Local Mechanic Invited as Keynote Speaker to Annual Conference
Daniel Lehmkuhl will speak today at the annual SkillsUSA California Championships
Local Mechanic Invited as Keynote Speaker to Annual Conference
April 12, 2012
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA – The 45th Annual State Leadership and SkillsUSA California Championships keynote speaker today will be Rizzoli’s Automotive Mechanic Daniel Lehmkuhl, a young man who placed sixth in the world an automotive technology competition last year.
The Conference Coordinating Committee and State Officer Team said they felt he would be the perfect individual to motivate and inspire the 2,500-plus parents and students as they prepare for the start of the conference activities this evening.
“I plan to share a lot from my personal experiences with the SkillsUSA program, which I’ve been a part of since 2005,” Lehmkuhl said when asked what he planned to speak about. “I want to talk to the students about the choices that they can make.”
The 45th Annual State Leadership and SkillsUSA California Championships take place on April 12 through 15 at the Town and Country in San Diego, Calif. This year’s theme is “Skilled and Motivated,” something Lehmkuhl knows a lot about. He has won regional, state and national contests under the SkillsUSA program, the vocational equivalent to organizations like Future Farmers of America and Future Teachers of America.
“A four-year bachelor’s degree isn’t for everyone, and a lot of these kids are part of vocational training programs that teach them much-needed skills,” Lehmkuhl added. “There is such a shortage of skilled labor workers in our country, and I want to encourage young people to go that route if they find they have a talent.”
Lehmkuhl currently works full-time at Rizzoli’s Automotive, and has won regional, state, and national automotive technician competition, and placed sixth in the world at lat year’s WorldSkills International Competition in London, England. He was one of 16 US contestants.
He currently attends Cuesta College and plans to transfer to California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo to earn a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology, along with a teaching credential.