Award Photo

Raymond honored by New York State SkillsUSA with distinguished service award

Raymond welding team leaders and technical trainers have facilitated and judged the New York State SkillsUSA welding fabrication competition since 2014

The Raymond Corporation was recently honored by New York State SkillsUSA with a Distinguished Service Award in recognition of its outstanding support and contributions to career and technical education. SkillsUSA established this award to recognize and celebrate the outstanding contributions made to it by organizations, agencies, businesses, or other groups. Raymond received the award during the NYS SkillsUSA Championships showcase from April 27 to 29, 2022, in Syracuse, New York.

“The Raymond Corporation is proud to support New York State SkillsUSA and help elevate the skilled trades that fuel Raymond’s own manufacturing operations with talented welders, technicians, and a variety of other skilled positions,” said Tony Topencik, vice president of operations, quality, and environmental, health and safety for The Raymond Corporation. “The skills developed through SkillsUSA help prepare students for future employment, whether in manufacturing or in a variety of fields that are in urgent need of professional and skilled talent to bring their operations to the next level.”

Raymond Group award imageIn addition to the company’s overall career and technical education support, Raymond’s welding team leaders and technical trainers have facilitated and judged the welding fabrication competition since 2014 at the NYS SkillsUSA Championships. For this year’s competition, the NYS SkillsUSA Championships Welding Fabrication Technical Committee designed an outdoor fire pit for competitors to fabricate. Participants were required to weld the specified outdoor wood fire pit while using a number of different welding techniques, including shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) and metal inert gas (MIG) welding.

SkillsUSA works to enhance the lives of youth by providing every member the opportunity for career success. Without the efforts of highly dedicated individuals, thousands of young people would not be able to achieve the success that, in turn, contributes directly to the overall well-being of the nation.