes encompass different than other parts distributors! Thank you Reggie!!

Today, the contestants have a class , explaining R600a, a propane based refrigerant, and how to use the Vulkan Lokring safely & efficiently. Thank you VULKAN LOKRING!

Tomorrow, the contestants after the competition will receive goody bags. Look at all that good stuff! There's screw drivers, cups, pens, bags, tool mat, multi-tools, and so much more! Thank you to the companies who donated so graciously, so that way every contestant walks away with something. Thank you!

Yesterday, at SkillsUSA, Dan from CFESA, the Commercial Food Equipment Service Association, provided a LIVE demonstration to the RCAT Contestants, with a Commercial Conveyer Pizza Oven. To learn more about SkillsUSA RCAT, please visit www.SkillsUSA-RCAT.com , and to learn more about CFESA, please visit www.CFESA.com

What an amazing day it was today! Had a tasty lunch provided by LG, the Judge & Technical Committee, meeting, TWO training seminars , one by LG and another by Hisense, as well as orientation for the contestants. We can not WAIT to see what tmrw has to hold for everybody! Be sure and get plenty of rest!

Today, the Judges & Technical Committee members are meeting to go over the specifics that the judges are looking for, as well as the duty for the Technical Committee members , during the competition & on the competition floor.

After that amazing session by Tim with Hisense, the gentleman from LG gave another awesome session for our contestants! Thank you LG!

After a tasty lunch, Tim from Hisense is providing the competitors a Training Seminar. Thank you Tim & Hisense, and good luck competitors!

Lunch today at the SkillsUSA National Competition, LG provided us with a tasty lunch! A major shout out & huge THANK YOU to LG!

Please visit our website: www.skillsusa-rcat.com

📢 Announcement! 🎉 Reliable Parts Donates $10,000 to SkillsUSA RCAT Program

We're thrilled to announce that Reliable Parts, a national appliance parts distributor, has made a generous donation of $10,000 to the SkillsUSA Residential & Commercial Appliance Technology (RCAT) program! 🙌

Reliable Parts has always been committed to supporting the appliance service industry and giving back to the community. This year, they've chosen to invest in technician education by supporting the RCAT program. The RCAT program is a comprehensive training initiative that prepares students for a career in appliance service.

With this donation, Reliable Parts is enabling the RCAT program to expand its reach and offer training in more schools across the country. The funds will be utilized for marketing, curriculum development, travel to schools, video creation, event sponsorships, and collaboration with the Department of Labor / Bureau of Labor Statistics to enhance the industry's occupational outlook.

The SkillsUSA RCAT program, led by Chairman Greg Doster and Co-Chairman Mark Pollitz, expresses heartfelt gratitude to Reliable Parts for their incredible support. Their donation sets an example for other organizations and manufacturers to join the cause and contribute to the growth of the technician population.

Read the press release here: https://skillsusa-rcat.com/blog/reliable-parts-donates-10000-to-skillsusa-rcat-program/

To learn more about the RCAT program and its initiatives, visit our website: www.skillsusa-rcat.com

If you would like to support the RCAT program's Growth Development Fund through donations, please reach out to Chairman Greg Doster at [email protected] or Co-Chairman Mark Pollitz at [email protected].

Together, let's empower the next generation of skilled technicians! 💪