Charles Goede
Hometown: Watertown, Conn.
Representing the United States at WorldSkills in Plumbing and Heating
SkillsUSA has selected Charles Goede of Watertown, Conn., as the official U.S. competitor for Plumbing and Heating for the 2026 WorldSkills Competition. This prestigious international skills competition, often referred to as the “Olympics of skilled trades,” will be held Sept. 22 -27, 2026, in Shanghai, China.
WorldSkills brings together young people, industry, education, and government leaders from around the world to advance career and technical education and training. Competitors vie for international honors in skill competitions, showcasing dozens of trade skills.
Goede, the first competitor to be named to the WorldSkills USA delegation, is a plumbing apprentice and graduate from Ella T. Grasso Technical High School in Groton, Conn. As the SkillsUSA Connecticut high school state champion in 2024, he went on to place second in the nation in the plumbing competition at that year’s SkillsUSA Championships during the National Leadership & Skills Conference held annually in Atlanta.
“I am honored to be representing the United States for plumbing and heating,” Goede said of the opportunity to compete internationally. “I will be able to show not only the dedication I have for my career but the pride I have in my craftsmanship of the trade.”