NEST, a national provider of integrated facilities management services, is helping students from across the country travel to Atlanta to compete in the Facilithon #NextGenOfFM National Finals at the 2026 SkillsUSA Championships.

The competition takes place June 1-5 at the Georgia World Congress Center and introduces high school and technical school students to careers in facilities management through hands-on challenges and real-world scenarios. The SkillsUSA Championships feature more than 6,800 state champions competing in 115 skilled and leadership contests, making it one of the largest workforce development events in the world.

“Programs like Facilithon help students better understand how their skills can translate into rewarding careers,” said Rob Almond, CEO of NEST. “We are proud to support opportunities that increase awareness of facilities management and create pathways for the next generation entering the trades.”

Based in South Jersey, NEST helped launch the Skilled Trades Advisory Council in 2023 to address labor shortages and promote careers in the skilled trades. Supporting students participating in Facilithon aligns with the company’s ongoing efforts to connect young people with career exploration opportunities and hands-on industry experience.

NEST’s travel support is helping students from several states attend the national competition, including Pennsylvania state winner Ashley Vargas of Eastern Center for Arts and Technology in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. Returning competitor Drew Kraus of Hartford Union High School in Hartford, Wisconsin, will also compete after earning gold at the 2025 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference.

“Facilities management has historically been a career many people discover later in life,” said James Zirbel, chairman of FM Pipeline Team Inc. “Facilithon is changing that by introducing students to the profession earlier and creating structured pathways into internships, scholarships, and long-term careers. Support from organizations like NEST is critical to building the future workforce intentionally.”

The Facilithon competition evaluates students through a 50-question quiz, a facilities management role-play exercise, and the FM Challenge, a live emergency-response scenario that tests critical thinking and problem-solving skills in real time. The program is administered by FM Pipeline Team Inc., a nonprofit organization focused on developing facilities management talent programs in the United States and internationally.

The SkillsUSA Championships represent the culmination of a yearlong competitive process that begins in local chapters nationwide. Students advance through district, regional, and state competitions before state gold medalists earn the opportunity to compete at the national level.