Fifth-generation roofer wins SkillsUSA competition

By Jenny Yu.  

The competition provides young people with an opportunity to develop essential skills and invaluable experiences. 

At the Oregon SkillsUSA 2026 competition, Lauren White of The Coffee Shops™ spoke with the winner and sole participant, Eric Schilling, and his father, Mike Schilling, president of Carlson Roofing Company in Oregon.  

Eric, a high school junior, shared how he became interested in the trades. “A whole bunch of my buddies are into welding, and I'm a car guy on the side,” he shared. “I like dirt bikes, I like everything mechanical, so I figured it'd be a pretty handy skill to pick up.” When his welding instructor saw his Carlson Roofing Company hat, he encouraged Eric to sign up for the SkillsUSA competition.  

After practicing for about a month and completing three practice projects, Eric was ready to take his skills to the competition. “I thought it was going to be a lot harder to do everything that I did today,” Eric said. With only four hours to complete the job, Eric showed off his masterpiece. “[I had] a couple freak outs in between, but it turned out good.” 

Mike, a fourth-generation roofer himself, expressed how SkillsUSA is changing the landscape for the younger generation’s entry into the trades. “I think this is so great. There was nothing like this when I was growing up,” Mike said. “Labor is the biggest challenge in the industry right now, so the fact that someone can get some hands-on experience and make themselves more valuable to start with — that's incredible.” 

As a business owner, Mike emphasized how early experiences like SkillsUSA competitions are key for establishing a strong workforce. “These young people haven't picked up bad habits yet. They're totally trainable,” Mike said. “As a business owner, I couldn't ask for more than that." 

Watch the full interview to learn more about Eric, Mike and SkillsUSA!