ABC Keystone Facility

In October, ABC Keystone celebrated Careers in Construction Month, dedicated to the many paths available for pursuing opportunities in our great industry. Earlier in November, the Chapter celebrated National Apprenticeship Week. These celebrations of construction careers continue, as every week, apprentices enter the Chapter’s training facility to learn from their instructors the many facets of their trades, each of them striving to build their own skills and futures.

The apprenticeship instructors have worked diligently to ensure that these students receive quality and consistent education. The Chapter continues to augment the apprenticeship program to benefit members, including this year’s addition of pipefitting. Elements of pipefitting have now been incorporated into the plumbing program for levels 1 and 2, allowing students to choose one or the other by their third year as an apprentice.

This fall, ABC Keystone saw 370+ apprentices register for the 2020/2021 school year in nine trades, including a marked increase in electrical apprentices and additional female apprentices. Many students entered the program unsponsored and are now already working for member companies. The Chapter’s pre-apprenticeship programs, including the programs at Elizabethtown High School and School District of Lancaster, are instrumental in this pipeline. Several of Keystone’s former pre-apprentices are now continuing their education at ABC.

Throughout this school year, students will benefit from increased technology. Classes have the opportunity to use iPads in their classrooms to gain knowledge of the Procore® Construction Project Management software to enhance their education. Utilizing this software will allow students to gain valuable skills which will be an asset to them and to their companies.

Construction craftspeople are in high demand, and apprentices have multiple, lucrative career paths available to them. ABC Keystone wishes to thank the Chapter’s apprentices, instructors, Apprenticeship & Craft Training Committee, and sponsoring companies for their part in growing the industry.


Electrical Update
BY: CHAD FOOR, DIRECTOR OF ELECTRICAL

The electrical apprenticeship program at ABC Keystone is constantly working to improve safety and productivity on the job through education and training. This fall, the program has benefited from the support of our partners and has seen curriculum enhancements.

There are many companies that design tools and equipment to accomplish safety and productivity goals. Southwire is one of those well-known companies, and we have the privilege of partnering with them to further train our apprentices at the ABC Keystone training facility. This company has donated approximately $20,000 worth of training tools and equipment for the Chapter’s apprenticeship program, and they will be coming to our location soon to perform a demo using Southwire’s Conduit Bending Station and 6K Cable Puller. This is a great opportunity for our apprentices and their companies to be introduced to some innovative new products that will improve safety and get the job done more efficiently.

The electrical apprenticeship program at the Keystone Chapter seen some changes this fall. Students are benefiting from making the transition to Mike Holt’s Four-Year Apprenticeship Program and Online Learning Platform, The Capacitor. Our students have expressed a renewed desire to learn not only how to perform electrical installations and calculations in the field, but they have discovered the WHY behind these practical installations. As the Director of Electrical and their full-time instructor, it encourages me to hear students say, “We are really learning a lot this year.” They are becoming competent electricians, and it’s a privilege to play a part in that process.


Plumbing Class Gains Hands-on Experience
DIRECTOR OF HVAC & PLUMBING

The Chapter’s Plumbing 2A class was recently given a real-world opportunity to enhance their skills using the hands-on module. The class was given a small drawing of a bathroom with a water closet, lavatory, and a water heater. They used this drawing to create both a materials list and an isometric drawing of how they will do the install.

Later, the class completed the in-wall rough-in by using the code book and plumbing submittals for the fixtures. The students tested both the DWV and domestic water systems and will wait for drywall to be completed before finishing and setting the fixtures.


The procedures to apply for all apprenticeship trades can be found at abckeystonecenter.org New this year: Apply online!

Please contact Cindy DeWire at the Chapter Office with any questions:
(717) 653-8106 | cindyd@abckeystone.org


Posted November 18, 2020