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ABC Honors Craftsmen at Workforce Development Conference

Medalists Named in 15 National Craft Championships Competitions

WASHINGTON — Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) announced the winners of its National Craft Championships, its Craft Instructor of the Year, and Craft Professional of the Year during the Careers in Construction Awards ceremony, March 6 at the conclusion of ABC’s Workforce Development Conference held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Holley Thomas of Double Springs, Alabama, pipe general foreman at KBR Inc., was named Craft Professional of the Year. Jonathan Sacks of Palmyra, Maine, transmission and distribution training manager at The Cianbro Cos., was awarded Craft Instructor of the Year.

Gold, silver, and bronze medalists were named in 15 National Craft Championships competitions. In addition, safety awards were presented to one competitor in each craft for their best-in-class safety practices.

“These winners’ dedication to high-quality craftsmanship, training, and safety showcase the very best the construction industry has to offer, and ABC is thrilled to honor them,” said Pamela Volm, 2015 national chair, ABC, and president of Annapolis Contracting Inc., Annapolis, Maryland. “Holley, Jonathan, and the National Craft Championships Award winners are the future of the construction industry, and ABC is grateful to have them represent our commitment to helping develop another generation of skilled workers.”

Each year, ABC presents the Craft Professional of the Year Award to a construction craft professional who excels in his or her field while also demonstrating a commitment to safety, training, and the merit shop philosophy.

The Craft Instructor of the Year Award is presented each year to an instructor who possesses outstanding creativity, a positive attitude, and the ability to transfer knowledge through good communication skills and innovative teaching to promote lifelong learning to the future workforce. The recipient of this national award represents ABC and ABC member companies’ deep commitment to training America’s future skilled workforce.

The National Craft Championships featured a field of nearly 200 craft professionals competing for top honors in 15 competitions across 12 crafts, including a new team competition with journey-level craft professionals from five different crafts working to complete a joint project. Competitors first took a two-hour written exam and then competed in daylong, hands-on, practical performance tests in carpentry, electrical-industrial, electrical-residential, fire sprinkler, HVAC, instrumentation fitting, insulation, millwright, pipefitting, plumbing, sheet metal, welding-pipe, welding-structural, and masonry.

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