SkillsUSA announces the election of John W. Kett, CEO and president of Insurance Auto Auctions Inc. (IAA), a business unit of auction giant KAR Auction Services, Inc. (NYSE: KAR) to the SkillsUSA national board of directors. The SkillsUSA board of directors made Kett’s appointment official at its recent meeting in Alexandria, Va.
Kett is committed to community building initiatives and non-profit service. He has actively participated on SkillsUSA’s Foundation committee since 2013 and was honored with SkillsUSA’s Pat Dalton Outstanding Achievement Award in 2016. As the leader of one of the largest North American salvage auto auctions with more than 170 facilities across the U.S. and Canada, Kett values a career-ready workforce with the skills to succeed in America’s evolving employment market. SkillsUSA provides training and real-world trade and technical skills for more than 100 disciplines – including the automotive industry.
“SkillsUSA prepares program participants to be employable and successful. I have seen that success first hand in graduates who are now thriving IAA employees,” Kett said. “SkillsUSA embodies both my personal and professional passions of mentoring young people, and I am honored to be part of this important organization – taking on a more influential role in further realizing its mission.”
SkillsUSA is a vital solution to the growing U.S. skills gap. This nonprofit partnership of students, instructors and industry ensures America has the skilled workforce it needs to stay competitive. Founded in 1965 and endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education, the association serves more than 335,000 member students and instructors each year in middle schools, high schools and colleges. This diverse talent pipeline covers 130 trade, technical and skilled service occupations, the majority STEM-related. More than 600 corporations, trade associations, businesses and labor unions actively support SkillsUSA at the national level. SkillsUSA programs are integrated into career and technical education through a framework of personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics. Local, state and national championships, designed and judged by industry, set relevant standards for career and technical education and provide needed recognition to its students. SkillsUSA also offers technical skill assessments and other workplace credentials. For more information, go to: www.SkillsUSA.org.
