ABC KEYSTONE Apprentices Earn Opportunity to Compete in ABC National Craft Competition

Contact: Rebecca Wolf
Director of Marketing & Communications
(717) 653-8106 or rebecca@abckeystone.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 28, 2023

(Manheim, Pa, September 23) — Local apprentices received top scores at the Keystone Chapter’s Individual Local Craft Competition on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at the Chapter’s state-of-the-art training facility in Manheim. The top scorers who demonstrated superior skills, training, and safe work practices will receive an all-expenses paid trip to the upcoming 2024 ABC National Craft Competition (NCC) held on March 14, 2024, in Kissimmee, Florida. They will compete against craftspeople from ABC’s 68 chapters nationwide at the National Craft Competition. The local craft competition is made possible through the support of ABC Keystone Chapter members.

Competitors kept their diligent focus on their craft. They maintained strict attention to safety while working on projects to test the apprentices’ practical and problem-solving skills. This hands-on portion of the individual competition contributed to 75% of their total score and was judged by construction industry professionals. Individual competitors are not given details of their project build before the event. Ahead of the practical trade skills competition, the apprentices were required to take a written test contributing to the remaining 25% of their total score. During the written test, they proved their academic understanding and knowledge gained throughout their education program. To earn a spot at ABC Keystone’s local craft competition, apprentices must rank within the top five of their trade class.

ABC Keystone commends all who earned the opportunity to compete. “The Keystone Chapter is proud of the accomplishments of all who competed. Their commitment to excellence as they represented their companies and the Chapter was exemplary and a true testament to the focus on quality and safety shown by ABC members,” said ABC Keystone’s Director of Apprenticeship, Cindy DeWire.

Congratulations to the 2023 ABC Keystone individual local competition top scorers, who will be attending the National Craft Competition in March 2024:

Tommy Culbert, Plumbing – B.J. Baldwin Electrical/Mechanical, Inc.
Nick Gatoura, Electrical – MVE Group
Brandon Hanna, HVAC – Haller Enterprises
Brandon Lewis, Carpentry – Pyramid Construction Services, Inc., A Quandel Company
Austin Riley, Electrical – L.W. Bishop & Sons, Inc.

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The Keystone Chapter of Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) is a construction trade association based in Manheim, Pennsylvania, representing over 650 construction-related firms and nearly 30,000 employees. Founded on the merit shop philosophy, ABC and its 68 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 abckeystone.org.