Contact: Kristi Pronovost
Director of Marketing & Communications
717.653.8106 or kristi@abckeystone.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 24, 2018
(MANHEIM, PA.) The Keystone Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC Keystone) is proud to announce that five of their high-achieving apprentices competed at the National Craft Championships (NCC) held on March 20 and 21, 2018, in Long Beach, CA. On Thursday, March 22, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) honored the winners of the National Craft Championships during the Careers in Construction Awards ceremony which took place during the conclusion of ABC’s 2018 National Convention.
ABC Keystone was represented by:
Carpentry: Jonathan Godinez (Lancaster), Benchmark Construction Co., Inc. (Brownstown)
Carpentry: Alexander Tomassetti (Philadelphia), Benchmark Construction Co., Inc. (Brownstown)
Electrical: Nathan Ellenberger (Mount Joy), Haller Enterprises, Inc. (Lititz)
Plumbing: David Mummaw (Columbia), Frey Lutz Corp. (Lancaster)
Sheet Metal: Shawn Ash (Wrightsville), Frey Lutz Corp. (Lancaster)
Two ABC Keystone apprentices won the following awards:
Safety Award, Electrical:
Nathan Ellenberger (Mount Joy), Haller Enterprises, Inc., (Lititz, PA.)
Bronze Medalist, Carpentry:
Alexander Tomassetti (Philadelphia), Benchmark Construction Co., Inc. (Brownstown, PA)
“The dedication to top-notch construction, quality craftsmanship and world-class safety exhibited by this year’s champions is truly impressive,” said 2018 ABC National Chair George R. Nash Jr., Director of Preconstruction at Branch & Associates, Herndon, Va. “With the workforce shortage facing the construction industry, each of this year’s competitors will play an important role in the future of merit shop construction, and our member companies are fortunate to employ such skilled craftsmen and women.”
“This competition features top apprentices from across the country, and the Keystone Chapter was honored to send our highest-achieving and most talented apprentices to compete in this event,” remarked G. David Sload, ABC Keystone President-CEO. “These competitors represent the best of merit shop construction and the importance ABC and its members place on quality training and high safety standards. ABC Keystone is extremely proud of all competitors.”
The National Craft Championships (NCC) featured a field of more than 170 craft professionals competing for top honors in 15 competitions representing 12 crafts. Competitors first took an intense, two-hour written exam and then competed in a daylong hands-on practical performance test.
NCC is a part of ABC’s effort to raise the profile of careers in construction and highlight the $1.1 billion that ABC member companies spend annually on workforce development. The competition was developed in 1987 to help celebrate and recognize craft training in construction careers. Each year the competition draws some of the nation’s most talented craft professionals and highlights the important role that craft skills training plays in the construction industry. The National Craft Championships Committee, which is composed of leading merit shop construction firms, plans all year for the two-day competition.
(Pictured left to right) Alexander Tomassetti, Shawn Ash, Jonathan Godinez, Nathan Ellenberger, David Mummaw
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The Keystone Chapter of Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) is a construction trade association based in Manheim, Pennsylvania, representing nearly 600 construction-related firms. Founded on the merit shop philosophy, ABC and its 70 chapters nation-wide help members win work and deliver that work safely, ethically, and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which they work. Visit us at www.abckeystone.org.
