By Staff Writer, PHCC Educational Foundation
U.S. Apprentice Charles Goede Earns International Medal for Excellence, Ranking Among World’s Top Plumbers at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026
20-year-old Connecticut native scores 704 in plumbing and heating category – marking the first time a U.S. delegate medals at global competition in nearly a decade
FALLS CHURCH, VA (October 1, 2026) – Charles Goede became the first U.S. competitor in nearly a decade to win the distinguished Medal for Excellence in the plumbing and heating category at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, China (Sept. 22–27).
Goede, a 20-year-old fourth-year plumbing apprentice with the United Association Local 777 from Watertown, Conn., competed against 32 of the top young tradespeople from around the world. The grueling 4-day event tested competitors’ skill, precision, craftsmanship and time management under high-stakes pressure.
The Medal for Excellence recognizes competitors who achieve an elite international standard, demonstrating true mastery over complex fluid, pressure, and climate control systems. Based on the official WorldSkills scale, Goede finished with a 704 score, placing him just 6% away from the top score from Switzerland’s contestant, who took home Gold. Goede is the first American to medal in the category since Asher Chicoine earned a score of 702 in 2017.
Over 22.5 hours of competition, participants were tasked with assembling four complex plumbing and mechanical modules:
- Day 1: Drainage, urinal carriers, sink and shower installation.
- Day 2: Steel piping with HDPE fusion fittings and sink installation.
- Day 3: Boiler configuration using steel, copper loops, and multi-layer PEX.
- Day 4: Fixture installation and a heat pump water heater requiring precise copper pipe bending (Goede executed this in just seven bends, under the 8-bend limit).
Goede qualified for the U.S. delegation through SkillsUSA and spent nearly a year preparing under the direction of his technical expert, PHCC Educational Foundation board member Larry Shoemaker and Vinnie Valente from Local 777, alongside a network of dedicated industry mentors.
Shoemaker emphasized that Goede’s achievement places him in the 90th percentile globally, comparable to graduating at the top of a Dean’s List.
“Charlie really did an exceptional job showcasing the advanced skill and technical know-how required to succeed in the plumbing and heating industry,” said Shoemaker. “He was committed from the start and worked very hard putting in close to 250 hours of intensive training on top of his full-time job. His success on the world stages proves what’s possible in the plumbing and HVAC trades and I hope it inspires more young people to consider it as a career.”
Goede is expected to complete his apprenticeship and take his journeyman’s exam before the end of the year. He currently works for a contractor on large-scale commercial projects, including a nuclear power plant shutdown – the specialized pipe-bending skills he learned while training for WorldSkills afforded him this opportunity and opened doors he never imagined.
“It was such a tremendous honor to represent my country at the WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai,” said Goede. “Receiving a Medal of Excellence was an incredible achievement and I really look forward to seeing how far the trades can take me. There really is no limit!”
Goede’s journey was made possible through support from industry partners, including the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association (PHCC) Educational Foundation, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), UA Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 777 JATC, and DEWALT.
“Charles represents the best of American technical training and dedication,” said Chelle Travis, Executive Director of SkillsUSA. “We are thrilled to celebrate his achievement on the global stage as he demonstrates the vital role of skilled trades in our economy.”
IAPMO CEO Dave Viola agreed: “We couldn’t be prouder of what Charles accomplished in Shanghai. Earning a Medal for Excellence on the world stage speaks to the skill, dedication and hard work he put into preparing for this competition. He represented the United States and the plumbing profession exceptionally well, and IAPMO is proud to have been part of his journey.”
Mark McManus, General President of the United Association added: “Charles Goede represents the very best of the UA and our gold-standard registered apprenticeship and training programs. We are so proud of his accomplishments at WorldSkills in Shanghai, but we are not surprised at his success in earning a Medal for Excellence. His dedication, hard work, and commitment to his craft were on full display showcasing more than 137 years of UA training and education, as he brought home some well-deserved hardware.”
The 48th WorldSkills Competition – often referred to as the “Olympics of the Skilled Trades,” even consisting of an opening ceremony similar to the one held for the world’s top athletes – brought together nearly 1,400 competitors from 73 countries and regions competing across 64 trade disciplines.
To learn more about the WorldSkills USA team, visit worldskillsusa.org.
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About PHCC Educational Foundation
The PHCC Educational Foundation, a partnership of contractors, manufacturers, and wholesalers, was founded in 1987 to serve the plumbing-heating-cooling industry by preparing contractors and their employees to meet the challenges of a constantly changing marketplace. Information on the Foundation can be found at phccfoundation.org.
About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is the #1 workforce development organization for students, empowering them to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members. SkillsUSA represents more than 444,000 career and technical education students and teachers in middle schools, high schools and college/postsecondary institutions nationwide. Those members represent 130 in-demand occupational areas, from 3D animation to welding. A vital solution to the skills gap, SkillsUSA has served over 16 million members since its founding in 1965. Learn more at skillsusa.org.
About WorldSkills USA
SkillsUSA serves as the official U.S. representative to WorldSkills International, a global organization focused on elevating the visibility and recognition of skilled professionals. Under the name WorldSkills USA, SkillsUSA represents the United States in WorldSkills competitions. SkillsUSA (then known as VICA) was designated in 1973, and the U.S. first participated in the WorldSkills Competition in 1975. Learn more at worldskillsusa.org.
Clockwise from top left – Charles Goede during the Worldskills Competition; Team USA during the event opening ceremonies; the Medal of Excellence; WorldSkills advisor Larry Shoemaker, Charles Goede, SkillsUSA Executive Director Chelle Travis. Photos courtesy of WorldSkills and UA Local 777.
Additional photos available at: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1558190263020966&type=3
