Joshua Reif, an instructional aide with the electrical distribution and automation department at the Carbon Career & Technical Institute in Jim Thorpe was appointed the new SkillsUSA adviser at the Joint Operating Committee meeting Thursday evening. Reif is a 2023 graduate of CCTI and replaces Kevin Kuehner, who submitted his letter of resignation Aug. 12.

Reif has been active with the SkillsUSA program, training seven students for the opening and closing competitions.

The SkillsUSA theme this year is “Champion Your Future.”

“We started two weeks ago by going around to every class to recruit kids from all 14 tech areas and offering a presentation on Skills USA,” Reif said. “Now we’re in the process of getting names for the competitions.”

CCTI students can participate in 76 different competitions.

“My goal is to fill every single one to get the maximum out of each student,” Reif added.

Maya Kowalcyk, an English teacher at CCTI who oversees the school’s newspaper, was appointed as an assistant.

I’ve been helping Skills in the past, but now it’s to be helping out officially,” Kowalcyk said. “I’ve helped unofficially in the past with student resumes, speeches and a little with a group who was competing in the entrepreneurship competition.

“We have had a lot of kids interested, or saying that they’re signing up again; either the same competition, or more competitions.”

Teachers in the English departments have been helping students with their resumes, a requirement for competing.

“There are academic competitions as well as the technical competitions, so Maya is really great help with that,” Administrative Director Dave Reinbold added.

Two additional assistants this year will be Rick Stettler, head of the electrical distribution and automation department, and Maritza Reinbold.

Reinbold was not able to attend the meeting, but sent a letter that was read at the meeting. It said, in part:

“I appreciate the opportunity to share what I’ve been working on this year to support our students through SkillsUSA. My goal has been to strengthen student involvement, provide organizational structure behind the scenes, and create opportunities for our students to become champions in their future endeavors.”

The SkillsUSA Championship will be held June 1-5, 2026, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

CCTI felt the competition is so important for the students that officials rescheduled the 2026 graduation so it would not interfere with students who may qualify for the championships.