Faculty advisor Deric Yoakam helps students discover careers, confidence, and industry connections
When masonry student Jason Sanchez earned second place at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference this summer, he accomplished something no Salt Lake Community College masonry student had done before. But for faculty advisor Deric Yoakam, the silver medal represented more than a single student's success. It was the result of years spent building a program, cultivating industry connections, and creating opportunities that help students move confidently from the classroom into rewarding careers.
"I've been doing Skills for five years as an advisor," Yoakam said. "I've gone back nationally four out of the five years. So it's taken me four or five years to get where I wanted to be. It was nice to have that result this year."
The accomplishment marks a milestone for a program Yoakam has steadily developed since joining the college. While Sanchez is the first of his masonry students to place nationally, qualifying students for the national competition has become a consistent tradition. Four of the past five years, SLCC masonry students have advanced to the national stage.
For faculty members considering how SkillsUSA might fit into their own programs, Yoakam's experience offers a powerful example of what can happen when competition becomes part of a broader strategy for student success.
Long before he became an instructor, Yoakam experienced SkillsUSA from the student side. After years working in masonry, he returned to college as a nontraditional student, initially planning to pursue a career in masonry inspection as the physical demands of the trade began taking a toll on his body. Instead, he found himself immersed in construction management and eventually competing in SkillsUSA's TeamWorks competition.
The experience changed his perspective.
"It changed my life," Yoakam said. "Having that experience, I knew that I had to create that experience for people in the masonry industry."
Today, that same commitment drives his work with students.
Ask Yoakam about building a SkillsUSA program, and he'll answer with a laugh.
"It's a lot of work," he said.
Yet the rewards, he adds, extend far beyond competition results.
Over the years, developing the masonry program has helped him strengthen curriculum alignment, refine student learning outcomes, and build strong relationships with contractors, suppliers, and manufacturers who actively support student success. Those industry connections provide materials, expertise, mentoring, and employment opportunities that benefit students long before graduation.
"I think the only way you can build a program is having that relationship with industry," Yoakam said. "It's very difficult to start a program without support."
Those partnerships also help ensure students graduate with skills that match current workforce needs. Through certifications, site visits, networking opportunities, and direct engagement with employers, students gain valuable experience that complements classroom instruction.
The impact of those experiences becomes clear in student outcomes.
Many students enter the masonry program with one goal: becoming a mason. Along the way, they discover a variety of career paths within the industry, including leadership, safety, supervision, operations, and management roles.
Yoakam says exposing students to those possibilities is one of the most important parts of his work.
"We're trying to implement everything we can through our program to give them the tools they need to succeed in the real world," he said.
SkillsUSA plays a key role in that preparation. Students test their technical abilities, learn to perform under pressure, develop professional confidence, and connect with employers who often serve as judges, sponsors, recruiters, and mentors.
Sanchez's national success reflects the broader impact Yoakam has seen through SkillsUSA. While medals and awards are celebrated achievements, Yoakam believes the greatest value comes from the confidence, industry connections, and career opportunities students gain along the way. Those experiences often continue to benefit students long after the competition ends.
For Yoakam, creating opportunities doesn't stop with currently enrolled students.
Working with the Utah Masonry Council and industry partners, he helps organize masonry demonstrations at middle schools and high schools throughout Utah. The goal is simple: introduce students to careers they may not know exist.
The effort is already producing results.
Recently, a student recognized Yoakam on campus from one of those demonstrations and told him he planned to enroll in the masonry program because of the experience.
"He said, 'I enjoyed that experience so much, I'm going to register for your class next semester,'" Yoakam recalled.
For students who may never have considered a career in the trades, early exposure can make all the difference.
"If you've had a taste or an experience with it, it leads to being more comfortable and willing to accept a challenge," Yoakam said.
For faculty members wondering whether SkillsUSA is worth the additional planning, preparation, and mentoring, Yoakam points to the long-term impact on students.
Every year, he admits, the demands of competition season leave him wondering whether he's ready to do it all again. Yet each year, the answer remains the same.
"The rewards from the students and creating pathways for students, I think that's the biggest thing I take from it," he said. "I appreciate guiding young men and women and giving them opportunities that they didn't know existed."
That may be the real lesson behind Sanchez's national medal.
While podium finishes are worth celebrating, the greatest value of SkillsUSA may be the opportunities it creates before, during, and long after the competition ends. Through hands-on learning, industry engagement, professional networking, and leadership development, faculty advisors help students discover career pathways, build confidence, and envision futures they may never have considered otherwise.
And sometimes, those pathways lead all the way to the national stage.
Check out more about the Masonry program at SLCC or SkillsUSA at the following links: