Georgia’s biggest skilled-trades event—the Construction Ready CareerExpo & SkillsUSA Georgia State Championships—returns to the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta on February 19–20, 2026, celebrating its 20th anniversary.

The event combines large-scale career exploration with statewide SkillsUSA competition, giving students hands-on exposure to careers in construction, design, energy, architecture, transportation, and other trades. Students can explore interactive “worlds” of trades, connect with hundreds of employers and training programs, and watch (or compete in) events like carpentry, welding, masonry, plumbing, and electrical work.

Chattooga High School has participated in past years, with students attending the Atlanta event and earning multiple state championships in SkillsUSA categories—accomplishments that have helped qualify competitors to advance to the SkillsUSA National Championships. Chattooga’s CTAE construction program has also been recognized for competing on the national stage, including participation in construction team events such as TeamWorks.

Organizers say the CareerExpo continues to serve as a direct pipeline between students and the workforce—pairing real competition experience with real-world connections that can lead to apprenticeships, certifications, and careers.