High-Energy Competition Fosters New Trades Talent
L to R: Adam Brickner, Stuart Cowan, Tony Crasi and Matthew Cowan
Students in Ohio and Nebraska recently showed off their construction capabilities during the SkillsUSA state competitions. NAHB’s Senior Officers and members were on hand to support the event and serve as role models for students interested in joining the residential construction industry.
“I think the reason builders have such a great connection with SkillsUSA is we both have always had the same goal in mind, which is to continue the great legacy of providing safe, affordable housing for all families,” said J. Stuart Cowan II, a custom designer and builder, based in Ohio.
Cowan played a central role in shaping the SkillsUSA Ohio carpentry contest from start to finish. He provided the blueprints for the carpentry students to follow during the competition. In addition, he worked closely with the Ohio HBA to facilitate the donation of materials and prize money.
Six NAHB builder members in Ohio, NAHB’s Second Vice Chairman of the Board, Bill Owens and Greg Zick, NAHB's AVP of Workforce Development attended the SkillsUSA Ohio competition this month. Members monitored the students closely to ensure safety standards were met and served as competition judges.
Cowen says the active support of residential construction industry members and leaders is critical to the SkillsUSA competition's success.
"I think everyone teaches our kids, employees…I believe it would be a waste for if we didn't take that knowledge and pass it on," said Cowen. "I was very fortunate to have a father who taught me a lot about being a carpenter. I was also very fortunate when I joined the HBA of Greater Cincinnati to have friends and mentors who taught me so much about building a successful business."
NAHB Chairman Carl Harris traveled to Nebraska to join NAHB members in supporting the state competition.
SkillsUSA, a national education non-profit focused on workforce development, is one of several national partnerships NAHB has cultivated to help close the skilled labor gap and create a workforce that is essential to meet the strong demand for housing.
Latest from NAHBNow
Economics
Sep 28, 2026
Median Revenue of NAHB Remodelers Grows 24%
According to the NAHB Member Census, 21% of NAHB builder members listed residential remodeling as their primary business. These remodelers tend to be relatively small, with a median of five employees and a median annual revenue of $2.1 million.
Labor
Sep 25, 2026
NAHB Amicus Brief Argues for Fair Due Process for Workers
NAHB filed an amicus brief in the Fifth Circuit immigration case Sosnava Rodriguez v. Ortega. The case asks whether a person who entered the United States without official inspection may seek release on bond from a judge while the government considers deportation.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Sep 28, 2026
Market Share of 5,000+ Sq. Ft. Homes Edges Higher in 2025
New homes with 5,000 square feet or more of living space posted an increase in market share last year. In 2025, 27,000 homes of this size were started, accounting for 2.9% of all new homes started. Both the number and market share of homes with 5,000 square feet or more increased from 2024, according to annual data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC).
Economics
Sep 28, 2026
NAHB Remodelers: What the Data Says
Twenty-one percent of NAHB builder members listed residential remodeling as their primary business, according to the 2025 Member Census. These remodelers tend to be relatively small, with a median of five employees and a median annual revenue of $2.1 million. This means that remodelers are even smaller than NAHB builder members, who had a median of six employees and median annual revenue of $3.7 million, as reported in a recent post.
Economics
Sep 25, 2026
State and Local Government Tax Revenue Grows
Total tax revenue collected by state and local governments was up 5.8% from a year ago in the second quarter, according to the Quarterly Summary of State and Local Government Tax Revenue published by the U.S. Census Bureau. This was the highest year-over-year growth since the third quarter of 2024 (7.2%).