Bob Johnston, owner of BNB Mechanical in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., was the first winner of the “Showcase Your NATE” contest. As the winning entry, Johnston’s company will choose between $1,000 in local advertising or NATE promotional materials.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to be named a winner in the ‘Showcase Your NATE’ sweepstakes,” said Johnston. “It’s truly an honor to be a part of such a great organization, and we are committed to maintaining certification and promoting it to help grow our business.”

After the sweepstakes kicked off in March, Johnston submitted an example of a newspaper advertisement featuring the new North American Technician Excellence logo. Johnston’s entry was randomly selected from the numerous submissions received from contractors throughout the country, including brochures, vehicle signage, videos, business cards, links to company websites and other examples of how each company highlights their NATE-certified technicians.

Three additional winners will be selected throughout the remainder of the year. To enter, contractors are invited to submit descriptions and pictures of the various ways that they use NATE to build consumer confidence and attract new customers. With each submission, the contractor is entered into a regular drawing for a chance to win the $1,000 prize. Many entries will also be featured online, offering the contractor additional exposure.